Who We Are
Open Bible Baptist Church is a growing assembly of people on the east side of Columbus.
We are traditional in style, embracing the King James Bible and effective & proven hymns bringing the preaching to focus on God and maturing Christians to be conformed to the image of Jesus. We are who we are because of what Christ did on the cross, and therefore we week to please our Saviour rather than men. Our desire is for Christ to be glorified through every aspect of our services and ministries.
As Christians, our vision is to fulfill the Great Commission. We believe that our ultimate goal as Christ’s followers is to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
We are currently renovating our building, which was built in 1895. We are very prayerful and excited about the progress that has taken place. During this time we are meeting in a separate building located on our Ohio Street property.
What We Believe
All scripture is divinely inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21). All scripture is perfectly preserved by God (Matthew 24:35). These Scriptures are found in the Textus Receptus and the King James Version.
One God eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (I John 5:7; I Peter 1:2; Matthew 3:16,17).
Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18); He is true God and true man (John 1:1,14).
Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26); man sinned, and thereby incurred both a physical death and an eventual spiritual death, which is a lake of fire and brimstone (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8); all men are born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12,19). This state of man can be changed only through the salvation that comes by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20; II Corinthians 5:7).
Jesus Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood (Romans 5:1,8,9).
The crucified body of our Lord was resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:6; I Corinthians 15:3,4); He ascended into Heaven and is our Intercessor (Acts 1:9; I John 2:1).
The personal, pre-tribulation, and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for His redeemed (the rapture) is imminent (I Thessalonians 4:16,17; John 14:3); and He will eventually return to earth, with His saints, to establish His millennial kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:1-6).
All who trust Jesus Christ to save them from God’s wrath are born again of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, and become the children of God (John 3:16; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:23-24; John 1:12).
All believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, and are set apart to serve Him (I Corinthians 12:12,13; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 2:10).
All true believers, having been born again into the family of God, are professors of everlasting life, shall never perish, and are eternally secure in Him (John 10:28,29; Philippians 1:6; I John 5:12).
The bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost are certain (John 5:28,29; II Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 20:11-15).
Scriptural baptism is commanded, is by immersion, is for believers only, and is to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36,37).
The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus’ death, and is to be practiced periodically until He returns (I Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 22:17-20).
As the children of the Lord, we should endeavor, by the Holy Spirit of God, to abide in Christ, to win the lost to Christ, to live a consistent Christian life, and to refrain from worldliness (John 15:1-14; Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 12:1,2).
Because we believe that God’s inspired Word is perfectly preserved in the Textus Receptus, and that the King James Version is the English translation of this perfect text, the King James Version is the singular English reference for all Scriptures used by this church.
FAQs
Yes. We provide a nursery for children ages 0-36 months for all of our services.
Certainly! We offer van rides for any of our services and for the RU program. If you need a ride simply give a call and we would be glad to pick you up. We offer rides for both adults and children, but children must be older than 6 and have parental permission before we can give them a ride. Those under 6 can still get a ride but they must be accompanied by adult.
Our regular church services are great for children of any age. In addition to that we have several ministries that focus specifically on the youth in our church and in the community.
- Sunday School Classes. These classes are divided by age groups are taught by qualified and caring teachers that present lessons that are relevant to the children they work with.
- Youth Group. Our teens have a serving and vibrant youth group. Many teens experience spiritual growth through the dynamic Sunday school messages, and also through serving in the Game Night ministry, soulwinning, bus visitation, music ministry, and assisting in various children’s groups.
- Game Night. Children from the community are brought in for Game Nights on Thursday evenings during the school year and VBS and the Children’s Christmas Party. Each of these events is an effort to help young people hear the gospel and grow as Christians. All of these events include games, snacks and a Bible lesson and gospel presentation. See our schedule.
Aside from these services we also have other ministries that focus on the adults in our community.
- Sunday School. It isn’t just for kids. We have an adult Sunday school class that is time of thoughtful Bible study where we take a deep look at the Word of God.
- Reformers Unanimous. Reformers’s Unanimous reaches out to the hurting and addicted on Fridays at 7 pm. Talk, talk, talk includes a help for overcoming difficulties, a preaching service, and a chance to share struggles and encouragement in small groups for men and women. These weekly meetings include a delicious meal. Workers will provide a ride upon request. For more information about the RU program and how it helps change lives visit rurecovery.com
About Our Pastor
For more than 25 years, Pastor Michael Gordon has been honored to serve at Open Bible Baptist Church in Columbus, Indiana.
Mike was born in Lexington, Virginia, and grew up in a Baptist church, but came to personally trust Christ as his Savior at the age of twenty. After several months of continuing his college education, he recognized and responded to God’s calling for him to be in the ministry and began attending Hyles-Anderson College. He embraced Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Towards the end of his college education, he met and married Carmen. Following graduation, and after earnest prayer and much counsel and advice from several Godly men, Mike knew that God wanted him to start a church Columbus, Indiana. Over the years, the city of Columbus has grown, and God has grown the church and its ministries accordingly. Pastor Gordon and his wife have worked to meet the needs of those around them, resting in the promise that God is always faithful. Pastor Gordon has a heart for every individual he meets, and loves to share with them how Jesus can change their eternity and their life on this earth. Through Open Bible Baptist Church, Jesus Christ has changed many lives and healed many hearts. Yielded to serve God, the Gordons can attest to the fact that God is the One Who has worked through them and that God’s faithfulness is unmatched.
Mike and Carmen have now been happily married for more than 30 years and have eight children, six of whom currently serve with them at Open Bible Baptist Church. Two of their married children serve in other Bible believing Baptist churches.