Halethorpe Community Church sits on Francis Avenue in the Halethorpe/Arbutus corner of Southwest Baltimore County, a quiet stretch of older homes and small businesses served by a congregation that describes itself as non-denominational, multi-generational and Bible-believing. The church welcomes newcomers and long-time believers alike with the stated goal of helping them grow in faith and build meaningful relationships.
A Lineage from 1940
The church's roots reach back to January 21, 1940, when a group of men from different local denominations formed the Everyman's Men's Bible Class, an independent, non-denominational Sunday school class. EMBC first gathered in the American Legion Hall, then moved to a room over the Halethorpe Pharmacy, and later into a renovated bowling alley before settling at 1312 Francis Avenue, the address the congregation still calls home.
More than eighty years on, nine senior pastors have led the fellowship. Many have come to faith through the church's ministry, and several families have gone on to serve on the mission field. The church describes its continuing aim as reaching upward in worship, inward to build up the body of Christ, and outward to share the gospel in Southwest Baltimore.
Sunday Mornings on Francis Avenue
The weekly worship service meets Sundays at 11:00 AM in the worship center at 1312 Francis Avenue. The service combines fellowship, congregational worship, and a sermon. For those unable to attend in person, the service is livestreamed at 11:00 AM on Facebook Live through the church's Facebook page.
Two adult Sunday school classes gather before the service at 9:40 AM. The Women's Sunday School runs until 10:30 AM, and the I Am Sunday School Group is open to all ages and walks of life. Children's Church also meets during the 11:00 AM adult service, giving kids their own time of worship, a Bible lesson, coloring, an occasional craft, and a light snack. A nursery program is offered alongside, and every children's volunteer has cleared a Child Safety Training Program and background check.
What They Believe
Halethorpe Community Church holds to a set of ten articles of faith drawn directly from the Bible. The congregation affirms the Old and New Testaments as the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority for faith and life. They confess one God eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and teach that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, true God and true man.
Salvation is understood through the atoning death and bodily resurrection of Jesus: all who trust in Him are justified by His shed blood and become children of God through the new birth. The church looks for the personal, visible return of Christ and affirms the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. Two ordinances are observed until Christ returns: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Small Groups Through the Week
A wide variety of small groups meet on different days and at different locations to fit the rhythms of the congregation. Ladies Bible Studies gather on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to noon, covering the same lesson in both sessions. Moms Seeking Christ meets Tuesday mornings at 10:00 AM, with location available from the church office.
Mid-week studies include Growing in Grace and the Men's Bible Study, both on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM. Women Together in Prayer meets Thursdays at 11:00 AM. The congregation invites newcomers to pray about where they might fit in.
All-In Youth
The youth ministry, called All-In Youth, gathers middle school and high school students on Monday nights, with doors opening at 6:00 PM. Each evening includes worship, games, and a practical message aimed at helping teenagers hear the voice of God above the many others competing for their attention. The name comes from Colossians 3:17: whatever they do in word or deed, the students are encouraged to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Halethorpe Community Treasures
A distinctive outreach of the church is Halethorpe Community Treasures, a free community store for clothing and household items housed in a white building in the church parking lot at 1312 Francis Avenue. Stock rotates regularly, so visitors are invited to come back often. The store is open Sundays from 12:30 to 1:00 PM after the worship service, every other Saturday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, and by appointment through the church office.
Donations are welcome and can be left in an outdoor drop-off box, brought in during open hours, or scheduled through the office. The store is one expression of the congregation's commitment to meeting practical needs in the Halethorpe community.
Pastoral Leadership
Mark Meyer serves as Senior Pastor of Halethorpe Community Church, and Harold Passley serves as Associate Pastor. A board of deacons, including Rick Warfield, Patrick Latchford, Ralph Anderson, Matt Parry, and Roger Hullihen, shares in the church's governance, along with a Deacon Emeritus. Linda Orr serves as the church secretary.
Visitors with questions about the church, ministries, or use of the building can reach the office by phone at (410) 242-7408 or by email at halethorpecommunitychurch@gmail.com. Online giving is available through the church's giving page.