New Life Assembly of God

New Life Assembly of God Church was birthed by the Holy Spirit in the hearts
of women in a ladies Bible study in Tamaqua. In 1985, they were given
Isaiah 60:1, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is
risen upon thee." They approached their pastor at Faith Assembly of God in
Hazleton, who told them that God had also impressed upon his heart to
start a new church in the Tamaqua area. Pastor Steven Tourville and
assistant pastor, Joseph Adams, alternated conducting services on Tuesday
nights in the home of Mary and Adam Heisler. After some growth, we moved
to the Tamaqua Community Center. Soon, a church on Schuylkill Avenue,
which had been built by the Assemblies of God in 1956, became available. A
Baptist church owned the church on Schuylkill Avenue. They bought a new
church in Hazleton for the low price of $25,000 and sold the Tamaqua
church to us for the same price. In the spring of 1986, by God's grace, we
moved into our church debt free. Rev. Mark Caston was our first pastor and
his wife Sandy was our first worship leader.