CHURCH HISTORY

BACKGROUND OF PASTOR VIC GO, JR.

In my early age I was involved in activism, drugs, alcohol, and all that you can think of  that is happening in the dark side…I was doing them!

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But to God be the Glory!  In September 12,1981, by the Grace and Mercy of God, the Lord literally transformed my life, when I accepted Him as my LORD and personal Savior and promised that I will “SERVE” Him.

 

Right after a series of Leadership training, I started going to different schools, hospitals, jails, and different communities around Metro Manila, and experienced going from one province to another to share the Good News. The LIGHT of Jesus Christ! 

 

THE CALLING AND VISION

 

December 23,1983

Fresh from the Philippines I was so on fire with the Lord when I arrived here in United States. I wanted to shout the name of Jesus---to tell everyone that “Jesus is the Lord of my life”.

I helped a lot of Pastors start their churches.  I even started churches under the umbrella of my church in the Philippines. Until one day, I found myself in the middle of a complicating situation, were I didn’t know where to stand at that time.

 

December 31,1989

This was the turning point of my life! The Lord spoke to me quite clearly, through “VISION”, about this church. Yet, --- I was like Moses, protesting to God ‘Who am I Lord, to be able to do such thing?!” and so on…

 

The night of December 31, 1989 into the New Year of 1990. I was with my wife Tina and our first son Christian, together with my sister and brother-in-law. On our way to Queen Mary to watch fireworks. It was so dark due to blackouts, and thick fog covering the whole area, that I could not even see the car next to me nor in front of me. So, I decided to just park the car and stay on one side….and watched for the day light to come back.

 

I was in the driver seat of our van, and as I was resting, my hands on the steering wheel, and just staring ahead…. I then saw a clear “VISION”, of several people in the crowd carrying unlighted candles.  And I saw myself in that vision, holding a lighted candle running away from them as they were following me. They kept on running after me, wanting to light up their candles from my candle…. but I kept on running away from them, yet my candle stayed lit up!

 

Then the Lord gave me a “WORD”, found in the book of Isaiah Chapter 60…All these words are about the “MESSIAH”, the coming to past of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as I read and meditated upon these words, it become a RHEMA, a word of direction and foundation for the vision.

 

Isaiah 60:1-5, “Arise and Shine, for your light has come, and the Glory of the Lord rises upon you.

2 For BEHOLD, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness over the people…but the Lord rises upon you and His glory will be seen upon you.

3 The Gentiles [unbelievers] shall come to your LIGHT and kings to the brightness of your rising!

4 Lift up your eyes and look all around you and see…. they all gathered together! They come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be near at your sides.

5 Then you shall see and become radiant! Your heart shall swell with joy! Because the abundance of the sea shall be turn to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you!”

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Persistently, the vision appeared before my eyes, four times on different situations & locations, around Southbay area. I knew exactly what the Lord wants me to do, but like Moses, I was “afraid” to do it!

 

Yet, something within me was nagging me about this special mission.  Still, I shelved it…. I put it on hold…. put aside. Yes, it had nagged me, at my whole being---yet then, I kept ignoring what God was imploring for me to do.

 

March 17,1995

I voluntarily gave my blood to the Red Cross of America. On about the third day, I received a phone call informing me that I must visit my Primary Doctor, for a general checkup.  At the same time, I received a letter from the Red Cross, stating that I have serious problem with my blood and that they are unable to use it.

 

In short, my primary doctor, Dr. Gregory Lewis, as well as four other doctors, confirmed that I was diagnosed Liver Cancer, that I must undergo chemotherapy.

 

In my Spirit, I was trying not to accept all that they were saying to me.  And I said to myself, ‘NO! this is not from GOD!” …and I could not submit myself into the chemotherapy.

 

And I ended up going fishing every day, in Redondo Beach…. sometimes three times a day. Every day, I was there talking and crying my heart out to GOD! “Lord, why do you let this thing happen to me?”

 

Then one day, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me saying, ‘Whose report are you going to believe…. My report, or others reports?”  Clearly, He said to me “Don’t you know that my WORDS is a medicine and a health to your flesh?”  This is what the Lord has clearly spoken to me.

 

Hence, the Spirit of the Lord has suddenly given me my PEACE of mind!

So, I stopped blaming GOD and asking so many questions about this sickness that I received, and I then started going to Bible School, spending time, doing works for God, helping churches.

 

September 20,1998

Right after I graduated from Bible School, on my way to the bank I stopped by Del Amo Mall, Torrance, where I accidentally run into Dr. Lewis.  In his amazement he said, “Mr. Go, how you been doing? He held my hand saying, could you visit me next week? And as I went to my Doctor’s office for a visit, he immediately made an order to check my blood once again. In less than a week, Dr. Lewis had personally called me with excitement in his voice saying, Mr. Go, the result of your blood is all good, no trace of cancer is found in all the test.

 

Glory to God, Glory to God! In my spirit I was truly rejoicing and promised to God that I am going to serve Him and do whatever He wants me to do with all my heart.

 

Again, I just put aside everything. YES!!! I saw the light of this “VISION” and I can’t be ignoring it any longer. The Lord kept on reminding me with that vision of light, but like Moses…. “I WAS VERY AFRAID!!!”

 

December 27, 1998

My son Spencer, 2 years old and my youngest son Clarence, just one year old then, were both suffering from vomiting and diarrhea at the same time.  I took them to the doctor, and they were admitted to the hospital.

When I was in the hospital, attending to my 2 boys, my young children, and I were talking to God, “Lord have Mercy! What is your message for me, why this is happening…. why are we here in the hospital? And we are going to split up our New Year, here?!”  He gave me no answer then….

 

And I said ‘Lord, whatever you want me to do, I promise that I will do it!  Yes, Lord I know, and I will answer now…. YES! to this “CALLING” that you want me to do!”

 

I remember that the next day December 28th, I was still in the hospital, and it was almost midnight, almost December 29th, when I stepped out of the hospital to go home, as my wife was about to relieve me. As I was heading out of Torrance Memorial Hospital, I saw that it was real foggy.  I went back upstairs, but the nurse told us that only one person can stay.  So, I had to go home.

 

As I was driving by Crenshaw Blvd. (I’m familiar with the street because I used to work there), and as I stop at one stop sign (I remember it was 12 o’clock) and I was seeing this “vision” once again!

 

Only, this time something went differently.  I saw myself still carrying a “lighted” candle in my hand, but I saw everyone, multitude of people that I saw from the first vision in 1989, but this time they were not running toward me with their “Lighted” candles in their hands!  They’d go to different houses, sharing the LIGHT of Jesus Christ to everyone!

“Oh YES Lord!” I exclaimed rejoicing, “Thank you so much!!! For you clearly revealed to me what you want me to do!”

Boldly and courageously, this time I said “Lord, YES! We will start “Your Church!”; that was almost end of December 1998 going to 1999.

 

I continued to support Pastors, but for some reason during the early part of 1999, wherever I go, message after message was all a confirmation or direction to what God wants me to do in establishing this church.

 

Until one day, I was sitting with my wife, the Lord started giving us the name of this Church “Lamplighter Christian Fellowship.” For Surely the Word of God is the LAMP to our feet and the LIGHT to our path!  (Psalms 119:105)

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Then my wife and I started putting together something that can create a logo for this Church; and to God be the Glory, the logo that we have right now was given even before we started having this church.  “We are thankful to God for everything!”

 

As we started working together, I said to God one day, “Lord, we are going to start this church, give me a clear direction! Provide all our needs, because I want a church Lord, that will experience a bountiful blessing …to bless others!

 

VISION CONFIRMATION:

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A. Specific Direction.

 

1. The Lord specifically revealed to me the local vision of this church, as the Lord repeatedly showed in the vision.

2. Then, He even expanded this vision worldwide, as we are spiritually growing and numerically multiplying to…

3. The Goal to become a”……” of this generation. To become an Active Church Touching Souls by Living in God’s Holiness & Truth. 

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B. Tools for Evangelism.

I remember, It was the month of April before Easter Sunday, and someone came to me and said, “I don’t know what you need, but the Lord is telling me that I can be a big help to you! “

 

Without thinking and knowing I said, “I’m about to start a church, and I need a lot of help that I can get! “

 

She then started telling me “Oh I know someone who can help you!“ 

 

And she introduced me to a person, and this person said, “I can help you. Yes indeed, I can put tools in your hands that can help bring people in your church.  I will put you in our waiting list… to be able to receive food; food you can give to the people in your community.”

 

C. Pastor Rene’s Vision.

That following month of May, Pastor Rene called me one day, and that he wanted to talk to me about the revelation that he received from the Lord, and we had setup a breakfast meeting, we sat down and compared notes.  He was surprised, and I was surprised… because his notes and my notes were almost the same.

 

Pastor Rene conveyed to me, “This vision was that, he was sitting in one church service waiting for a Pastor to preach.  There’s a room behind the stage, and the Pastor that will come out from that room, the Lord said, will become his Pastor to help and work with. 

 

So, he was just waiting there, … and to his astonishment, he could hardly believe his eyes…he saw ME in that vision, stepping out of the room and coming up to the stage.

He even questions himself and the Lord, for there were other Pastors in his mind who could really need his help. He was totally amazed that I was the one … someone younger than him.

 

D. Church registration.

There were so many Pastors who promised to help me, but no one was able to make time for anything to help me.  But by the grace of God, I was able to put everything together through the help of God. 

 

I took two weeks leave of absence from work, to put everything together.  And I registered the church with the State of California and got approved in just a short period of time.  I then forwarded it to the IRS, and I received all our paper works just in time. I was gladly surprised!

 

Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call from the warehouse to receive the food that we are going to distribute in the South Bay area.  It was timely, for when I got there, first thing that they asked for was, our church tax exempt number as a non-profit organization. 

 

E. Church overflowing blessings.

This was time of the year Y2K 2000-year millennium. Everybody was panicking, buying so many things from the groceries, stocking up on food in their houses.

 

Indeed, the Lord was pouring the blessing in Lamplighter. We started receiving a lot of pasta, beans, rice, and all sorts of canned goods and other goodies.

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Gratefully I said, “Lord You truly are an amazing God!” This is a SIGN that this church wouldn’t be lacking for anything! --- for when there is a heavenly vision, there’s always a provision. 

 

July 25,1999

Lamplighter Christian Fellowship started at our house, where week after week we were having all kinds of services, and God said, “Once you have outgrown this place you have to move out.  But stubbornly after we outgrown this place, we still stayed there (in our own comfort zone); until one day, our house caught on fire, and we were forced to move out.

I believed the hand of the Lord moved in the life of every member of this church --as the tragedy eventually became a blessing in disguise.

 

So, there we were, our services moved around from one place to another--- we were like those wondering Jews! --- We were into different recreational halls, into multipurpose rooms in every parks here in Carson.  Until one day, I was able to have a contract to stay in one park, the Callas Park --- but then again, that room was closed, and we could not use it anymore.

 

We ended up going to one house.  So, there we were --- I saw our people have no place to sit down.  It was so hot at that time --- In the middle of praise and worship, I was crying to the Lord, when suddenly, the Lord spoke to me saying,

 

“Do you really love me? “and I answered by saying, “Yes Lord!”

“If you really love me, give your best to me”

“Lord, I’m giving my best to you already. Everything, even my family, time and possession, I give them all to you.”

 Then to my disbelief, He specifically said, “Give me all of your savings, give it to this ministry”.

“Lord”, I started crying, “how much money, I’m supposed to give?”

The Lord gave me the figure that I was supposed to give --- and I was shocked when I saw it --- $30,000.

“Lord”, in aghast about it I said, “You know that’s all my money, I have 4 children to raise”.

“GIVE IT!” He said.

 

So, I went to look for my wife; she was attending to the children in the backyard of that said house.  I told my wife about the revelation, and I asked her if she was willing to agree with me in giving the money, and to my surprise, all that I heard from my wife was the words “Why Not?!” $30,000 I gave it --- we gave it to the ministry.  And everyone in the church in that place, they were all crying for joy! But I tell you this, everything that we do to the ministry, is all sacrificial offering to God --- for we love the Lord so very much!”

 

June 4, 2001

That’s how we got from that place to 227 East Carson St., in Carson --- where we effectively gave the food away for the glory of God!  Where a lot of senior citizen, people in general started coming; and we started paying that place every month.  A very small place. But to God be the Glory, the Lord gave us a chance to have a multiple service there.  We stayed there for two years.

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This church is growing. This is a potential church that will explore.

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And by faith, as what happened to our Thanksgiving 2002 celebration in our backyard, in our newly remodeled haven --- when a literal hurricane took place. Everyone experienced the “MOVE” of God, as we were having our candlelight service at that solemn time when everyone has lit up their candles in spiritual Thanksgiving; when waves of strong wind were moving up and down, the roof of the tent in the backyard.  Yet, the neighboring houses, the neighboring places, they did not even have the wind.

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What more, after that wind, the rain was pouring all over the place --- yet again, nothing and no rain outside.  It is a “sign” that the Lord is in us to faithfully fulfill His promise to bless us bountifully!”

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June 6, 2003

Now we are here in this place in Dominguez St., a little more spacious… but I believe this is not the place that God truly wants us to have, because this place is still not sufficient for what God wants us to do in the future.

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Then, --- as promised, that before we moved into this place, from Carson St. to Dominguez St., the Lord is waiting for us --- to show us a sign, wonders and miracles in this new place.

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Sure enough, last Father’s Day celebration June 15, 2003, there was this 90 years old man, by the name of Fernando Corpus --- the Lord used him!  That after the praise and worship, and as soon as I stepped up to the pulpit, and I declared the Promise of God once again, that was given to me back in 1989… found in the book of Isaiah Chapter 60:1-5, “TO RISE AND SHINE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD IS WITHIN US.”

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To God be the glory, right after I shared that rock, --- the work of Satan was part to manifest amid our congregation, and one person literally died--- in a few minutes in this place.  No pulse, no heart-beat according to some nurses that we have. They could feel, Nothing!

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The two daughters, celebrating Father’s Day with their Dad, were holding hands and both agreed to release their father to God that day.

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But I could not accept it, “God!” I said “this is not your promise to us!!! Lord this is not true!”  I started bargaining with God, “Lord this can’t be true! I start binding the spirit of death together with other leaders of the church over the life of this person!”

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To God be the Glory, the Lord spoke to me, as others are still praying and interceding for this man, “to sing a lively song, some old but powerful charismatic songs.”  So, I started singing --- I asked the guitarist, the drummer, the whole congregation to start singing with me; that “In the name of Jesus, there is power! There is cure! There is healing in the name of Jesus!”

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All these promises, and after a few minutes, I saw this man started moving, --- came back to life! Started coughing then started singing with us…and clapping his hands.  This is a SIGN that the Glory of God is with us!  HE IS WITH US!

This church is a church of “PROMISE”! A church of deliverance! A church of healing! A church of refuge!

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1 Corinthians 1:26-29, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before Him.”