Our History

Dr. Wesley Pinnock founded the True Light Fellowship Church when he heard the call of God to leave Deliverance Evangelistic Church in 1995 with the objective in mind to do God's will. He followed God's call, not knowing what to expect and not expecting approximately 300 people from the Deliverance congregation to follow and ask him to be their pastor! True Light was founded April 16, 1995 as a result, and met for the first year and 11 months in a rented church facility at 11th and Grange Avenue in the Olney section of the city.

The church had already drawn over 530 members from the surrounding community. Of that number, many were new Christians, born again since the church's inception. Two early morning services were conducted: the 7:00AM worship service was quickly joined by an additional 9:30AM service as the church quickly grew. It is estimated that the total attendance for these two services was about six hundred people. Weekly services included Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting and Bible Study. All night prayer sessions were held on a monthly basis.

From the beginning, the church looked all over most sections of the city for a building of its own. The process was made difficult by the fact that banks would not lend money to any ministry that had not been in existence for more than three years. In the providence of God, however, Dr. Pinnock received an offer from The New Covenant Church of Philadelphia, which had purchased a larger facility, to acquire their former building at Ardleigh and Johnson Streets in the East Mt. Airy section of the city. True Light moved into the new building in March 1997, signing the settlement papers on a Wednesday morning and holding service at the church that same evening! The congregation was blessed beyond measure to come into a building that was fully equipped and ready for use.

Additionally, once the church was started, ministry was limited by the fact that True Light had neither facility nor funds to acquire a facility in which activities could be conducted. There was also no money to hire staff persons who could give leadership to the various facets of ministry. Throughout these struggles, Dr. Pinnock emphasized the Lord's leading to leave Deliverance. He was in the will of God and doing what God had called him to do. With regard to resources, True Light has relied upon the fact that if God has called them to do ministry, then He will provide the necessary means - a belief that was amply demonstrated in the provision of a facility!

Having to share space with another ministry through renting, True Light learned much about humility and patience. The first year and 11 months taught the core group important lessons about working together, getting to know and trust each other, and being "about Jesus, not 'my' space." Bonding through adversity became a blessing in disguise as it helped to make the church much stronger. The church was also afforded the opportunity to prove itself faithful with a temporary facility and then to experience the blessing of being entrusted with even more. Additionally, True Light learned what it means to depend on God. After coming from a church with over 8,000 members and starting from scratch with no money, staff, or programs, True Light had little of what it was familiar with, save a tremendous faith in God. In addition to lessons learned from experience, Dr. Pinnock also stresses the importance of freedom in worship, expressing love for God in relationship with Him. The hearts of people, walking in love, are what really count. Church attendance is not a duty, nor is it based on judgmental attitudes, but flows from personal contact with a loving God. This love for God subsequently overflows in concern and love for others, as it seeks to love in word and deed with the ultimate goal being conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.