New church opens its doors in Milltown
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MILLTOWN - The borough's newest church is reaching out to the community as part of its "year of enlargement."

The Tabernacle of Glory, a non-denominational church, has found a temporary home in the chapel at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 62 S. Main St., as part of what they call a "church plant."

"Because of the need to aid the people and better serve the people through the guidance of the Lord, we started the church here," said Pastor Kathleen Schwartzer.

The church held its first monthly service last summer. It is limiting services to the fourth Sunday of each month at 4:30 p.m. while it undergoes the process of acquiring more members.

It also holds Bible fellowships once a month on the second Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the home of a church member. Next month, members plan to take to the streets of Milltown and evangelize to the public. The church will try to reach out to the area's large youth population, including college students.

"This is only the start for us," said Schwartzer. "As God forms us and we get rooted and established, there is no doubt in my mind that we will grow."

Representatives of other churches have paid visits to Tabernacle of Glory's new location, which was a positive show of support, Schwartzer said. Plans for fundraisers are in the works to help with various undertakings of the church, including finding a permanent location in Milltown.

Tabernacle of Glory's home church is located in Asbury Park. That church has been in existence since 1997. Offshoots of the church have sprouted in Nyahururu, Kenya and Lokoja, Nigeria under the leadership of senior pastor Joseph Okpanachi. The church has acquired and cleared a piece of land in Neptune, where it will eventually build another church building, as well as recreational facilities.

"Our mission is to equip and empower God's people and change lives through compassion, because we have a love for Christ, we have a passion for God, and we have a love for the people," said Schwartzer.

For more information on Tabernacle of Glory, call its headquarters at (732) 774-8353, or visit the Web site at www.Tabofglory.org.