A Short History of Blue Ridge Bible Church

1988 December – Three families decide to form Blue Ridge Bible Church with Mike Farris as acting pastor in a part-time role, become an IRS 501(c)(3) organization, and begin meeting at the Lincoln Elementary School in Lincoln, Virginia

1989 August – Begin meeting in the cafeteria of Blue Ridge Middle School, with attendance at approximately 45 people

1989 October – Mike Farris submitted resignation as acting pastor and the church begins the process of calling a full-time pastor

1990 April – Calls its first full-time pastor, Paul Thompson, with an attendance at approximately 90

1997 April – Church purchases the 20th street property for the future home of Blue Ridge Bible Church

1998 February – Paul Thompson accepts pastorate in New York, and the church begins a pastor search. Mike Farris assumes role as acting pastor and Debbie Stevenson is hired as part-time interim administrator.

2000 February – Joe Holman begins as the new pastor, and the attendance is averaging 290

2000 September – Emancipation Day Historical Marker dedicated on church property

2001 June – Groundbreaking ceremony for church building

2003 January – Building site work and construction begins

2003 October – Associate Pastor Jack Gill hired to minister in the areas of discipleship, small groups, and Sunday school

2005 Christmas Day – First worship service in the new building, with a congregation averaging 450 in attendance

2006 March – Tom Gossage begins as our worship pastor

2006 June – Joe Holman announces that he is going to the mission field in Bolivia, leaving in Spring 2007; search for new pastor begins

2006 August – Congregation votes to incorporate under new provisions in the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia

2007 September – Associate Pastor Jack Gill becomes new Senior Pastor

2008 June – Rich Shipe hired to minister in the areas of discipleship, small groups, and Sunday school as the new associate pastor