Hope and Healing on Georgia Avenue
Olney Baptist Church sits on Georgia Avenue in Olney, a community in Montgomery County, Maryland. For the last 45 years, this congregation has gathered around a short and steady purpose: to bring hope and healing to hearts and homes.
The church describes itself as a diverse, multigenerational group drawn from many different backgrounds and united by a love for God and for one another. Members come from many walks of life and different stages of faith, and the church extends an open welcome to newcomers and long-time attenders alike.
Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Nights
Worship at OBC centers on two weekly touchpoints. Sunday morning service begins at 10:00 AM and meets in person and online. Wednesday evening service begins at 7:00 PM and is held in person. The Sunday service is livestreamed on YouTube, so members who travel, work weekends, or simply prefer to worship from home can follow along.
Before Sunday worship, the church opens its Sunday School hour at 9:00 AM. Classes are available for every age, from babies through adults, and use the "Explore the Bible" curriculum to work through Scripture together. The stated goal is to help participants not just listen but learn to study and memorize Scripture on their own.
What Olney Baptist Believes
OBC holds to a traditional Baptist doctrinal statement covering Scripture, God, man, salvation, the church, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Day, evangelism, religious liberty, the family, marriage, God's purpose of grace, last things, stewardship, and the Christian's social calling. A few of these convictions shape the church's daily life in particular ways.
The Bible is received as the divinely inspired record of God's revelation to humanity, written so that salvation is its end and truth its content. There is one true God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man was created in God's image, fell into sin by free choice, and is brought back into fellowship only by God's grace.
Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. The church itself is understood as a local body of baptized believers, autonomous and self-governing under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, symbolizing the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in newness of life. Baptism is also a prerequisite to church membership. The Lord's Supper is a memorial meal of bread and the fruit of the vine, looking back to the Savior's death and ahead to His second coming.
Marriage is taught as the lifelong covenant union of one man and one woman, and the church has stated that it will not solemnize or celebrate same-sex marriages. The first day of the week is set apart as the Lord's Day for worship and devotion, and every follower of Christ is called to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. Religious liberty is upheld, and church and state are understood to be separate.
Children's Ministry
Children's ministry at OBC runs across two weekly rhythms. On Sunday mornings during the 10:00 AM service, a nursery is offered for infants and toddlers up to age three. Parents are welcome to keep their children in the service as well. The nursery is described as a place within the church where the love of Christ is expressed to children through age-appropriate care and spiritual formation.
After the opening portion of the 10:00 AM service, elementary-aged children are dismissed to Children's Church in the fellowship hall for a Bible lesson while the adults continue in worship.
On Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, GO Kids gathers elementary-aged children for Bible study, activities, and games. The name stands for Gospel-Oriented Kids, and curriculum is provided so volunteers can focus on relationships. GO Kids runs during the school year, September through May.
Children's ministry is overseen by Family Ministry Director Alex Flores, who serves as the contact for parents and volunteers alike.
Student Ministry
OBC's student ministry reaches both middle schoolers and high schoolers with separate rhythms. On Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM, middle school and high school students meet together in the fellowship hall for Bible study. On Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, middle schoolers gather for GO Youth, a counterpart to the children's program.
Beyond the weekly schedule, the student ministry hosts quarterly hikes and outings for high schoolers and young adults, along with annual camps and Christmas parties that bring middle and high school students together.
Ladies Ministry
Two streams make up the ladies' ministry at OBC. Ladies for Christ gathers multiple times a year for meals, movies, campfires, craft days, and other fellowship moments. The stated purpose is to build strong relationships in safe settings, encouraging women of different ages and stages to pray for, support, and laugh with one another.
Women on Mission meets on the second Tuesday of each month from September through June at 10:30 AM in the fellowship hall. The group learns about and prays for missionaries locally and around the world, promotes local collection drives, supports national programs connected to the Southern Baptist Convention, and every other month assembles a basket of baby items for the Women's Center in Rockville, Maryland. The year wraps up with a shared local lunch in June. All ladies are welcome, and the group encourages new ideas from newcomers.
Men's Ministry and Small Groups
The men's ministry gathers on the first Saturday of each month at the church for breakfast, Bible discussion, prayer, and conversation about navigating life. The format is intentionally relational and is open to men who want to build deeper bonds with one another.
Beyond the men's ministry, the church runs small groups throughout the week for Bible study, fellowship, and prayer. These gatherings are a primary pathway for members to know one another well.
Worship Ministry
The worship ministry is led by Worship Ministry Director Daniel Park. Singers and instrumentalists of all ages and skill levels are welcome, making the ministry both a place to serve and a learning opportunity. The team supports both Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services.
Christian Wellness Care and Counseling
OBC operates a Christian Wellness Care and Counseling ministry that walks alongside people through life's challenges. Anchored in the conviction that life has hardships and that believers are called to bear one another's burdens, the ministry hosts events, offers counseling and peer coaching, and provides talks and discussions rooted in a Christian understanding of health and well-being.
A particular emphasis is placed on veterans and military families. The church maintains an extensive list of vetted resources, including the Montgomery County Veterans Affairs directory, Military OneSource, NAMI Homefront and NAMI Howard County, FourBlock Veterans Career Readiness, Our Military Kids, Comfort Keepers, the EOD Warrior Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans Helping Veterans, Worksource Montgomery, and the Veterans Crisis Line. Members are encouraged to reach out to their deacon, while non-members can connect through the church office.
Getting Connected and Becoming a Member
OBC has laid out a simple three-step path for newcomers. First, visitors are invited to fill out a virtual Connect Card so someone from the church can be in touch. Second, prospective members attend OBC Starting Point, a class that covers the church's doctrine and what membership involves. Third, those ready to move forward meet with church leadership to talk through any remaining questions. The Starting Point class can be taken in person by emailing the church office.
For members who want to serve, opportunities include the AV ministry (cameras, audio mixing, and streaming), Ladies for Christ, the Fellowship Team, the Men's Ministry, Guest Services (greeting first-time visitors), the Worship Ministry, and various roles in children's ministry including nursery, GO Kids, and GO Youth.
Giving and Staying in Touch
There are three ways to give at OBC. Online giving is available through the Church Center giving page. Checks can be mailed to the church, made payable to Olney Baptist Church, or dropped into the offering box in the foyer on Sunday mornings.
The church publishes a weekly newsletter and shares updates through the Church Center app, which also provides a channel for prayer requests, event registration, and other church information. The church maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram.
Leadership
The spiritual leadership of OBC rests with Senior Pastor Brian Tubbs and the two elders, Charles Bailey and Curtis Sumpter. Family Ministry Director Alex Flores oversees ministry to children, students, and families, while Worship Ministry Director Daniel Park leads the music and worship team.