Haddonfield Sun

By ROBERT LINNEHAN | The Haddonfield Sun
Reverend Marc Anthony Rassmann of the Greater Mt. Pisgah Church knew his work was finally over several weeks ago. He knew his – and members’ of his congregation – years of hard work to bring the historic church back from the destructive fire that completely gutted the wooden structure was finally finished when a young man pulled up in front of the building. Rassmann saw that the young man was carrying a cardboard box toward his direction.
When the young man opened the box and Rassmann saw what was inside, he burst into tears.
Inside were three beautiful ceramic angels, Rassmann said. The young man brought up another box containing four more.
“We originally had a plan to have six angels on our walls leading to a painting of Jesus sitting on a throne,” Rassmann said. “But, because of some unforeseen costs, we ran out of money. Here was a kid showing me a box with three beautiful angels that someone had anonymously donated to our church. I just started crying right there.”
Almost three and a half years ago the 126-year-old church was completely destroyed after a roofing worker accidentally set fire to the church roof while using a torch to seal a leak on the first morning of the church’s renovation process.
Because of the ferocity of the fire, the age of the church, and the utter devastation of the blaze to the historic structure, the church could not be saved and had to be condemned.
For the next three-and-a-half years Rassmann and his small congregation held their weekly services in the auditorium of the Grace Episcopal Church on Kings Highway and struggled to raise the necessary $250,000 in funding to repair the historic church.
Other difficulties arose that delayed the process.
Disagreements with an insurance company, the original architecture, and criminal charges were levied against Rassmann himself by the relative of a former congregation member.
Rassmann was accused of forging his name on several documents giving him legal possession of two pieces of property within the borough.
While the charges were eventually dropped against Rassmann, he described that period as one of the most trying since the fire.
But the congregation held strong, he said, even though a few left because of the controversy and difficult fund-raising process.
“This has just made the congregation stronger. Not many people thought we could get through this, but the congregation has been extremely faithful,” said Rassmann, while touring the completed church.
Nobody knew about his design plan to have six angels on the wall of the church, he said. It was a sign from God that the church was ready to move on from the past hardships.
Rassmann never did find out who donated the pieces to the AME Church.
“This was God’s way of giving me a message that my work is completed, to stop worrying,” he said.
“The building will open, we know this now.”
The building will officially open on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m., open to any members of the public who wish to see the ribbon cutting for the new building.
Visitors can see the new carpet, see the interior, see the new speaker system, but they can feel the new sense of hope that emanates from the church, Rassmann said.
Sure, the church still owes some money and needs to find more than $35,000 to complete the basement, but it will happen, the reverend said.
“This isn’t my church, it’s not the congregation’s church, it’s everyone’s church,” he said. “This church belongs to the 10,000 people who live in Haddonfield. This is a place where everyone can feel welcome.”
Rassmann noted that the church is still accepting donations for construction costs.
If interested in sending a donation, checks should be made out to Greater Mt. Pisgah Church and sent to Greater Mt. Pisgah Church of Haddonfield, P.O. Box 124, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 in attention of Vincent Russo.

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