Biography of Pastor Roger W. Hickernell
"But by the grace of God I am what I am and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain..." I Corinthians 15:10a,b
My biography is to let the reader know the "who" is behind this site, and along with my doctrinal statement define my scriptural positions that the reader may have confidence in the information provided. My biography is also to show God's will and work in my life as to where I was, where I've been, where I'm at, and where I hope yet to go for the glory of God! My spiritual journey began at my new birth in September 1967 at age 25 when I repented of my sin and trusted/received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. From secular work into full-time service for the Lord in June 1971, the Lord led me through fundamental Bible schools that were "old school" while giving me the privilege of serving Him at the same time. I attended Harrisburg School of the Bible, Philadelphia College of Bible, and then graduated in 1977 from Calvary Bible Institute of Delaware County, PA with a 4-year Bible Diploma.
During my schooling and in full-time service I served in these various ministry capacities: Child Evangelism Director of Delaware County, PA; Visitation Minister of Marcus Hook Baptist Church; Senior Pastor of Grace Ind. Baptist Church in Penndel, PA for 9 and 1/2 years. God then called & led me to be a Church Planter in South Philadelphia, PA, starting the Open Door Baptist Church in 1985, later merging 2 churches and then re-naming the combined Church, Lighthouse Independent Baptist Church of South Philadelphia. I stayed 21 years in Philadelphia moving then to South Carolina where I served as a Visitation Minister, Associate Pastor, Mission Board Representative, and Interim Pastor.
I returned to Pennsylvania in 2011 and am presently working full-time in an electrical supply company while filling pulpit supply. I am waiting, watching, and working toward the Lord's leading in a "Revival For Survival" preaching ministry. It has been and still is a wonderful journey thus far, not becoming famous yet still bearing Holy Spirit fruit and seeing the fruits of the ministries God placed my wife and I in. Our marriage of 50 years in 2013 still finds us looking forward to greater works ahead! Our goal is to BE what God wants us to be and DO what He wants us to do! Living in the Philadelphia area I anticipate week-night, week-end meetings for revival preaching, seeking to be a spiritual, stirring help to drying-up Christians and dying-out churches! Paul's testimony is so like the credit and glory I seek to give my triune Godhead as found in 1 Corinthians 15:10, adding, "For me to live is Christ but to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21)