About Us

In 1968, the late Joseph W. Bryan, while attending service in Washington, DC, was ordained as Elder by the late Dr. Monroe R. Saunders.  It was there that the Spirit of God spoke to him and said, “I have a work for you in Maryland.”  There he met the late Elder William Gerald, founder of the Lighthouse Church Bible Way World-Wide.  They convened in the basement of Mother Ceanie’s home located in Seat Pleasant, MD.  In April 1971, the late Elder Joseph W. Bryan accepted the call to become the Pastor of Lighthouse Church Bible Way World-Wide.  In 1972 a building was purchased on 6811 F Street, Seat Pleasant, Maryland.  The church greatly multiplied and it became necessary to seek a larger edifice.  On this new journey to expand the four walls, the late Pastor Joseph W. Bryan was given a word of knowledge from the late Bishop Henry William, “If God delights in you, He will give you that building.”  In 1986, the building that God promised was purchased.  In that same year the church was dedicated by the late Apostle Smallwood E. Williams, making the late Pastor Joseph W. Bryan and his wife Evangelist Dr. Pearl V. Bryan the founders of the Greater Lighthouse Church, Bible-Way Worldwide.  In 1998 the Greater Lighthouse Church became an independent church and is now known as the Greater Lighthouse Church, Inc. (GLC).  In the same year, the late Pastor Joseph W. Bryan was ordained as Bishop. 

In 2009, the late-Bishop Joseph W. Bryan was led by the Spirit to pass his Pastoral Mantle of 37 years to his beloved grandson, Joseph D. Bryan, and wife, Tiffany Bryan, and they were installed as Pastor and Co-Pastor of the Greater Lighthouse Church, Inc.  In 2015, the late Bishop Joseph W. Bryan was ordained as Apostle by Apostle Floyd Nelson Sr.  In that same year, on September 1st, our dear Apostle Bryan transitioned to be with the Lord for eternity leaving behind his wife of 68 years, 9 children, 28 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren. 

The Greater Lighthouse Church has been a beacon of light to so many due to the faithfulness of its loving late-Apostle Joseph W. Bryan.  His motto was to Love the people and his famous quote was “Love Me Now.”  He left behind a foundation of love which is still the foundation in which the Greater Lighthouse Church stands today.