: History :
In the year 1981, OGBC began in the home of William Kallberg who lived at 316 Park St. in Orrville. Pastor Art Sprunger of the Sterling, Ohio Grace Brethren Church began the initial Bible study and turned it over to Pastor Ike Graham in late summer of 1981. The small initial group prayed that if the Lord Jesus wanted Grace Brethren
church in Orrville then He would raise it up according to His promise in Matthew 16:18. And He did!
The small group began to grow in numbers and to grow spiritually. Soon, they outgrew the Kallberg home. Then, they met at Oak Street elementary school. In the spring of 1982, after much prayer, they decided to begin Sunday worship services. They called Pastor Keith Merriman to be their full time pastor and began Sunday worship services on the third Sunday in May, 1982. In 1985, the group built a building where we currently meet on 2200 Paradise Road here in Orrville.
One of the longtime members of OGBC has written: “I praise God for raising up OGBC because it brought about the revitalization of our Christian walk with the Lord. It was our first exposure to expository preaching based on the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. It was like coming out of darkness into light. Life took on new meaning, bringing with it new found joy in the Lord from which we have never recovered! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
church in Orrville then He would raise it up according to His promise in Matthew 16:18. And He did!
The small group began to grow in numbers and to grow spiritually. Soon, they outgrew the Kallberg home. Then, they met at Oak Street elementary school. In the spring of 1982, after much prayer, they decided to begin Sunday worship services. They called Pastor Keith Merriman to be their full time pastor and began Sunday worship services on the third Sunday in May, 1982. In 1985, the group built a building where we currently meet on 2200 Paradise Road here in Orrville.
One of the longtime members of OGBC has written: “I praise God for raising up OGBC because it brought about the revitalization of our Christian walk with the Lord. It was our first exposure to expository preaching based on the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. It was like coming out of darkness into light. Life took on new meaning, bringing with it new found joy in the Lord from which we have never recovered! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
An early church service of the Orrville Grace Brethren Church at North Street Elementary
