Pastor Rob Thorne had the vision of starting a church in Plainedge nearly 50 years ago, and it has now become what he calls a ‘beacon of hope’ for local worshipers for decades.
The Plainedge church, located at 96 Stewart Ave. in Bethpage, was founded in 1953 as a small congregation. Thorne joined the church in 1978, merging a small existing congregation with one that he had started at the Farmingdale VFW Hall.
Thorne said the church had a congregation of roughly 25 people at that time. He said you can now expect to see upwards of 150 regulars each week for Sunday services.
Thorne was born in Indianapolis, Ind., and studied in Missouri and Virginia before coming to Long Island. He said he knew when it was the right time to start a new church in Plainedge.
“I came to New York when the Lord called me to come to this area and start a church,” Thorne said. “Every church has a starting point. Most people don’t think about it like that because they’ve always been around on the corner, but every church started somewhere, and I was a church planner. I believe the Lord led me to Long Island to start a church.”
Thorne said the church began as a small structure and has been heavily renovated and modernized. He said that when he arrived in Plainedge, the church did not offer many services, and it now provides weekly Sunday services, Sunday School for children, youth ministries, camps and adult bible fellowships. The church collects food each week to be donated.
Thorne called the Plainedge Church a bible-preaching church, saying that the teachings of the church derive from the “word of God.”
John Roselle is the church’s youth pastor, who has been a minister since 2016. He said he grew up attending the Plainedge Church and has been a member of the community for 25 years.
“My focus has been creating a community for students in the area and the members of our church, giving them a good outlet, and a place to find good influences in their lives,” Roselle said about his role as the youth pastor.
Roselle said that once Thorne retires, he will move into the role of the senior pastor of the church.
“It’s kinda this full circle picture of the church raising its own and then giving its own the opportunity to lead it into the future,” he said.
Roselle also praised Thrope for what he has provided to the church and the community for nearly half a century.
This is the incredible foundation that Rob has laid throughout his years of service for this community,” Roselle said. “That’s a huge level of importance.”
