New Work Begun
Pastor Dr. Terry L. Coomer founded Elwood Bible Baptist Church in 1989. Pastor Coomer and his wife Kim and daughters Teresa
and Jennifer started the church in a store front building at 1930 Main Street with just their family. Pastor Coomer had
pastored three different churches in Southeastern Ohio prior to coming to Elwood. Pastor Coomer was a veteran church planter
prior to starting Elwood Bible Baptist Church. Pastor Coomer saw the need in Elwood, which is a city of churches, to establish
an independent-fundamental Baptist Church. There were other Baptist churches in the city but Pastor Coomer felt there was a need
for a church which was fundamental in both doctrine and practice.
Pastor Coomer saw the need for a separated, soul-winning, independent, fundamental Baptist church so he yielded to God's call,
came to Elwood and started the church.
Facilities
In 1993, Elwood Bible Baptist Church built a new church building on three city lots at 504 North 12th Street. Over the years
since, the building has been nicely finished and upgraded to provide adequate, comfortable, and handsome facilities for church
activities. In 2006 more land was purchased to expand the facilities.
On Separation
From its beginning, Elwood Bible Baptist Church has upheld strong standards of separation from sin and the world
(1 John 2:16-17).
We at Elwood Bible Baptist Church believe that our separation from sin and the world extends especially to our music, a vital
part of our worship to God. For this reason, we enthusiastically sing and perform vibrant, conservative, traditional,
sacred Christian
music. We reject contemporary Christian music (CCM),"Christian rock", and Southern gospel music, as compromise between God's
music and the world's music (Ephesians 5:18b-19).
Our church is not charismatic and will not participate in the charismatic movement in any way (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
Furthermore, our church adamantly opposes the ecumenical philosophy and strongly adheres to a position of ecclesiastical
separation.
We believe the Received Text is the correct text and therefore use only the King James Bible for our faith and practice.
Elwood Bible Baptist Church is completely independent, having no organizational or corporate connections to any convention,
conference, or formal association of churches. We believe this is closest to the New Testament example and provides considerable
liberty and freedom for the administration of the church's various ministries.
On the other hand, Elwood Bible Baptist Church freely fellowships with other churches of like faith and practice across the
region and throughout the United States. Across America, there are literally thousands of completely independent Baptist
churches who network and fellowship together in common cause for Christ.
Evangelism
The church has from its earliest days been committed to the fulfillment of the Great Commission of our Lord, both at home and
abroad.
The Great Commission, we believe, involves both the evangelization of non-believers, and the discipleship of new converts.
According to Jesus Himself, this is the primary mission of the church on earth (Matthew 28:18-20). It is our desire to
disciple those who have been saved to have an intimate, personal, and passionate relationship with God.
Elwood Bible Baptist Church does not evangelize in order to survive and grow. Rather, we survive and grow in order to
evangelize. This is the license and purpose for our existence. Accordingly, the primary focal point of this church is
the winning of others to Christ and their discipleship.
In addition, the church has a strong mission's ministry, supporting missionaries around the globe.
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