April 21, 2020 marks Cornerstone Church's 25th Anniversary (April 21, 1996) The picture above is from our 2020 Easter Service conducted outside in the parking lot due to the Covid-19 situation. Robert Fellows (who has been with us since our Broken Bow, Nebraska days ushered, and Don Fleming who has been with us since 1998 set up our sound system to play through car fm radio. We had a great time, though unusual and a little awkward. 

My family and I moved to Jacksonville in July 1995 from Broken Bow, Nebraska to assist Pastor Larry Easton and International Christian Center who were going through one of the worst situations a church can endure. After almost a year, the burden fell to me entirely and we formed Cornerstone Church with a remnant of 84 people who became our charter members. We started in a 3,000 seat auditorium and have moved 5 times since to this location we are about to occupy on Atlantic Blvd.

We have seen most of the original people and many others come and go as people do through death, job transfers, being sent out to mission fields and other ministries, and of course, the occasional falling away. It has been challenging to my faith to say the least, but through it all God has sustained us, blessed us, and continued to use us for His Glory. I cannot say how many have been saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit, healed, delivered, discipled etc. I am not great at keeping statistics. I know it has been many here and abroad. I appreciate those few who are still working by my side to this day more than they will ever know. I can truly say, I have not been abandoned by God or my friends! There are many in the city (and worldwide) who still call me "Pastor" and for that I am thankful.

I never expected to celebrate our 25th anniversary this way. I will be making a special anniversary YouTube video for Sunday April 19th. (youtube.com/ronnydthomason) and God willing we will meet soon to have a proper celebration. 

Though I am tempted to be nostalgic about the past and remember those who have passed through our lives, I am determined to be forward minded and ever hopeful that God will reveal His purposes for all that has happened and also bring about the long awaited spiritual renewal that we know is coming. I am hanging on, and hanging in, determined to reap the harvest we have been promised!

Thank you all who have been a part of this journey! God bless you for allowing us to come along side you and your families for the Glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom in your hearts.

Pastor Ronny D. Thomason

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARLEE!

My Grand Daughter is now 12 years old as of  April 2nd.  She is a wonderful young lady who loves Jesus, Family, Horses, Dogs, Cats etc. The most wonderful thing is that she loves me! She found her way into my heart the day she was born and has grown up there. I am very pleased with the person she became.. I am also proud of Aaron and Stephanie for the job they are doing with both Ethan and Marlee. I am so excited about the next 10 years of their lives. I know they are going to make some good, wise decisions and they have the boldness to go for the destiny God has placed before them.
Marlee's birth came at a time in my life when I needed a forward outlook. Something happened in me to cause me to want to live a long time!

On this date, March 26, 1970 Fifty Years ago, I married Norma Joyce Pratt. For 33 of those years, she was faithfully and lovingly at my side through thick and thin in Pastoral ministry and raising our two children. They were great years, mostly because she was there. I miss her (Sept 4, 2003) but know that her reward in Heaven is great and her legacy lives on here. She is not forgotten!

Dr. Robert "Papa" Doorn

Ninety Year Old Robert Doorn will be making his annual visit to Cornerstone Church in Jacksonville, Florida to speak in the Sunday Morning Christmas Service on December 22, 2019.  Papa Doorn has been in full time ministry for over 70 years in various capacities (Pastor, Missionary, Administration, etc.) along with his recently departed wife, Glenyce. Together, they ministered in over 60 nations Pioneering Full Gospel churches, Bible schools, orphanages, and setting in motion Gospel works that have produced much fruit to the Glory of God.  We first met Papa & Mama Doorn in 2000 and since then have hosted them for the Christmas Sunday sermon. This year will be bitter-sweet with the passing of Mama in October, but it will be very, very special to be able to love on this worthy General of the Faith in our own humble church.  Following the service Sunday morning we will have dinner on the grounds. 

I have a special Thanksgiving “THANK YOU JESUS” this year. My son Aaron and his family were on their way from Mesa Arizona to LUBBOCK Texas for the holiday. Near Ruidosa New Mexico, they hit some ice and spun 360 degrees into the median. Their car stopped just short of oncoming traffic. They were able to get back onto the highway with no damage to themselves or the car. They drove on icy roads for hours and arrived at Stephanie’s parents home safely. I cannot let this pass without expressing my deepest gratitude to the Lord for His faithful care of my family and also for the many who travelled in bad weather this Thanksgiving week. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Always be thankful unto God. Why?
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above who never changes. ( James Chapter One). We owe Him our Thanks! And good people pay their debts!
Thankful people are honest people. They are pleasant to be around and therefore popular. Be thankful and you will not ever be lonely or miserable.
Again I say HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

ROBERT DEAN

ROBERT & GLENYCE DOORN

In the past few days we have said
Goodbye to two of our close friends and spiritual leaders. Dr. Robert "Bob" Dean and "Mama" Dr. Glenyce Doorn. 

Both of these powerful preachers and teachers of God's Word have greatly impacted their generation with faithful, long years of service. It has been my joy to know them when they were strong and active in ministry and to be their friend in these final days. They are now with the Lord in Heaven enjoying the fruits of their righteous labors and getting used to their new celestial bodies. For them we are happy, for us we feel great loss. We understand  that this is part of the "circle of life" and we cannot change it. We rejoice knowing that soon, we shall all be together again. Our prayers are for the comfort of Papa Doorn and Marti Dean as they endure grief and deal with the changes in their lives.

September 25-30, 2019 I traveled to Honduras with my friend from Atlanta, Ga. Rev. Ken Browning to visit with a couple of ministries we have worked with over the years: Workers Together With God in Comayagua and Love Without Boundaries in Zambrano. 

Our Comayagua visit included meeting with the Hospital Staff, School Staff, and preaching in the church all founded by the ministry of Jim and Linda Tjelmeland with Francisco and Anamy Jocol..  We also spoke at a Couples Meeting, Pastors' Meeting, and a church in nearby La Paz with my old friend Rey Vallecillo. 

The Clinic Hospital is being required to move, so we were there for some of the negotiations. At this time it looks like they have secured a two story hotel which will work great. 17  air conditioned hotel rooms with a bathroom in each, plus a nice area for operating and delivery rooms. It also has secure off street parking. This is all good!

 We were blessed to be in the country for their Day of the Bible Celebrations. On Sunday we were in Zambrano to participate in a city wide church gathering in the town's central park for a special worship service to honor the Bible. We spent some quality time with Pastors Danny & Pahola Sorto before leaving the country on Monday. 

It was a quick trip, but very rewarding. I enjoyed traveling with Ken Browning. He is a remarkable man, full of wisdom, experience and vision. He makes a great missions partner!

Rev. Ken Browning
Atlanta Georgia

Hurricane Dorian

The know-it-all's on television laughed at the notion that people were praying for this big storm to turn and miss Florida and the rest of the East Coast. They ridiculed the idea that prayer actually could change the weather. They implied that only simpletons would believe in such things.
Well, call me a simpleton then!

The Bible I read and believe, says that in the time of trouble, I should call upon the God who created all things and who still rules the Universe and He will hear me, and deliver me from danger.
History is full of eye witness accounts of how people prayed and the weather changed. I have personally seen with my own eyes how tornadoes, hail storms, and other weather threats have moved away or been dissolved after prayer. Yes, I and many other believers, were praying about this Dorian threat for days. It passed by us leaving relatively little damage. Whereas it was forecast to be the deadliest storm on record. Not a coincidence in my estimation! God heard and changed the course of nature because people dared to ask Him!
My God is Real! My God is always working, even in the storms! People who are worried about climate change and such things, just don't know God. They don't believe that He controls the Universe and this little planet Earth. They underestimate the Power of His Word and the Power of Prayer. 

On this day, Sept. 4th , 2003 Norma Joyce, my wife of 33 years, went to Heaven. It was her day of Victory and my worst day ever. As the years have passed life has continued on for us. Our family has grown. I have married Ruth (11 years now) and grandchildren have entered the picture.  We are blessed and happy. There will always be a huge place in our hearts for Norma. She is waiting for us to join her there. How wonderful that day will be!!!