Our History

Becoming God's Greater...

 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Haddonfield donated a church building of very crude structure in Lawnside about 1800. One history source says the "colored people" (as they were called) of Haddonfield worshiped there only until about 1860. This is when several rich, white families in Haddonfield put their money together and built a "colored church" to keep their servants from walking so far to Mt. Pisgah Lawnside or to Sadlertown where a Methodist Church had been built.

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Other history sources show that the Haddonfield members, with encouragement from the Lawnside Church decided to build their own around 1885. Mr. Elzey C. Polk and Mr. Sam Jackson and Rev. C.C, Green of Lawnside officially set up Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church in November of 1887. Rev. C. C. Green then became the first Pastor.


Prior to the completion of the original church, the Haddonfield group met at The Grove Schoolhouse which was donated to the village of Haddonfield by William E. Hopkins in 1809 for the purpose of a free and public school with the provision that people of any religious group or denomination would be able to use this building for worship. The original church building was first known as "The African Mission" and is until this day called the "daughter church" of Mt. Pisgah Lawnside.

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Rising from the ashes of a 2006 fire that destroyed the original 126 year old building, Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church has become Greater Mt. Pisgah Church of Haddonfield: "God’s Place of Grace, Where Everyone Receives a Second Chance." 

Our Leadership

Reverend Mark-Anthony Rassmann, Sr. - Pastor

 Rev. Mark-Anthony Rassmann, Sr. is a native son to Atlantic County and previously served as a K-9 Officer with the Atlantic City Police Department.  


In 2002, Rev. Mark-Anthony graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Richard Stockton State College where he majored in both Philosophy and Religion, and minored in Holocaust Genocide Jewish Studies. Rev. Mark-Anthony also graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia with a Masters of Divinity in 2006.


Rev. Mark-Anthony was sent to Pastor Mt. Pisgah – Haddonfield and has served in that capacity for over 10 years. In 2006, tragedy struck and the original 126 year old building known as Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church was completely destroyed by fire. With the support of the late Bro. Charles Butler and the remaining Trustees, Presiding Elder Robert C. Wade, and Bishop Richard F. Norris, Rev. Mark-Anthony oversaw the construction and 2010 dedication of the beautiful edifice that is presently known as Greater Mt. Pisgah Church of Haddonfield: “God’s Place of Grace, Where Everyone Receives a Second Chance."


Rev. Mark-Anthony is the devoted Son of William and Presiding Elder Lynda T. Rassmann, dedicated Brother to James and Stella, loving Husband of 20+ years to the beautiful & intelligent Sister Cherie, dutiful Father to Brittany, Tinysia, Erica, and Mark-Anthony, Jr, doting Grandfather to Brayden, Sun’Niya, Titan, and Mark-Anthony III, devoted Uncle to Harmony and Josiah, and the compassionate Pastor and Friend to many.


Rev. Mark-Anthony is also the Founder and CEO of the Joshua Group, and is the Owner and CEO of Levi Construction, LLC – “Builders of People, Places and Things.” Levi Construction is certified by the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program to bring storm damage relief to homes, businesses, and houses of worship affected by severe whether events, including Superstorm Sandy. Levi Construction is one of the few black owned construction businesses in South Jersey that is licensed and insured to provide service in the Tri-State area.

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Pastor & First Lady