Fiftieth Anniversary Weekend

Posted by Mark Perry

Our church first met on Sunday, November 17, 1963. Over the past fifty years, Jesus has built His church here in Westerville, Ohio as he promised (Matt 16:18). Souls have been saved, believers have grown into Christlikeness, missionaries have gone around the world, and Jesus has completed his work in many saints and called them to be with him in glory.

If the body of Christ is the members, then Westerville Bible Church as it appeared in 1963 is not the same church. But God has continued to bring a group of believers together in this place for the past fifty years to hear His Word and fellowship with His children. After fifty years, Westerville Bible Church is a living example of Samuel Stone’s text, “The Church’s One Foundation”:

Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee!

As we approach this milestone, we want to make sure we take time to thank God for what he has done. True, God has used many individuals in wonderful ways over the years, but ultimately, Westerville Bible Church is Jesus’s church, and he is the one who “holds the stars in his hand” and “walks among the lampstands” (Rev 1:12–20).

At the same time, we know that God is still at work. Those of us who are a part of Westerville Bible Church still look forward to seeing “face to face” and knowing fully (1 Cor 13:12). We are still “pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14) and we are still “awaiting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Phil 3:20–21). As long as God in merciful patience withholds his coming, we desire to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ and make disciples in Westerville, “to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18–20).

Therefore, our theme for the weekend is Hebrews 13:9a, “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.” Accordingly, our weekend will involve a look back, thanking God for his strengthening grace, a look inside, reminding ourselves of the need for God’s strengthening grace, and a look to the future, praying for God’s strengthening grace.

The events for the weekend are as follows:

Saturday, November 16, 2013

A Look Back: Thanks for God’s Strengthening Grace

Fiftieth Anniversary Thanksgiving Service • 4:00 p.m.
Hymns of Praise and Thanksgiving
Scripture Reading
Testimonies from Current Members
A Presentation by Pastor Dan Greenfield, Ohio Bible Fellowship president
A Brief History by Pastor Roger Bixler, founding pastor
A Challenge to the Church by Dr. Bob Jones, III

The service will be held at the church building and followed by a cake reception downstairs. All are invited to come and join with us in thanksgiving and praise.