HISTORY OF OPEN BIBLE

Before Open Bible Lutheran Church was formed in The Villages, there were two WELS churches in the area. One in Leesburg and one in Ocala. Both recognized the potential of a new mission start. In the mid nineties both congregations began to evangelize by mail and phone to reach souls for their congregations from The Villages. Efforts, although persistent, reaped little. Most felt it was too far and the only gains for the established churches were transfers of devoted WELS members retiring to the area.

St. Mark’s Lutheran church in Leesburg had members who wanted our Synod to consider starting a preaching station in the Villages. However, when the idea was presented to the congregation for approval, the request was denied. However, these outreach minded members of St. Mark’s knew the potential, and petitioned the South Atlantic District Mission Board in 2001 to consider a mission start. All of the necessary paperwork was submitted, and the Mission Board visited The Villages and the core group of members of St. Mark’s and some ELS members living in the area.

The visit of the District Mission Board team was July 16 and 17, 2002. Part of the agenda was a combined meeting of all of the core group, along with some other members and ministers living in the area. Their evaluation showed great potential and they recommended possibly starting with Bible Classes and evaluating the results. By that time, times were tough at Synod and no funds were available. The group struck out on their own as an unfunded mission. On August 30, 2002, a Bible study was started in the home of a member of St. Mark’s.

A retired minister, Rev. Donald Meier was asked to lead the group. Soon, homes were to small and larger quarters were sought. On Jan 23, 2003 the group was given permission to hold a devotion and study at Church on the Square. These studies were fruitful and the numbers grew. The small core group set up a booth promoting Open Bible at Vendor Nights on the Square at Spanish Springs. These efforts proved positive as more people were interested in starting a church. This led to a need to start services. While evangelizing, the main questions always seemed to be, What kind of Lutherans are you? Could you ask for a better lead-in? The second question would be, What time are your services? We had no answer at first and had to quickly organize and do all of the requirements necessary to form a church. Also we had to find a place to worship. This was all accomplished and on August 3, 2003, Open Bible Ev. Lutheran Church held their first service in a leased facility.

Pastor Meier continued as the Pastor until health concerns forced him into retirement. During a vacancy that followed, several neighboring Ministers assisted by conducting services. Pastor Rodger Dale accepted the call and was installed as the second Pastor on November 6, 2005. The small group continued with outreach into the area with Bible Studies at Church on the Square. Members volunteered at the hospital and rest homes. Open Bible emailed daily devotions to the community. They advertised in the Village Sun. They encouraged direct referrals to check out the church website.

Assisted by a grant from the CEF, Open Bible purchased 10 acres of land for a future church building on March 28, 2005. The cost of the land was $750,000. Although they continued as an unfunded mission, the Holy Spirit provided every need at the right time. From meeting space, to starting services, to providing ministers, both full and part time. In addition, The Lord provided the land for a future home. With the Lord’s help, 5 acres of the land was sold to Steeplechase for $1,750,000. This amount allowed the congregation to pay off the land, and still have 1 million plus to provide for a new building. This sale took place on March 15, 2008 and a ground breaking service was held March 30, 2008. Construction started in Mid June, 2008. The dedication service of the finished church took place on February 21st, 2010.

During the summer of 2012 Pastor Rodger Dale retired from the ministry, and a call was sent to Pastor Mark M. Schulz who served as outreach Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bay City, Michigan. Pastor Schulz had served at Trinity for 23 years. Pastor Schulz accepted the call and began his ministry at Open Bible in August of 2012.

Pastor Schulz began to expand the ministries of Open Bible after he arrived. New signs were placed on the property, which featured a new logo, the logo of the belltower with the cross on it. T shirts, hats, and stationery were promoted with the new logo.

Pastor Schulz initiated regular Sunday services from 11:30-12:00 noon at Steeplechase Independent Living Home. Small groups were started. Some of these groups were a Men's Breakfast Bible study at Bob Evans, a Woman's weekly Bible study, A Christian Singles group called SPLASH (Single People Loving and Serving Him), the 466A group, the North County group, a Grief Support Group, and Wednesdays in the Word.

In the year 2016, Open Bible formed a long range planning committee to set some goals for the future. It was determined that we needed to expand our present building to accommodate more people and new ministries. A capital funds drive began and $900,000 was raised. Construction started in February 2017. Open Bible renovated the offices in its original building to accommodate three offices. There had been a small office for the secretary, and pastor. A larger room had served as a board room. Now there would be 3 offices, one for the secretary, one for the pastor, and one for an additional staff worker. The original fellowship hall was renovated to be a Welcome Center for Sunday Guests, with a coffee bar, mother's area, library, and TV to watch the worship service.

In the Worship Sanctuary, laser projectors, and screens were added, along with a computer desk and laptop for a technology person to project our worship services on the screens. New banners were purchased to be placed in the altar area for the appropriate seasons.

After the new fellowship hall was built, it had capacity for over 200 people. It came equipped with sound panels, and an automatic screen and projector, which could be used for Bible classes, special events, or just to view the worship service on a Sunday morning. The original small kitchen was expanded, additional stalls were added to the restrooms, with entrances both from the Welcome Center and from the Fellowship Hall. There were 3 classrooms built off the fellowship hall. One was to be used for board meetings and offering counting and recording. The next room served as a nursery for children, and the 3rd classroom for the choir or for handbell practices. The addition included a storage room for church supplies and a garage. The garage was built with the hope of having a church golf cart that could pick up people from the area independent living homes for worship, or our own members who needed a lift from their cars to the front entrance.

A golf cart was purchased in 2018 to pick up residents at the Carriage House, Buffalo Crossing and the Willows for our worship services. Yellow vests with the Open Bible logo on it were provided to our drivers. A golf cart ministry had begun.

In 2019 a Memorial Garden was built next to our fellowship hall. 6 steel tables were built to accommodate 40 people for any outdoor activity. Two benches were installed.
Members now had an opportunity to remember loved ones by placing an inscribed stone in the garden itself. Further, stones were placed in the garden with the names of the founding families of Open Bible as well as its 3 pastors. Floral arrangements and plants were placed around the Garden.

In 2019, the long range planning committee determined that we needed to increase our staffing. Our former volunteer music director, Judy Hainen had died. Pastor Dale, who had helped with visitation ministry, and led a few small groups was moving out of the area. However, Open Bible still had a mortgage on its original church building of $280,000. Pastor Schulz put together another capital fund drive to help the congregation rid itself of this final debt, and allow the monthly mortgage payments that the congregation had been paying to compensate a part-time staff minister. Open Bible managed to raise $280,000 before the summer of 2020. The congregation was now totally debt free.

It was time to call a staff minister. The staff minister would coordinate our worship services, play the organ and piano, direct our choir, be involved in some visitation, and oversee a couple of small groups.

In the summer of 2020 Randy Cochran was called to serve as part-time staff Minister of Music and Education. He had been a principal for a number of years at King of Kings Lutheran school in Maitland, Florida. Randy began his ministry in July of 2020. Randy Cochran helped to initiate new ministries at Open Bible. He started Bible studies at the Carriage House and Buffalo Crossing, and has planned special fellowship trips for the congregation, like a trip to see Noah's Ark. Randy is both a gifted organist, pianist, and soloist. He does wonderful work in helping members use their musical talents in worship. He has started a prayer group twice a month, assists Pastor Schulz in visitation ministry, and oversees the Single's group, the 466a group, and the Grief share group.

Open Bible is a congregation on the move. New Programs such as Mornings with Mommy, the Daniel plan, Grandparent and Dementia care workshops have taken place. A Saturday service has been started. It takes place at 4:00 P.M. In 2021, Open Bible built an outdoor stage and concrete patio area, where the congregation can participate in outdoor worship services from their golf carts or be seated in chairs.

It looks like new development is happening on Bellwether Lane. An apartment complex is to be built accommodating 368 families. Will that mean the development of a child care center, Christian Day School, or a special worship service targeted to families? God keeps opening doors for Open Bible to reach souls for Christ. Join us in this ministry.