Timeline

Shining Light Baptist Church was founded by a small group of people that had a desire for a local church to be a shining light in Monroe and the regions beyond. Our church has been blessed to have 3 senior pastors: Ralph Moser (1964-1969), Leroy Adams (1969-1989) and Tim Cruse (since 1990). By God’s grace, His blessings have continued upon us these many years.

The pulpit committee reached out to Tim Cruse and his family in late 1989 to ask him to pray about becoming the next pastor at Shining Light. After sensing God’s call and direction to Shining Light, Tim Cruse and his family moved by faith to Monroe to serve God here. Pastor Cruse started on March 7, 1990.

The Shining Light Radio Broadcast is heard Sundays on 54 different radio stations over the FBN Radio Network in 16 states and 12 foreign countries – 88.1FM local (8:15am), WIXE 93.1FM/1190AM (11am & 7pm), BaptistRadioNetwork.com (4:05pm), & the Caribbean Radio Lighthouse in St. John’s Antigua-West Indies on 92.3FM & 1160AM (1:15am & 7:30pm). We have received letters from people around the world who regularly listen to our radio program and are being helped.

Pastor Cruse led the church to expand our missions program early in his ministry here. Today, we support 70 gospel missionaries at home and abroad. As they reach the world with the gospel, we have a part in supporting them with our finances and our prayers.

Bus Ministry begins with a heart for the children in our community. Children all over the Greater Charlotte area have the opportunity to attend church every Sunday through our bus ministry. The children attend Bible class where they will be engaged with songs, games, and a Bible lesson. We desire to impact and influence the next generation for the cause of Christ. We have seen hundreds of children put their faith in Christ.

With the men of the church doing the bulk of the work, we were able to build and dedicate a multi-ministries building. God has blessed us with an additional 225 acres and multiple buildings.

As a ministry of Shining Light Baptist Church, our school began in 2000 as a result of prayer on June 21, 1999 in the heart of Pastor Tim Cruse. Since that day, we have been committed to providing a quality, Christian education. We opened on August 28, 2000 with a total enrollment of 68 students. Today, we serve over 450 students. Shining Light students learn the right use of knowledge in the context of character with a heart for God and others. Our students learn to think, to be real, and to be free. We are devoted to God, to our families, and to our country.

7 houses were given to us to develop and utilize for the glory of God. Those houses are now established as our Kids Cove building, 3 cottages and lake houses.

We opened our doors to lovingly care for preschool-age community children in a safe environment. We partner with parents and help their children grow academically and spiritually.

God allowed us to open our doors to the Spanish-speaking community when he led the Ronald Reynoso family here. Since then, the ministry has experienced growth while seeing many souls come to know Christ as Savior. 

We were entrusted with an existing children’s home that had closed its doors. After God’s clear leading, we reopened in 2013 by faith. The Shepherd’s Place is available for school-age children from families in crisis who are in need of care. We provide a loving environment in which they can stay and get a quality education to help equip them for a bright future.

Our theme at The Shepherd’s Place is “There’s a Better Way.” In all of life’s challenges, there is always hope and a better way forward to be embraced.

The Harbour House Shoppes opened to assist children in need at The Shepherd's Place Children's Home in Monroe, NC. Any purchase you make or donation you give helps provide a better way of life for precious boys and girls in North Carolina and beyond. Come visit The Great Things Cafe!

As God blessed us, we expanded our auditorium so more people could come and hear the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

Two new cottages were finished to serve more young people in The Shepherd’s Place and to serve as staff housing.

Our church was asked to lead Awake America North Carolina to connect the people of God with the people of government. In our biblical calling to be salt and light in our world, the mission of Awake America NC is to pray more effectively and fervently for our state and its leaders, to build trusted relationships with local and regional leaders so we may present the gospel and be a godly influence, and to lead our churches biblically in the area of political engagement to impact our communities and country for the cause of Christ.

To facilitate the rapid growth in our academy, the Lord opened the door to the South Campus to us in 2020. 

Kids Cove opened as another division of preschool to serve more community children. In 2021, God led us as a church family to donate our Lake Minnihaha 8 acre property to our city to be used as a recreation and training program facility. We want our neighbors and city residents to know and see the love of God expressed through His people in a tangible way.

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Our church is strengthened and challenged to lovingly lead people to Jesus through the Compass Conference in its first year. The purpose of the conference is to edify, equip and engage God’s people in the work of Christ. Going forward, we invite others to come and be encouraged in your ministry with the Word of God for effective ministry.

The Lord entrusted to us a beautiful mountain property in Moravian Falls, NC. God willing, we plan to launch the “En-Gedi Ridge Conference Center” as a retreat for leadership, couples and youth development and counseling.

We announced the initiation of Compass College and Seminary. Our desire is to join with other great schools and use what God has provided to us. Our mission is to develop leaders for service in the local church and public square.

The last of 3 cottages was finished to serve more young people in The Shepherd’s Place and to serve as staff housing.

We added 8 classrooms and a dining area to fit the needs of our school and to serve more students in our community.