Brief Church History
In 1991, upon completion of the licensing to preach examination, Reverend Stephen J. Wright went before the New Jersey State District Council of the Assemblies of God. The Council stated a need for a church to be planted in Ventnor City. They opened this proposal to Reverend Wright to carry out the task. He accepted the call.
Pastor Steve and Dianne Wright became missionaries in Ventnor City, N.J. on Absecon Island. Through financial support from a select few and much prayer support, they established The Way of Life Assembly of God Church in hope to bring spiritual direction to those who are seeking.
On the first Sunday of January of 1992, a handful of believers met together at the Knights of Pythias, located at 6508 Ventnor Ave. in Ventnor, NJ for the first official service of The Way of Life Assembly of God Church. Prior to that, there had been weekly prayer meetings in the Wrights' Medford, NJ home, door-to-door evangelism throughout Ventnor City and much planning with the N.J. District Office of the Assemblies of God.
A woman from Trinidad was the first visitor to the church. She offered the beachfront home where she worked as a servant to be the meeting place for the church's first weekday cell group meeting outside of the church. Thus began the first of many home bible study groups in the neighborhood.
After a couple of months, the congregation was a dozen strong and was looking at renting an abandoned church building located at 5000 Ventnor Ave. The owner was asking $3,000 per month. He agreed to $1,500 with the promise that all repairs would be made and the certificate of occupancy would be obtained. The church replaced the furnace, repaired all the plumbing, met the fire inspectors' requirements for light and exit signs, re-landscaped the grounds and repaired and painted the exterior and the interior of the building.
Since then, the doors have remained opened to people from all walks of life, i.e., the homeless, the prostitutes, those caught up in their addictions, gypsies, divorcees, families, those of all nations, for each are precious in God's sight.
