Immanuel Bible Church in the Community

Immanuel members are encouraged to engage in every aspect of community life, to include local government, clubs, sports, service groups, scout troops, homeowners’ associations, and volunteer settings. As a result, it is our hope that people from every walk of life will be exposed to committed followers of Christ, boldly living out their faith in our community. As members spend less time at IBC and more time in their community, it is our hope that they will be afforded the necessary time to build additional relationships with non-believers. Those relationships may then become the context to effectively and boldly share the good news about Jesus Christ.

To achieve this goal of community involvement, we commit to

Enhance community dynamics at Immanuel through increased attendance in connected, accountable, and encouraging community groups.
Encourage every adult IBC attendee to serve as a volunteer somewhere in the community (Little League coach, PTA, volunteer fire department, literacy tutor, etc.) by the end of 2007 with the specific intent on sharing Christ.
Have 50% of our adult congregation actively participating in connected, accountable, and encouraging community groups by 2008 and 75% by 2011.

Ministries

Many of our ministries are designed to connect with our local community. The Care and Counseling Ministry offers classes, workshops and seminars, and lay counselor training to members of Immanuel as well as interested individuals from the community. Our Hispanic Ministry, Hispanos en Cristo, is comprised of people from the immediate Spanish-speaking communities surrounding Immanuel and has small groups meeting in homes close to Immanuel. A Spanish language worship service is held at 12:20pm Sundays in the Family Life Center.

Music and Worship Ministry touches lives through out our community. Their annual Christmas concerts and Easter pageants draw thousands from the surrounding area, often attracting people from Maryland and Pennsylvania to hear and see the dramatic story of Jesus retold in drama and song.

Scouting at Immanuel offers another outreach opportunity to our local community with programs for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, as well as American Heritage Girls. Meetings are held on campus with activities taking place in the community.

The Stewardship and Citizenship Ministries of Immanuel sponsor a number of events open to the public. Recent conferences and seminars have included Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" program; "World View Weekend" event; and a telecast of the "Justice Sunday II" from Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, TN.

Encouraging, Connected, and Accountable. The fellowship we experience in Christian community adds the fragrance of unity to our walk with Christ. Love, commitment, kindness, forgiveness, the fruit of the Spirit – these are the virtues that move my Christianity from “me and Jesus” to the body of Christ. Read more»