Two Blocks from the Square, A Century in the Making
Hagerstown Bible Church stands on the corner of West Baltimore Street and Summit Avenue, two blocks from Hagerstown's central square. The address has been the home of this congregation since 1929, and the story of the church goes back another three years to a tent revival on the same street.
Public worship began in April 1926 in an unfinished second floor room of the old Vivian Hotel, which stood across from the library on Summit Avenue. Prayer meetings in the months before that brought together Reverends Snavely, Bowers, Harry and John Gonzo, and Jacob Carter, asking for God's direction in starting a church. Members of that prayer group raised the money to buy the property for the permanent home, and the first worship center was dedicated on March 17, 1929. The church withdrew from its original denomination in 1966 to become Hagerstown Bible Church. In 1969 an arsonist fire damaged the building, but the people rebuilt it, and the ministry kept growing.
Over the decades, the buildings and ministries have grown with the congregation and the needs of the community. Sunday school, summer camps, a Christian school, a pregnancy center, and world missions have all been ways the church has carried the message of Jesus and the truth of God's Word to thousands of people. The real story, the church says, is people. God has forgiven sins, given new purpose and direction, helped overcome sorrows and dependencies, and established new habits of godliness. Several generations have been raised in the faith, dozens have gone into ministry, and hundreds, possibly thousands, have come to trust in Jesus for eternal life.
Connect, Grow, Relate
The church's purpose is built on three words: connect, grow, and relate. Drawing on Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8, and Colossians 1:28, the leaders describe discipleship as a process of helping people connect with God, grow through the study of God's Word, and relate with others. Every program on the weekly calendar is shaped around that process, with the goal of producing fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.
The church holds to a written statement of faith that members and visitors are welcome to read. At its heart is a confidence that the Bible is true and never changes, that it enriches and strengthens the life of a believer, and that preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is the central call of the church. The leaders are asking God to guide the church into its next chapter and inviting a new generation to pray, work, and give toward that calling.
Sunday Mornings at HBC
Sunday is the main gathering of the week, and the morning is built around three touchpoints. Equip Classes, the church's Sunday school program, meet at 9:30 am for all ages. A fellowship time with coffee and snacks follows at 10:10 am. The Morning Worship Service starts at 10:35 am.
Worship and teaching are described as the priority of the service. Music is led in a blended style, and the team that leads worship each week aims to honor God both in the music itself and in the use of their gifts. Teaching centers on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible, with preachers expected to understand and fulfill that calling. A team of volunteer teachers and a worship team serve the congregation each week.
Wednesday Nights for the Whole Family
Wednesday evenings carry the same family focus, with something for every age running at the same time. A light dinner is offered beforehand for workers and for anyone willing to contribute a small amount. After dinner the building fills with children, students, and adults in their own programs.
Awana Clubs run from 6:30 to 8:00 pm and serve three age groups: Cubbies for ages 3 to 5, Sparks for kindergarten through second grade, and Truth and Training (T&T) for third through fifth grade. The Gathering brings middle and high school students together for a large group lesson and small group discussion, often with a fun theme night. Adults can join a Life Group, with a hub night at the church on Wednesdays and other groups meeting on different nights and in different homes around the area.
HBC Kids: From Nursery Through Fifth Grade
HBC Kids is the church's ministry for children from birth through about age 12. The goal is to partner with parents in the spiritual training of their children and to give even young kids a foundation of knowing Jesus, experiencing his love, and beginning to grow as they apply biblical truths to daily life.
On Sunday mornings, kids ages 2 through fifth grade take part in Equip Classes at 9:30 am, with separate rooms for nursery, Busy Bees (ages 2 and 3), Beginners (ages 4 and 5), Primary (grades 1 through 4), Junior Girls (4th through 6th grade), and Junior Boys (4th through 6th grade). The kids move with their families into the main worship service at 10:35 am. On Wednesday nights the Awana program adds a midweek touchpoint, with check-in stations for safety and a team of trained volunteers who love teaching the Bible to children.
The children's ministry leaders are confident that even at a young age, kids can learn profound spiritual truths that will establish a foundation for the rest of their lives. Every effort is made to create safe, nurturing environments for the children in the church's care.
HBC Student Ministries
The student ministry exists to help young people build a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to walk with their parents in spiritual training. The aim is to help students mature in understanding, grow in love, and relate with others.
On Sunday mornings there are classes for middle school boys, middle school girls, high schoolers, and college students. On Wednesday nights, The Gathering brings sixth through twelfth graders together for a large group lesson followed by small group discussion led by caring leaders, with time for worship, a fun theme night, and the small group experience. Students are encouraged to bring friends. The student ministry also has its own social media presence, including a private Facebook group for parents and students and an Instagram handle, so families can keep up with announcements and resources throughout the week.
Adults and Life Groups
For adults, the church points first to the Sunday morning Equip Classes, which run from 9:30 to 10:20 am. During part of the year all adult classes meet together; the rest of the year adults can pick a class that fits their stage of life. The midweek option is a Life Group, where adults gather around a topical study of Scripture, build relationships, and grow in accountability. Some groups meet at the church on Wednesday night, and others meet in homes on other nights of the week.
The church also partners with Right Now Media to give members free access to a streaming library of more than 20,000 Bible study videos, leadership training, kids' shows, and other Christian entertainment that can be watched on any device. Online giving is available for those who want to support the ministries of the church, and a sermon archive lets people catch up on the most recent message or series.
Local and Global Missions
Hagerstown Bible Church takes seriously the call of Matthew 28:19 to make disciples, both in its own city and around the world. The Hagerstown and tri-state area is full of opportunities to show the love of Jesus, and the church partners with other ministries and churches locally to accomplish more than it could on its own. Local partners include the HOPE Center at the Hagerstown Rescue Mission, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Camp ToHiGlo, a summer camp in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania that the church helps support and points families toward.
Globally, the church prays for and supports missionaries on the field. Not every missionary is publicly listed because of restrictions in various regions, but the missionaries who serve in foreign fields are described as an extension of the church's ministry, called by God to share the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Visiting Hagerstown Bible Church
The church is located at 203 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740, on the corner of West Baltimore Street and Summit Avenue. The phone number is (301) 733-3936, and the office email is office@hagerstownbible.org. The office is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm.
City parking can be tricky, so plan to arrive a few minutes early. Two church lots are available, along with handicap parking and street parking, with overflow parking behind the Drier Building on Baltimore Street and at the County Building a block away. The church asks that visitors not plan to attend if the Snow Emergency Plan is in effect.
Visitors can expect a warm welcome. Coffee and snacks are part of the fellowship time between Sunday school and the worship service, and the church wants newcomers to feel like they belong rather than simply showing up. Children are welcomed from the nursery up, and a full midweek program is ready for kids, students, and adults who want to make Hagerstown Bible Church their church home.