Saint Augustine, Florida-area Pastor Lonnie Bauer of The Torch Church: ‘I’ve come too far to go backwards’

Within the first few minutes of conversing with Lonnie Bauer, it would become increasingly easy to admire and figuratively embrace her.

Admire her for signature smile.

Admire her for her overall disposition on life.

Admire the way this big-hearted woman speaks of her beloved family and how she steadfastly goes above and beyond to esteem others highly than herself.

Most importantly, it is, by all accounts, a foregone conclusion that one would easily become drawn to admire Bauer, in large part because her reputation is such that she’s destined to live and dwell on the larger side of God.

“I was born in 1963 and I am now 54 years of age, but feel younger and stronger,” Bauer told Making Headline News this week.

To grasp a thorough understanding of why Bauer feels “younger and stronger,” look no further than how she diligently journeys through life, observing it from God’s perspective.

A proud native of the rural Pennsylvania town of Fombell — which is approximately 40 minutes North of Pittsburgh — Bauer is the Senior Pastor of The historic Torch Church that is based in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Raised in a Christian-oriented environment to James Robert and Yvonne Jane Palmer, Bauer is one of nine children, all of whom witnessed the importance of being responsible and maximizing their potential, considering her father owned a well-established company called, Fombell Fabricating.  Interesting enough, Bauer’s identical twin sister, Lori, is whom she deemed arguably one of her grandest supporters, an awe-inspiring, inseparable trend that has only strengthen now that she has graciously accepted her divine, heaven-mandated calling to lead the people of God.

A non-denominational church that is located in the heart of Palencia, a popular establishment in Saint Augustine, Bauer’s congregation meets regularly for worship at nearby Palencia Elementary School, located at 355 Palencia Village Drive.

In addition, The Torch Church’s services are streamed live at new.livestream.com/thetorch.

LOG ON HERE TO CARRY THE TORCH: www.thetorchchurch.com

For Bauer, whose notable pastoral tenure is such that she’s overwhelmingly passionate about ministry, she sensed all along that God was strategically positioning and equipping her to lead His sheep, considering the assortment of key values instilled in her by parents were comprised mostly of being consistent, coupled with hard work and, above all, demonstrating a loving, close-knit relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

“And (we were taught to) keep family close,” Bauer explained. “My dad taught us to win in life and that you have to work hard and you have to dream big. He was a dreamer and he thought big.”

All of which practically sums us why this progressive, thriving woman of the cloth has greatly become the hard worker and big dreamer for which she has become widely known throughout the Body of Christ.

For what it’s worth, while Bauer’s upbringing was center mostly on church and a whole lot of it, her keen knowledge, wisdom and perseverance for leading God’s people were discovered years ago when she delved off into entrepreneurship as a successful salon owner.

“I started to ministry when I opened up a hair salon and was praying and ministering to clients and was not even aware of it at the time,” Bauer recalled.

Never mind that she admittedly wasn’t filled with the Holy Ghost while running what undoubtedly was a booming business. All she knew at the time, really, was that she had a relationship with Jesus.

Which, of course, looking back on it all, that was sufficient enough evidence that this young, Godly woman was destined to accomplish great and mighty things in the kingdom, all while fortifying unyielding agape love in the process.

“I was not filled with the spirit at that time, but I loved Jesus and would speak about Him throughout my day,” Bauer said. “I had a very successful business for 15 years.”

Consequently, at the tender age of 22, Bauer crossed paths with Cameron Bauer, whom God strategically handpicked for her as a lifelong companion — this after the couple has courted for seven years.

Like most married couples, Bauer and her husband endured their share of challenges and obstacles and, consequently, the enemy attempted time and again to attack her body and send her to premature death.

Still, through it all, God had other immeasurable ideas tailored made exclusively for Bauer, His beloved Woman Servant whom He had strategically set aside for His use.

Despite her faith having been tried and tested in ways unimaginable, Bauer was determined to hold fast the profession of her faith without wavering.

“I’ve had many up and downs, although I’ve impacted many lives for the kingdom,” Bauer said. “I knew the enemy wasn’t liking this at all. I fell so short in being called to pastor as I started to put ministry first and forgot my family along the way, even though they were involved.”

Having weathered arguably what seemed to be the darkest hours of her life and pastoral tenure — which seemed at a crossroads at one point in time — today, unlike never before, Bauer’s faith walk is stronger, in large part because she diligently stuck with God.

Even when it seemed she couldn’t trace Him.

“So here I am, seven-and-a-half-years later with an awesome team of committed saints who are also called by the Lord for such a time as this,” Bauer said. “I would not be where I am if it was not for John and Linda Sailer, who stood with me when no else would, I never want to go back to that place, but I can look back to see how far I have come and, Wow! I’ve come too far to go backwards.”

Talk about a spiritual victory speech for the ages.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.

Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson is the former chief adjutant to Elder Andrew Jackson, Sr. of Faith Temple Ministries Church of God In Christ. Based in Dallas, Texas, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.