About Me – Brother Lawrence Damien (Rev John Brown)

Brother Lawrence Damien  Cos (Community of Solitude) was born in Maine in 1948, started teaching/preaching in 1966, and was ordained to the ministry in 1970.

I was raised in the Congregational faith and later became Church of Christ, then Pentecostal, then Episcopal then Independent Catholic. which I still am today.

I was educated at Melodyland School of the Bible 1968-1970 Anaheim  California , San Jose Bible college one semester in 1972, and then Bethesda Bible College in San Jacinto, CA from 1999-2002. Also spent a year in 2003 at St. Michael Seminary in San Clemente California

I have served as Bible Teacher, Deacon, Elder and Pastor.

My Credentials As A Minister

Born May 26,1948 Machias, Maine

Born Again October 25, 1966 at a showing of the Billy Graham film “The Restless Ones” at Chapman College in Orange CA

Called to the ministry in March 1967 at a missionary conference at the Orange Villa Bible Church in Orange CA

Water Baptized at the First Baptist Church (now St. Michaels Church) April 1968 in San Clemente CA by the Rev. Richard (Dick) Reeves of Community Christian Church in San Juan Capistrano CA

Spirit Filled in December 1968 at the Youth Challenge Coffeehouse San Clemente, CA

Formal Ministerial Training

Melodyland School of the Bible in Anaheim CA 1970-1972

Chapel of the Cross in Anaheim CA one semester after which I was ordained to the ministry by the Western Evangelical Association by the Rev. Dan and June Duncan November 1972

San Jose Bible College, San Jose CA One semester left to become a part of a ministry in Eureka CA

Bethesda Bible College
Rev. Hal Adams – President
950 Ramona Blvd. Suite 10
San Jacinto, CA 92582

September 2000  in June 2003 when I became Episcopalian shortly before I would have graduated.

THINGS I’VE DONE IN MINISTRY AND CHURCHES I HAVE WORKED WITH

October 1966 – December 1968, 1970-1972

Christian Servicemen Organization/Navigators
Santa Ana, CA

Worked with mostly Marines witnessing to them, conducting Bible studies and helping with Protestant services at El Toro Marine Base and LTA helicopter base in Santa Ana. Also during that time helped conduct services at the Long Beach city jail and preached there as well as at a boys ranch in Trabuco Canyon CA

October 1966-June 1967

Campus Life Club/Youth for Christ
Tustin High School, Tustin CA

Was vice president of club dedicated to reaching the students for Christ.

September 1967-June 1968

Intra Varsity Christian Fellowship

Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa CA

Dedicated to reaching college students for Christ

January 1968 – January 1973

Community Christian Church, San Juan Capistrano
Rev. Richard Reeves Pastor

Was a Sunday School teacher and deacon responsible for preparing communion each week, giving communion meditations, helping serve the people communion, as well as responsible for up keep of property. Also missions chairman

June 1968 – September 1968

Missionary to the Rosepark Orphanage, Tijuana Mexico

Helped dig ditches and lay pipe so they could have running water

December 1968- 1970

Youth Challenge, San Clemente CA

Rev. Max Rappaport – Pastor

Was a Bible study teacher for them

1970 – 1972

Youth Challenge/Dana Point Community Church

Rev. Jerry Fromhling – Pastor

Was located in South Laguna CA and later moved to Dana Point CA

Was a Bible study teacher there also

1970 – 1972

Melodyland Hotline

Worked on phones talking and counseling people and listening to them also

July – September 1972

Harvest Inn

Across from pier in San Clemente

Pastor working with drug addicts mainly. Worked with the Alert Drug Prevention program and was the editor for their paper the “Outlook” magazine

January 1973- April 1973

Grass Valley Christian Church
135 Winchester Dr
Grass Valley, CA

Rev. Fred Harrison – Pastor

Assistant pastor, Sunday school teacher, deacon

April 1973- August 1973

San Jose Rescue Mission
44 W. Julian
San Jose CA

Worked with alcoholics as well as taught Bible study prayed and counseled with them

August 1973 – November 1973

Upper Room Ministries
San Jose, CA

Did counseling, worked on San Jose Hotline, and taught the Bible also

November 1973 – April 1979

New Life Fellowship
Eureka, CA

Rev. Charles John Petersen – Pastor

Was a Christian Community working with down and out people of all kinds. Was deacon, Bible teacher started and ran a Christian Hotline for two years

August 1979 –July 1981

Living Word Ministries
1250 School Rd.
Mckinleyville , CA

Rev. Charles Neher Pastor

Was ordained minister, assistant pastor and Bible teacher

July 1981- September 1981

Resurrection Life Center
Cottage Grove, OR

Rev. Charles Tuttle – Pastor

Bible teacher mostly

January 1981 – December 1981

Full Gospel Chapel

Rev. John F. Mock – Pastor
90 Center St.
Rio Dell, CA 95262

Assistant pastor

July 1982 – September 1982

Gospel Outreach
1040 Tepee Lane
Perris CA 92570

Helped them do some remodeling on some of their buildings

September 1982- January 1985

First Christian Church
Rev. Carl Stone – Pastor
702 Ave. de Estrella
San Clemente, CA

I was missions chairman, deacon, and Sunday school teacher. Also helped with a unemployed workers breakfast they had going for awhile.

September 1982 – January 1985

ESA (Episcopal Service Alliance)
San Clemente, CA
Ellen Gilchrist – Director

Help with food deliveries for them as well as picking up food for them, and helping them take care of the needs of those who came in

November 1983 – August 1999

C.U.I.G.O Ministries (Christians United in Global Outreach)
Rev. Miriam Grant
P.O. Box 307
San Clemente, CA 92674-0307

Worked in both the San Clemente office as well as at the Perris ranch. Worked in office doing data input on computers, taught Bible studies, was a licensed minister with them as well as a elder at their Perris ranch. Helped run the Bread for the Hungry food program for them which we did every Wednesday night at St. Michaels for quite awhile. Was also missions chairman for them, as well as doing a weekly column for them and helped with their prayer ministry. Developed a plan to cover every state in the Untied States with prayer over a period of two years as well as one to encourage prayer for Native Americans

September 1989-April 1996
Cornerstone Christian Church
Pastor- Rev. Carl Stone

Was missions chairman again, deacon also again, Helped develop and lead a prayer ministry for the church including once a month prayer meetings, a prayer chain for them, prayer team to minister and pray for people during communion/prayer time, developed a eight – 12 hour prayer seminar which I have taught about a dozen times over the years in several different churches, wrote articles to be used as bulletin inserts for them, Bible teacher there also as well as Refreshments Chairman for after services.

April 1996 – October 1999

Praise Fellowship Church
Pastors: Dr. Rodney and Debbie Pryor
1250 N. A St.
Perris CA 92570

 

Taught Bible Study there. Came with them to help start a church that later became Abundant Life Ministries pastured by Rev. Robert and Judy Steth in San Jacinto after I had left the church.

October 1999- February 2000

Victory in Christ Faith Center
Pastor- Ben Garcia

Mailing Address:
40709 Mayberry Ave.
Hemet, CA 92543

Taught Bible there

October 1999- February 2000

Rejoicing Shepherd Ministries
Rev. George and Virginia Birlew
P.O. Box 1076
Pine Ridge SD

They used to be headquartered in Hemet and when they were worked in their office doing data input for them on their computer as well as taught Bible

February 2000 – 2003
Bethesda Christian Center
Pastor Jeff Nicklas
950 N. Ramona Blvd Suite 10
San Jacinto, CA 92582

 

Have taught Bible there, been deacon, usher, help clean church, help start and am head of the prayer chain for the church, an was part of once a week prayer meetings as well as being part of their prayer ministry.

November 2002-April 2006

Church of the Resurrection
Father Mark Miller
1030 S. State St.
San JacintoCA 92682

Phone Number: 909/652-9371

Was an acolyte, lector, subdeacon, as well as prayer intercessor; Left when I moved to San Diego. The decision to join was made after a 10 year study if the Bible, Church history, prayer and following what I felt was Gods will for me.

March 2004- March 2006

St. Seraphaim Society
Anthem AZ

Was a prayer community and was a teacher as well as prayer intercessor

March 2006- March 2007

St. Brendans Community
Dennysville ME

A prayer community was disfellowshipped for going to a gay affirtming church and suspicion I was gay

April 2007 – May 2008

St. John’s Episcopal Church
Chula Vista, CA

Left with the blessing of my priest Father George Keith to pursue ministerial possibilites.

May 2008-December 2009

Community of Saints Elizabeth of Hungary and Francis de Sales
Bishop Neil Christensen
Sacramento CA

Was a member doing research for them a part of an online “seminary” class he had that was supposed to prepare me for the deaconate and priesthood. Left after choosing to not renew my promises with them for another year.

June 2008 – Present

Cathedral of St. John the Beloved American Catholic Church
3900 Cleveland Ave.
San Diego, CA

Im a oblate of St. Benedict of the congragation of St. John the Beloved. Also serve at the altar and am a Lay Reader also. I am also on the church council.

2002 – present

Disciplined Order of Christ

Dr. John C.Lurvey – President  

10335 Annie Lane

Santee CA

619/448-8741

Is a interdenominational group that meets once a month for fellowship and Bible Study or a Christian book study where I teach, share and help with retreats and day a part’s. and am a part of their  prayer intercessory ministry. I am also a part of a new ministry they have just launched called The Compassionate Christ Network which is dedicated to world peace and learning more about and sharing the Compassionate Christ with others.

January 2013 – present

Community of Solitude

An online monastic community dedicated to prayer and social work. I took the name of Brother Lawrence Damien upon joining their community.

On top of all that I have written a book I’m Gay and its OK a Conservative’s Mind Change by John Brown published in 2014  that can be found on Christian gays site and on Amazon.  I have also been a part of Christian Gays for several years working with Mary Pearson of Canada. I have done Bible Studies for them and am a Spiritual Advisor for them. I am also a moderator five nights a week in their chat room.

 

Hope this answers any questions anyone may have about me. I have nothing to hide . Look forward to coniuning to work with and fellowshipping with you all

God bless

Brother Lawrence Damien Cos