New Addition to the Mission Lighthouse Ministry Website

Happy New Years to all our friends and family!

The Jewish Star of David

Just wanted to let you know that I have been working on my own little section of our website that could be a big hit, a time for major debate as we have seen throughout the centuries since the birth of Jesus Christ, but along with Alex Aleman, I am in agreement that we need a section that talks directly to our Jewish brothers and sisters about the Lord Jesus Christ.

There have been some great discussion about Jesus being born Jewish, working as a Jewish carpenter and dying on the Cross for all of humankind and taking the burdens of sin with Him.  There have also been great debates about the miracles that He performed throughout His ministry as well as the fact that He was raised from the dead three days after He was buried.

Along with these debates are the many books that have been written about the Jewish objections to Jesus.  One series that I particularly like is the series of books written by Michael L. Brown, who, like myself was born Jewish and has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Messiah. I am not sure if he took the symbolic steps of Baptism, but this is something I hope to talk with him about personally.

I am actually working on a series about the Jewish objections to Jesus and will be using both the Old and New Testament (Application Study Bible, New International Version).  In reading Michael Brown's Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, Theological Objections, 2000, he looks at 28 of the objections and gives heartwarming and heartfelt answers so not to upset either his Christian brethren or Jewish Brethren.  This book is Volume Two out of Four.

I will be quoting some ideas from his books as they are good and think they help us witness to our Jewish brothers and sisters.  I am not here to convert anyone.  I am to just state what is said in the Holy Bible and to share these statements, verses, scriptures and what is also known as The Good News, The Gospels of Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, most of you who read our blog, know that I am not a Jews for Jesus.  What I am is a Completed Jew as I have accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, accepted Him as the Son of God and have accepted Him as the Messiah that I have been looking and yearning for all of my life and I also committed to the act of Baptismal by being immersed into water and raised again.

To my Jewish brothers and sisters, I love you as I love my Christian brethren and I truly hope that you will see what it is that I am presenting to you, not to say that I have forgotten my heritage, but that I have truly found the Messiah and hope that one day you will follow me.

The series on Jewish Objections to Christ will be presented at our website:  www.missionlighthouseministry.org.

In Christ,



David M. Brown
Atlanta, Georgia
Friday, December 31, 2010

Bible Series 2010 - Jesus Begins His Ministry: Matthew 4;12-17

The Sea of Galilee - where Jesus performed many miracles

From the time of Jesus' birth, as we learned in the Christmas Story until the day that He left home, we knew that Jesus was a carpenter, learning the trade from his earthly father, Joseph.    Now comes the second best part of the story of Jesus and this would be called, The Gospels - The Good News.  Jesus begins His ministry and what He is doing because of who He is is teaching what His Heavenly Father, God, wants Him to teach the Jews and the Gentiles.

Jesus, you see, was born human to humble Himself and so that He, God in human form, could walk naturally among the people and to teach them about Heavenly Things.  And with this, we as humans, Christian's, we learn through Christ how to be good witnesses to the people and to teach them about Him and about the same Heavenly Things that Jesus taught and preached about to the people of His day.

So, here is what the Life Application Study Bible, NIV, ppgs. 1535-1536, Matthew 4:12-17 says about Jesus and the beginnings of His ministry:  Jesus preaches in Galilee "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in  the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way to the sea, along the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles -

the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near."'

Matthew in 4:17 uses the word heaven instead of the name of God because the Jews had reverence and respect for God.  For many years, I wondered why when we wrote the word God on paper His name was written:  G-d.  

Ruins of Synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus preached

Jesus left his hometown of Nazareth and left for Carpernaum because there were many more people in that town and possibly because He had a lot of opposition in Nazareth.  He also felt that he could reach more people and use the resources in the town to support His ministry.  Does this not sound like how a politician would work?  A politician usually and always does better when he has a place where he can reach more people with what he has to say.  However, Jesus was not a politician.  He was everything.  He was a Wonderful Counselor to the people, He did not lie, He did not sin, period.  He was and is the One and Only One who lifts carries the burden of government on His shoulders.  This is mentioned in the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah as well.

Isaiah 9:6 says it this way:  "For to us a child is born,

to us a child is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Jesus was called and referred to as many names, but the most important is that He was called The Son of God.

Matthew quoted much from the Old Testament because this helped his Jewish readers as they knew the scriptures.  This was also important because it made many of them come to the realization that He was the Son of God, the King of the Jewish people and the King of Kings.

Jesus' problems of course started as His ministry started.  Many Jews felt that He was blaspheming because He was referred to as the Son of God.  

So, next, we will be looking into the Four Fishermen who end up following Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).

Also, Alex and I will be holding our next podcast soon.  It will be entitled, "How technology effects family:  Good and Bad."

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dave

Tucker, Georgia

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve

Mount Carmel CC Youth Christmas Production

(Note:  By clicking on the title of this blog, you will be taken to the slideshow of pictures taken during the performance.  Click your browsers refresh button to return to the blog site when you are done. Thanks.)

On Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 7pm, the youth ranging from 4 years old to teenage years from Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain, held its annual Christmas Plays.  The younger children did a play entitled, "There is no room at the inn," and the older children did a play entitled, "The Christmas Kid."  Both plays were fantastic, well peformed with drama and even "slapstick" comedy.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dave and Alex

These photos are courtesy of Dave Brown Photos and More.

You will see that the lighting was not the best, but hopefully you will still enjoy the slideshow.

Bible Series 2010 - Satan Tempts Jesus in the Desert: Matthew 4:1-11

Wilderness of Judea where Jesus started His ministry.  

The definition of temptation according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is:  "The act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil." (synonym is enticement).  The word is a noun.  Day after day, no matter who we are and no matter where our faith lies, we are tempted to do something we just do not want to do.  So, what stops us from following through with temptation? 

One of the best ways to look at this answer is through Jesus' actions and answers to Satan in Matthew 4:1-11, which reads this way (Life Application Study Bible, NIV, pgs. 1534-1535) "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."'

Then Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."'

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down.  For it is written:  

"He will command His angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Jesus answered him, "It is also written, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.".

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  "All this I will give you," he said. "If you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan!  For it is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only."

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."

Jesus fought the devil with words that were strong and true.  He kept the mention of God in his mouth and in his mind and won over the devil with such.  The Word of God feeds the hungry.  Food, materialistic in its way, is not as important as the Word of God.  Jesus was hungry, there was no doubt.  Yet, with the Word of God, which filled him, he was able to send the devil away.

Something else that Jesus mentioned to the devil was not to test God.  We might find ourselves testing Him each and every day.  We ask him through prayer for things that we need and for things that we want.  We are tempted to ask God for deliverance from poverty when our bank accounts and our pockets are void of money/cash flow.  We are then put to the test when we ask Him for such.  God is patient, so must we be.  God hears our prayers and He will act when He feels the time is right.

A footnote in the Life Application Study Bible puts it this way, Matthew 4:5-7:  "God is not our magician in the sky ready to perform on request.  In response to Satan's temptations, Jesus said not to put God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16).  You may want to ask God to do something to prove His existence or his love for you.  Jesus once taught through a parable that people who don't believe what is written in the Bible won't believe even if someone were to come back from the dead to warn them (Luke 16:31)!  God wants us to live by faith, not by magic.  Don't try to manipulate God by asking Him for signs."

The last sentence in the paragraph above is something that I find myself doing way too much. I ask God for signs, knowing full well that in reading scripture, I learn that this is not the action to take.  So, I am doing what I can to teach this to others.  God is not magic.  He is the Father in Heaven and He is there for us.  He sent Jesus to earth to handle our problems as He continues to do today. 

Something more about temptation is this:  Temptation alone is not a sin.  When we decide to give into it, if we do, then does temptation become a sin.  By giving in to temptation, we are disobeying God. 

So, when you feel like giving into temptation, turn to the Word of God.  Know that Jesus was victorious over anything the devil could throw at him and so can you as you come to follow him. 

Next in line is:  Message and Ministry of Jesus.  The Gospel of Matthew features the Sermons of Jesus which I will begin in the next posting in our blog page.

Again, Alex and I thank you for reading our blogs on this site and please continue to visit our website at www.wix.com/alexdave/misson-2.  Alex did a great job re-working the website and I personally want to thank him for doing this.  It really looks great and we look forward to working with you and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them through our website or comment on these posts.

Merry Christmas!

There's Something About Mary

Cariie Aleman as Mary and Alex Aleman as Joseph in the Manger

There is something about Mary.  What can it be?  Well,  as a young girl, she was pregnant (there is belief that she was either 13 or 14 years old) with the King of Kings, The Lord and Savior, the Messiah.  In her bedroom one night, she was startled when an angel appeared and told her that she would be pregnant and that she would be carrying the King of the Jews.  She could not believe it, but she dealt with it as did her husband, a righteous man named Joseph.  The angel also appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that everything would be alright and that he would bear a son and that he should name him Jesus.

Mary and Joseph and their baby, Jesus Christ was definitely the focus of many churches this past weekend as they ran their Christmas programs, pageants and plays.  One church in particular is Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia, the home church of Alex and Dave.  Sunday evening, the Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir and drama team performed the adaptation and musical score of The Christmas Song, arranged by  Bradley Knight and created by Bradley Knight, Heidi Petak and Johnathan Crumpton in front of more than 600 people including church members, their families and members of the community.  It was a blessing to many as the choir sang beautifully and the drama was performed flawlessly.

The night was perfect for a Christmas production in Stone Mountain as snow showers were blanketing the area and the temperatures on the outside were falling into the twenties.  It really made it feel like Christmas and it was a great night.  The temperatures in the main sanctuary of the church however were warm and that was the purpose of this production, to warm the hearts of the audience to Jesus Christ and His coming into the world.

The night opened with a couple of songs from The Ladies Ensemble of Mount Carmel Christian Church, a song from the trio of Trudy Daffron, Carrie Aleman and Joy Boone.  Then Trudy sang a beautiful solo that resonated across the lands.  Following the Ladies Ensemble, the sanctuary went quiet and the choir gracefully entered and took its place in the choir loft.  Trudy Daffron, the director of the production, took her place at the music stand and within a minute or so, the choir opened with The Christmas Song to start the musical score.  Then came the opening scene of the drama.  It was Mary speaking with her friend Ruth (played by Gerry McKinney).

Following the scene of Mary and Ruth talking about Joseph and where he was, the angel (played beautifully by David Swangel) appeared to Mary to announce that she would be pregnant with child, the Son of God, the King of Kings.  Then Mary (played ever so beautifully by Carrie Aleman), sang My Savior and My Son about her coming birth to Jesus.  Following this scene, the angel again appeared, this time to a sleeping Joseph (played by Alex Aleman).  The angel appeared in his dream and when he awoke, he sang his part of My Savior and My Son and the angel disappeared.  Mary and Joseph met at center stage and concluded the song with grace and beauty.

Then came the decree announced by the Roman Official, played flawlessly by Keith Wall.  The people gathered along with Mary and Joseph to hear the decree and then it was time for the Journey that they took to find a place to have the baby Jesus.  They went from inn to inn and they came across one where the innkeeper (played by Dave Brown) flat out rejected them a room at the inn.  Following this scene, Kerri Marsh sang the song, No Room.

The next scene was again with Mary and Ruth where a letter was read by Mary from Ruth.  Following this was the scene of The Angel Announcement and the scene with the Shepherd Shem (played out beautifully by Jim Nelson) who pointed to the skies showing the angels as they came singing about the coming of the Christ Jesus.  The other shepherds were played by Miles Johnson, David Kelley, Caleb Stansberry and Alex Wright.  Following this scene the choir broke out in a beautiful Nativity Medley.

The next scene was one that really put the production into overdrive.  This was when the three kings visited King Herod (played incredibly by Tony Myers).  The three kings were played by Dave Collier, Mark McClanahan and Jay Wright.  The soloists for the Visit to Herod were Jack Randall, Bruce Wood and Carlos Guerra.  One of the greatest songs of the production and extremely powerful was the Procession of the Kings when the Kings came to visit the Nativity Scene bearing gifts for the Christ Jesus.

Then, again, Mary enters to sing, Who Would Imagine a King? and once again the audience's heart's were warmed to the music and to the message.  As the program was winding down, the scene, He is the King was played out by Mary, Joseph, Ruth, Shem, the Three Kings and the shepherds all standing in front of the Nativity.

The Finale, Joy, Joy with the Christmas Song was sung beautifully and gracefully by Heidi Swangel.  Following the finale, Pastor Wye Huxford thanked the audience for attending and thanked the choir and the drama team for a great night presenting the Christmas Story.  The choir then finished off with a reprise of the Christmas Song.

The production was just totally flawless.  There was so much that went into the making of the production and it was no less than a family coming together to make it one of the greatest productions ever at Mount Carmel Christian Church.  There were so many people involved in putting it together that it is hard to mention them all.  They know who they are and they were the sound and slide team, the lighting team, the videography team, the construction team, the stage manager and crew, costuming (Gerry McKinney and Joyce Stanfield), the Reception following the production (Sally Young) and the printing team.  Without everyone's involvement, the production would not have been as great as it was.

A special and straight from the heart message to Trudy Daffron as well:  She leads the Ladies Ensemble, the Choir and is grandmother to Christina and Chloe.  She definitely put everything that she had into this production and her time was well worth it.  She did a totally beautiful job getting it done and thanks for leading us all.  Fantastic, just fantastic.

As the title of this post says, "There is Something About Mary," and there certainly was.  It would be wrong not to mention the importance of what it was about Mary in this production.  Carrie Aleman, daughter to Larry and Trudy Daffron, wife to Alexander Aleman and mother to Christina and Chloe, two beautiful girls, really out did herself in this production.  She has played Mary a couple of times before this in other productions at the church, but this one really was so much more.  To sing with the Ladies Ensemble, work with the drama team to make sure that they were ready and to play Mary (the beautiful center piece to it all) with dialogue and  music, says it all.  She has the incredible God given talent to bring Mary to life like no other.

Carrie Aleman did attend Valdosta State University in South Georgia and received a degree in Drama in 1997.  She has sung and played out drama in many different plays and productions and she still goes strong as she has to go in so many directions being a mother to two beautiful girls.  She certainly brought the mother of Jesus to light this fine, snowy and cold evening.  Her performance along with everyone involved really warmed the heart's of the audience, no doubt.

The night concluded with refreshments and a time of fellowship and this is what it is all about:  The love of a church family.  The love that Jesus Christ showed us and still shows us today.  He was born, He touched the heart's of so many during His day of teaching, He died on the Cross for all of us, for our sins, our transgressions and He did this with no reservations.  He knew it was coming and He took our burdens with Him to His Father God in Heaven.

Two days after the performance, I feel even more love to Jesus Christ and to my church family and friends than ever before.  It was not about egos and who did what better.  We all know it is about Jesus Christ and what it is He did for us.

Mount Carmel Christian Church, you are loved ever so much more for being Christ centered and there is no doubt that this is what it is all about - THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

There is a brief slide show on this blog page for you to view as well.  The music is not that of the choir or the players in the production but it is beautiful none-the-less.

Merry Christmas to you all and to all a great night!

Dave Brown
Grayson, Georgia
Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Alex Aleman Music

Here are some samples of Alex Aleman's Music as promised.  He has written and performed many songs over the span of 20 or so years.  We will be posting samples of old and new music as it becomes available.  Alex is available for concerts and more for churches, youth ministries, retreats and bible study classes.

Please contact Dave Brown, co-founder of Mission Lighthouse Ministry for scheduling/booking at 404-494-6718 or at missionlighthouseministry@gmail.com.

Thanks.

Alex Aleman Music

Bible Series 2010: John Baptizes Jesus: Matthew 3:13-17

Have you ever thought about whether you have a big ego or not?  Are you greedy and want more or can you step back and realize that you are not really better than others and that we are all created the same in some respect or another?  Yes, some of us have more than others, but we have to know that what we have is materialistic and not something we can keep forever.  Is it best to be headstrong and always want to rule the day or again, taking a step back and know that not everyone has the same qualities?

When I say that we are created the same, I am saying that God created man and from man he created woman.  These are the only differences there are.  The color of our skin, whether or not our inner and outer beauty is different, our system of political belief does not mean a thing when it comes to God.  God is all knowing, He is all-powerful and the Ultimate Authority and believe you and me, He can giveth and He can taketh away.

Think of the day that John the Baptist was in the desert, in the Jordan River and He was having a "field day."  He was standing practically waist deep in the Jordan River and was watching as man after man came to him to be baptized.  He was enjoying the day and what it was that He was accomplishing.  He knew that the Day of the Lord was coming, He had no idea it was that particular day.  Nothing could stop him and he had every right to have an ego.  However, the time came very quickly where he had to take a step back because, guess what, The Lord Jesus Christ came to be baptized by John himself.

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.  But John tried to deter Him, saying, '"I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"'

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."  Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.  At that moment, heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased."  (Matthew 3:13-17, Life Application Study Bible, NIV).

John the Baptist did what we all need to do once in a while.  Know that we as individuals are not better than another.  We may have more, we may be smarter, we may be better looking, but if you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and that He is the Messiah and the Son of God, then know that He is all what is perfect about society.  Nothing less, nothing and nobody more.

I did say that I would bring up a question for discussion and that is:  "Does Repentance precede Faith?"  Well, I will do the best I can to answer this and then you can certainly leave your comments and if you want them shared, let me know and I will keep them posted here for 30 days.  Here is what I believe.  If you are sinful in nature and have yet to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, then yes, to repent first and then lead your way into faith is the answer.  At the same time, when you know in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He is the Son of God, then say so.  Do not be afraid, do not be worried.  Jesus went to the Cross to lift the burden of sin from our shoulders.  No one else did this.  As John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:1, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near."  He certainly did know this because the Lord Jesus stepped into the Jordan River to be baptized by him.

Finally, I want to share what the footnote in the Life Application Bible, NIV, page 1533 says about Matthew 3:15 and what I discussed earlier in this posting about ego:  Put yourself in John's shoes.  Your work is going well, people are taking notice, everything is growing.  But you know that the purpose of your work is to prepare the people for Jesus (John 1:35-37).  Then Jesus arrives, and His coming tests your integrity.  Will you be able to turn your followers over to Him?  John passed the test by publicly baptizing Jesus.  Soon he would say, "He must become greater, I must become less."  (John 3:30).  Can, we like John, put our egos and profitable work aside in order to point others to Jesus?  Are we willing to lose some of our status so that everyone will benefit?


I know that I can because I have.  God gives us a calling.  Not long ago, I had a conversation with a good friend who told me that I was 95% on the way to becoming successful but that I had to really take a long look and see what it is that I truly want to do.  I know growing up that I wanted to be a lawyer or an astronaut.  I was also told that I would make a good rabbi.  Well, it is certainly not going to be any of these careers for me, but God is calling me into the wilderness.  He is calling me to be successful in bringing people to the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, I am looking at returning to school to receive my second degree in Theology and Bible Study.

God is great!

This weekend is going to be long and it is going to be blessed.  Alex and I are joining our home church in the production of  The Christmas Song which I talked about in an earlier post and there is a map to our church if you so desire to come witness great music, great drama about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is Sunday evening, 6:30pm in the main sanctuary of Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain.  Directions are on this blog site. See you there.

I will be returning on Sunday evening to the blog with a post:  Satan Tempts Jesus in the Desert.

Have a blessed weekend and hope to see you at Mount Carmel Christian Church for The Christmas Song.

Dave Brown
Friday, December 10, 2010
Grayson, Georgia

Good Things Happening at Mission Lighthouse Ministry

So many things are happening with Mission Lighthouse Ministry at the present time which will lead to good things in the very near future.  As you may have already noticed, there is a long, black bar at the top of the blog page, right underneath the header.  This is an audio of Alex and I performing our first podcast, which is an exchange of dialogue between Alex and I for you.  We talk about how each of us came to accept Jesus Christ.

These podcasts are going to be a familiar part of this blog page as well as our website.  There will be links included in this blog posting.  Video's from Youtube have also been added at the bottom of the blog.  These are video sermons of Alex's.  He really did a great job in these videos. We are also looking to add clips of his music here as well.  You should be hearing these clips shortly.

We are so excited about the mission that God has given us.  With all that is going on in the world right now, times are so uncertain.  Watching some news today as I was somewhat under the weather (I heard somebody say this the other day and the response was, "We are all under the weather, are we not?), all I could hear are such terrible things.  One, for instance was the rallies and protests going on in the U.K.  Students are protesting because the U.K. Parliament raised tuition costs for school.  Here in the United States, there is dissention in the ranks on Capitol Hill on whether or not President Bush's tax cuts should be extended.  The Democrats are having a hard time siding with their leader right now.  Unemployment is still high right now and there is no end in sight.  So, what do people do when they are down and out?  They look for answers.

Why not subscribe to the Mission Lighthouse Ministry blog.  Alex and I are here to help you look at God in a whole new light as He is here to help us all.  Through Jesus Christ, you can find what you are looking for and it is all great!

The next blog posting will be in the morning and it is a continuation of my Bible Series 2010.  Tomorrow you will read about Jesus being baptized by John.  Consider this question and I will pose it again in tomorrow's blog:  "Does Repentance precede faith?"  This is a question that was posed on another blog entitled, "Bible Prophecy Blog" and it is an interesting question and is in debate most likely on a daily basis.

Thanks for another great day Lord God and thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ.  Amen.


David Brown
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Grayson, Georgia

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/DaveBrown64 (archive of podcasts and much, much more).

http://www.wix.com/alexdave/mission-lighthouse-ministry  (Our website).

Christmas 1915 - Celtic Thunder's Christmas Song is a big hit!

Maybe not everyone has heard the song yet, but it is a tear jerker to some degree, at least to me it is.  The song, Christmas 1915 by Celtic Thunder, an Irish Tenor Group, is one that I have listened to over and over to get the lyrics, which most of them are easy to learn and understand.  There is a story told in this song and it is one that resonates throughout the 20th and now the 21st Century.

Let me give you the story and then you can decide if you want to buy the c.d.  First of all, the way that I came across it is by flipping through the channels on television and found Celtic Thunder performing their Christmas special on PBS.  I need to watch this channel more as there are some great shows on the channel.  When I heard the song, I was not sure of what my reaction was going to be as my feelings toward the Germans is one of mixed feelings.  Well, let me back up.  I should actually say the Nazi Regime of World War II, not the Germans of World War I.

Anyway, the song, Christmas 1915 is about what was happening early on in the First World War.  It was, as most of you know through your history lessons a bloody, bloody war as most wars are.  The type of fighting that took place in France during this war was known as Trench Warfare.  This meant that both the British, the French, the Germans and then the Americans learned how to dig trenches and stay in them until there was a good time to charge at one another.  It was not an easy feat because there was an area called "No Man's Land" in between the trenches.

On Christmas in Nineteen Hundred and Fifteen, the guns went silent for a bit.  In the silence and in the mud and in No Man's Land, the British were able to hear a voice, strange to them as it was, singing a song with notes they knew (this is part of the lyrics of the song).  Then, we get to meet the German soldier, all of twenty-one years old, lying in No Man's Land between the trenches and singing a song of peace, entitled, "Silent Night."  Numerous times, verses from Silent Night is referenced in the song.

What is interesting to know is that a truce was briefly called so that the men from both sides of the conflict could meet in No Man's Land and exchange pictures, cigarettes and pots of wine and hand-in-hand, they sing about peace and about the Lord Jesus Christ ("A King is Born of Peace for evermore).

When Christmas 1915 ended, the canons roared onces again, and once again, the fighting ensued.  In the song, the tenors sing about how the German soldier all of 21 was killed in the renewed fighting.  He really never did get to experience what the world was truly coming to.

So, this song should resonate throughout this Christmas season if not throughout time.  Wars are truly not necessary but God has His reasons for what occurs on earth and we have to do what is right and be righteous in His eyes.  We have to stop misbehavin' and come to terms with what Peace and Goodwill To Men is all about.  For one day, a very short day, men who were given orders to kill, laid down their weapons to sing a song of Christmas.

I challenge the leaders of the world to lay down their differences, if not for eternity, but for one day, Christmas 2010.  Stop the bickering, stop the in-fighting and share the pictures of what was and is good.  Share the good news that the King who is born of Peace for evermore is here.  He is in each of us and He is seeking the Lost meaning those that need Him in their lives.

If you are interested in some great Christmas music, purchase the Celtic Thunder Christmas c.d.  It is great!

Here are links to some information about the legend that produced many version of the Song Christmas 1915. It is said that such an event really happened, but who really knows?

Legend of Christmas 1915 - World War I

Wikipedia Information on Christmas Truce's During World War I

Merry Christmas!

David Brown

Co-Founder Mission Lighthouse Ministry

Mount Carmel Christian Church: Women's Ministries Successful "Beauty of Christmas" Luncheon

This was a great weekend for Mount Carmel Christian Church.  So much was in full-swing this Christmas season weekend.  There were men and women working on the beautiful Christmas scenery for the Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir and Drama presentation of the Christmas Song for Sunday, December 12, 2010.  However, the great event for Saturday, December 4, 2010 was the Women's Ministries luncheon entitled, "The Beauty of Christmas."  It began at 1 p.m. and continued on for at least a good two hours.

What made this luncheon such a great success was the number of women present.  There were nearly three hundred mothers and daughters and granddaughters and friends.  The fellowship hall was filled with women-in-Christ and there was plenty of entertainment to boot.  There were over 40 tables set up with beautiful Christmas settings, dishes and fine china (pictures included in slide show).

Before the luncheon actually began, there was time for the members of Mount Carmel Christian Church and members of the community to come by and do some Christmas shopping at the many booths set up in the Mountain View lobby for the Christmas shopping bazaar.  There were items for sale from food to many customized items made by members of the church to businesses in the area.  There were beautiful Christmas prints and winter season prints and books, there were holiday handbags and customized handmade pen sets for sale.  There were cheesecakes and cookies as well to sample and to buy.  It was a great success!

The lunch menu was filled with many goodies to eat as well.  The main course consisted of chicken cordon bleu, green beans, broccoli and cheese, potatoes, fresh baked rolls and a variety of desserts.  There was also iced tea and coffee.

The luncheon was opened by a few words and prayer from Wendy Duncan.  After lunch, the women were graced with beautiful Christmas music and music of the season from the Mount Carmel Christian Church Ladies Ensemble directed by Trudy Daffron.  Trudy, her daughter Carrie Aleman and Joy Boone provided a song as well.

Then, Ellen Hester, dressed as a nurse, provided a humorous look at the Spirit of Christmas.  She had the ladies and the male servers "rolling in the aisles."  She spoke about control and attitude during the Christmas season.

The Women's Ministries is a strong addition to Mount Carmel Christian Church.  There are many and they have a lot of great events throughout the year.

The men who served at the luncheon were led by Parker Cates and they all did a great job.  Even Pastors Art Stansberry (also Youth Minister) and Wayne Spangler were seen pouring coffee and serving tea.  God is Great and everyone had a fantastic time!

As a side note:  So far, over 3000 invitations for the Christmas Production, "The Christmas Song," to be held on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. have been delivered to people throughout the community.  This means that there is always seating available, so, bring your family and remember this is free admission as well as free childcare services.  Hey, don't forget the Grinch, He loves Christmas, too!

Merry Christmas from Mission Lighthouse Ministry (Dave Brown and Alexander Aleman).

Oh, the pictures shown here were taken by me, David Brown.


David Brown
Grayson, Georgia
Monday, December 6, 2010

Bible Series 2010: John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus: Matthew 3:1-12

I can still remember that one Sunday morning at Mount Carmel Christian Church when I had made the decision to walk down the aisle to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Many of my friends and family would ask me, "Why did you make such a life changing decision?"  The did so, not in disgust for my decision but was wondering only, "why?"  There is so much I want to say and asking myself many times, how do I explain myself.  I, at first, would find it hard to answer the question as I would usually find myself getting tongue tied.  However, the answer is easy:  My life, I felt was leading me into disaster.  Since childhood, I had a phobia about death and did not want to die, so, I would find myself in a state of anxiety a great deal and never knowing the answer.  It took me years to find the answer's and lo and behold, I found it.  I was living a life without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  As Jesus Christ states in John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  This is such a great verse.  With it, I have no fear of the unknown and my phobia about death has completely disappeared. 

This is not the all-inclusive reason for me accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  As I learn more and more about Jesus' teachings found in the New Testament and through His gospel, it only makes complete sense.  It also makes sense because the prophets in The Old Testament also prophesied about the coming of the Lord and the Messiah.

So, on March 3, 2003, I was saved by accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and accepting the truth that He is the Messiah.  I was then baptized and it felt as if a major league sized burden has been lifted off of my shoulders because of what Jesus Christ did when He went to the Cross to die for me and all of people kind by accepting our sins and transgressions and placing them on His shoulders.  

So, back to John the Baptist and his preachings in the Desert of Judea.  "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near."" This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:  "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare for the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him." 

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey.  People went to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and the Sadducees  coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:  "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children of Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

"I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  Matthew 3:1-12, NIV, Life Application Study Bible.

Wow.  This is sort of like that Sunday, when I attended service at Mount Carmel.  When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and then was baptized, I learned that my old life was gone and a new one was brought forward.  I was now ready to "Walk the Walk, and Talk the Talk," and know that I could talk with God and learn about my new life.  I pray daily and I read scripture which is the Word of God.  No longer do I have to answer the question, "Why don't you believe in Jesus Christ?"  Because, I do and I know that He is in my heart and that He is my strength!

David Brown
Grayson, Georgia
Friday, December 3, 2010

Christmas: A Time of Reflection

It has been nearly a year and a half since my mother's death, but one thing I am for sure, she is in a better place.  What I have to say here is something of a testimonial, not to me, but to her and her strength during the time of her terminal illness.  At the same time, everything that my mother went through during her life has been one of true ups and downs.


As you know me already, my mother was born into a Conservative Jewish family.  So, for 79 years of her life, she was a devout Jewish mother, wife and great grandmother.  She loved her faith and she undoubtedly loved God as well.  She trusted that He would be there every step of her life and He was.  We know that God sends a lot of "curveballs" our way (believe you and me, I am one to testify to this), but they are for a reason.  He wants to see how we are going to handle them as He throws them.  He is a great pitcher, trust me.  I want Him and know that I have Him on my team.

My mother loved children and she spent most of her career working with them as an elementary school teacher, as the owner of a daycare center in Brookhaven in Dekalb County, Georgia and as a mother and a great grandmother. 

Growing up, I can remember all of the great times that I had with my mother.  I remember the great dresses that she wore at our Bar Mitzvah's and with four sons, she had to have many dresses.  Not only did she have beautiful dresses and many hats to go with them, she had the shoes to boot (no pun intended).  She also had that great dress that she wore to my brother Jeff's wedding as well.  At each of the Bar Mitzvah's and the weddings that she attended, she always found a way to look her best and to make sure that she kept the weight off.

Speaking of the dresses for different occasions, I remember the time that my mother and I went shopping for her dress for my wedding.  We went to a store that I knew she would have no trouble finding one.  What was funny was that as soon as I walked in the store with her, we both eyed one on the far wall and it was a beautiful blue sparkly type of dress.  It turned out that we both had the same taste in color, so that was the one that we got her.

Anyway, not to write a book here, this is not the purpose of the post.  What is interesting is that I remember sitting with her not too long ago and watching a movie called, The Christmas Shoes, with her.  She enjoyed the movie as much as I did as it was not only sad, but it was happy at the same time.  It was about a young boy who discovered that his mother was dying from a lung ailment and there was nothing much, if anything that the doctors could do for her.  Nearing the time of her death was also during the Christmas season.  Knowing that his mother was dying, he wanted desperately to buy her a pair of Christmas shoes in a local store.  He had money, but it was just not enough.  He found the shoes and while he was in line, he put all of the money on the counter, but the cashier would not budge when he came up short.  He would not let the young boy buy the shoes.

As time was coming close to closing the store, a man behind him how was played by actor Rob Lowe, knew that the young boy was desperate to get the shoes and he eventually gave him the money to get them.  See, the character that Rob Lowe played in the movie was a man who spent more time concerned about his work then the time he should have been spending with his family.  Seeing and hearing about the boys dilemma really made his choices better in life.

The boy ran home and placed the red Christmas shoes on his mother's feet as she lie dying in her bed.  She smiled and the young boy stayed by his mother's side until her passing.  The movie was made for television after the same name of a song called The Christmas Shoes.  In the song, there is a verse that goes something like:  "When My Mother Meets Jesus tonight..."  That did it for me when I heard the song.  I cried.  I still cry today when I hear the song played at Christmas time.

What makes this song and the verse mentioned above so special is something that happened when my mother lie dying in her hospice room bed.  She was mostly in transition and it was a Friday afternoon, believe it or not, after my father-in-law Billy's funeral.  My mother and my father-in-law passed away nine days apart.

Anyway, during the funeral service for Billy, my cell phone was on vibrate and I just knew that it had to be the hospice facility where my mother was waiting for her time to come.  It was, but it was the pastor who was visiting her room and he was trying to get me.  A few minutes later when I heard the message, I called him as I got in my car to go the grave side for Billy's graveside service.  The pastor asked me if I was coming by the facility and I told him I was, but after the funeral service for my father-in-law.

That afternoon, I went to the hospice facility and I met with the pastor.  He went into my mother's room earlier and spent time with her.  I told him about my conversion, but that my mother was still Jewish.  He still asked if it would be alright if we prayed with her.  I said, "absolutely."

So, we went into her room, both of us went to our knees and held hands and he prayed.  He ended the prayer with "Thank you Jesus," and I repeated it.  Then the both of us turned and looked at one another as we heard my mother mumble the same words.  I smiled and cried at the same time.

Now, what is the meaning of this?  Only God, Jesus Christ and my mother know.  I believe that on her dying bed, she accepted the Lord with just those words.  Some may not think so, but again, it is up to God and Jesus Christ if this is the case.  I believe that she is in heaven and that she is in a much better place, free from hurt and free from pain.

Merry Christmas, mom, I miss you and love you very much.  That goes for my father, Robert, my brother Jeff and my father-in-law, Billy Phillips.  I do not know any other way at this Christmas season to say that I love you all!

David M. Brown
December 2, 2010
11:00 p.m.

Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir Will Present The Christmas Song

The evening is approaching, no, not for Jesus Christ's return (of course, I do not have the date and time for that), but for one that is expecting to be "explosive" with music and "exceptional" with drama. Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir and Drama teams will be performing, The Christmas Song, a wonderful musical and drama presentation about the birth of Jesus Christ. The date of the event is Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 6:30p.m. at Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

For some quick side notes here, the program is free of charge and there will be child care provided for those who need it. There will also be time for fellowship, refreshments and the opportunity to meet with the cast and the choir immediately following the presentation.

The Christmas Song is a musical created by Bradley Knight, Heidi Petak and Johnathan Crumpton. It starts off with powerful music with drama embedded all throughout. Alexander Aleman of Lilburn, Georgia will be playing Joseph and Carrie Aleman, Alex's wife, will be playing Mary. Other members of the cast include: Gerry McKinney as Ruth (Mary's good friend), Keith Wall as the Roman official, Tony Myers as King Herod, David Swangel as the Angel announcing to Mary and Joseph the coming of their child, Jesus Christ, Jim Nelson will be playing Shem, the Shepherd who announces the coming of the baby Jesus and David Brown will be playing the innkeeper who denies Joseph and Mary a room in the inn for the night of Christ's birth.

This is going to be a night of great music and great drama and a time to spend with friends and family. The practices have been going well, so there is no doubt that the Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir and Drama teams will be presenting the story of Jesus' birth from the heart.

Trudy Daffron, who is directing the presentation, has put in an unbelievable amount of time into the presentation and has done a beautiful job. She has filled in at other times to work with the choir and for this, we thank her from the bottom of our hearts.

The sound and light team consists of: Lester Smith, Tony DePace, Ronnie Williams, Larry Daffron and Larry Kelley. The stage manager is Jeff Bush with assistance from Walter Kelley. They have also put in a great deal of time helping get the show ready and they have performed magnificently.

So, prepare for a great night at Mount Carmel Christian Church and we look forward to seeing you there.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!


David Brown

Gerry McKinney will play Ruth and off to the far right is Jim Nelson who will be playing Shem

Alexander Aleman (Joseph) and Carrie Aleman (Mary)

Tony Myers will be playing King Herod

The Manger is in the forefront.  The Choir is in position and Trudy

 Daffron is

 making some announcements.

Members of the Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir

The Return to Nazareth: A Christmas Story: Bible Series 2010

Now it is time for Mary, Joseph and Jesus, their son to return to Israel. Matthew 19-23, NIV, Life Application Bible: "After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

So, goes the story of Jesus Christ's birth. We will now continue in the days forward to look at the ministry of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior to mankind. There is a great deal of discussion and debate what it is that Jesus did as a young man as well as what happened between the years that separated the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is understood that there was 400 years that separated the two Testament's. But, we do know that Jesus did walk the earth as you and I do today but that He was God's Son and that He preached God's law and that He was God Himself in human flesh.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Alex and Dave.

Alex Aleman's Music is at RMusic

If you are interested in hearing some of Alex's music and even purchasing it, you can certainly do so at RMusic.com. There are some of his best songs listed here which includes: Complacent Days, Dancing in Heaven, Worth Knowing and Last Easter Sunday.

The Escape To Egypt: A Christmas Story: Bible Series 2010

The Escape to Egypt
"When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." (Matthew 2:13) This had to be frightening to both Joseph and Mary even though they knew that their son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the King of the Jews was with them. Why would anyone in their right mind want to kill the Son of God? The Son of Man? He had not even taken His first steps yet or even spoken His first words. It was certainly as if the people in high positions throughout the land knew who He was and what He was to be. King Herod said that he was the only king of the land and that there was no other. But when he was approached by the three kings of the orient, and they told him differently, he was angry and he wanted the child killed.

"So, he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet. "Out of Egypt I called my son."" (Matthew 2:14-15). Here the prophet spoken about is Hosea and this is from Hosea 11:1 which says: "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." What is interesting here is that in the Old Testament in the Book of Hosea, many will tell you that this references the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt during the era of Moses. It is said that God had such a love for His people Israel that He was actually talking about sending them out of Egypt into the Promised Land. This is all great, but this is also one of the prophesies of Jesus' life when He was a child. He was sent into Egypt and as was said from the angel of the Lord, Joseph and Mary and their son Jesus was to stay in that far off land until they heard from him.

"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Matthew 16-18). During the time that the northern tribes of Israel were taken by the Assyrians, Rachel, a wife to Jacob could be heard crying and weeping. The weeping was very bad in this case as was the case when the young children were put to death by Herod. Another amazement of similarities between Old Testament and New Testament times.

(Note: When it comes to the weeping and to the order of having children killed, I can only think back to my studies of the Holocaust. I did a lot of research as I lost family during the period of World War II and when I was in Israel, I could only weep when I found family names of those killed during that awful period in Jewish history. I was at Yad Vashem, which means the Hand of God, the Holocaust Museum in Israel).

Tomorrow, I will be bringing another part of the Christmas Story to you and it will involve Jesus' return to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary.

Thanks for reading our blog and enjoy the continued Bible Series and soon there will be some of Alex's music posted here.

The Christmas Story: Bible Series 2010: Visitors Arrive From Eastern Lands

Visitors Arrive from Eastern Lands

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, not in a hospital or a home, but in what is termed as a manger (in a barn, on hay) after innkeeper, after innkeeper rejected Mary and Joseph. They pleaded for a room but was repeatedly told that there just was "no room." However, one innkeeper did give them something so that Mary can have a warm place for the King of Kings.

Jesus Christ was born during the time of King Herod and after His birth, Magi came to visit King Herod and asked: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written. (Note: The Chief Priests by the way were known as the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were the Saducees.)

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." Micah 5:2.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so I too may go and worship him." After they heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, the saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, Life Application Study Bible, NIV.)

(Footnote: So what a beautiful thing that has happened. Jesus Christ was born in a manger on a bedding of hay. There was a star, an angel and shepherds that announced his birth. There were three kings from the east known as Magi who came to worship him and bring him beautiful gifts. But, there was one man, a mean man, Herod, who did not really want to worship the King of Kings, but to have him put to death. So, the plot thickens and things begin to get somewhat strange and mysterious for Joseph and Mary and their baby, Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews. I have always loved the Story of Christmas, especially this part, as I grew up Jewish. I still did not read into the New Testament because I did not believe that it was for me to do so. But, since before my conversion to Christianity, I certainly began to read it and began to see that there was so much more to the picture of Judeo-Christian beliefs and what it meant to be a Complete Jew.)

On Monday, you will see the next post in this bible series about the Escape to Egypt for Joseph, Mary and their baby Jesus.

Merry Christmas: A Biblical Series 2010 An Angel Appears

A Christmas Story: Part 1: The Birth of Jesus: The Book of Matthew in the New Testament (Life Application Study Bible) tells the Christmas Story this way: It starts with an Angel appearing to Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet. "The Virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel- which means, "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. Matthew 1:24-25: When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

So, we have now set the scene: The angel has made his appearance to Joseph, Son of David, to let him know of the coming of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, his son. Instructions were given and the word is now out. Next we will read about the visitors arriving from the Eastern Lands after Jesus was born.

(Footnote: This is the greatest story ever told. Actually, the entire Holy Bible is known as the Greatest Story ever told. It is a great read and it is the Word of God. For many, many years, I was led to believe that the Bible consisted of the First Five Books of Moses and that this was the "Law of the Land." It very much was until the birth of Jesus and as He grew up, traveled and taught the Word of God to the people. I truly love the story of Christmas and what it means to me.)

David M. Brown
November 27, 2010

God's love letter

Introduction to Mission Lighthouse Ministry

Alex Aleman

Welcome to the Mission Lighthouse Ministry Blog. My name is David M. Brown and I am a co-founder along with my best friend and brother-in-Christ, Alexander Aleman. The ministry is located in Georgia and it has a single purpose: to help bring those who are lost in their spiritual lives and want to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and to do this with great worship music, bible study, concerts (performed by Alexander), timely newsletters and public speaking engagements by Alexander and myself.

Alexander Aleman lives in Lilburn, Georgia with his wife Carrie and two great daughters Christina and Chloe. He graduated from Covenant Christian Academy in Loganville, Georgia. He has been writing music as well as performing concerts for nearly 20 years and has conducted public speaking engagements for some time. He has the God given talent of music, writing music and public speaking. Some of his music is presently being used in worship services in churches in Southern Georgia. He also has produced two cd's of his music. He also has the God given talent of playing the guitar. His home church is Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. In December, he will be portraying Joseph, the father of Jesus Christ in the Christmas production at Mount Carmel Christian Church. His wife, Carrie, will be portraying Mary and this will be a production you do not want to miss. Alex's mother-in-law, Trudy Daffron is the producer of the Christmas production and will be conducting the Mount Carmel Christian Church Choir.

David Brown lives in Grayson, Georgia and is married to Amy Brown of Tucker, Georgia. They have three cats and a parakeet. David came to Christianity from a life as a Conservative Jew for over 30 years. He was Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13 and lived in Israel for nearly two full summers back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He came to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior back on March 9, 2003 and has also been a member of Mount Carmel Christian Church where he was baptized into Christ. David, not long after accepting Jesus, started an on-line ministry with the same name and found that it became extremely popular. He and Alex met as members of the Mount Carmel Christian Church choir in 2003 and have been best friends ever since. David graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration and Foreign Affairs. He is presently a free lance writer and photojournalist. He is also a self-published author.

Nearly three years ago, David and Alex got together and decided that they wanted to do something to help spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the decision was made to use Mission Lighthouse Ministry as the ways and means to do this. David decided that it was important to share Alex's musical talents and his public speaking ability to help spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the best way to do this is through ministry as we are all minister's to the Lord.

So, in 2007, Mission Lighthouse Ministry was reconstructed to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, Alex's music and public speaking. David, who loves to tell the story of his conversion to Christianity, is also presently writing a story about his conversion.

Please feel free to visit this Mission Lighthouse Ministry blog as often as you would like as it will be continuously updated with the news of the ministry, Alex's music and video's.

Thank you for visiting and Mission Lighthouse Ministry would like to wish its friends and family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

David M. Brown
November 26, 2010