A Message from the Former Pastor of OPBC
August 2011
Friends,
I am excited to announce the beginning of a new venture for Old Pathway Baptist Church and the Grasty’s. Global Gospel Initiatives is going to be an integral ministry of OPBC. We look forward to understanding missions better as we partner with and support John and Katie. We are committed to local church ministry, and we are so glad that the Grasty’s are going to remain a part of our family as they take the Good News around the world.
Chad Ellege
Pastor
Old Pathway Baptist Church
History
Old Pathway Baptist Church was organized October 1, 2000. OPBC will soon celebrate its 13th anniversary. The church was planted in the Jonathan Creek community of Haywood County, North Carolina. From the 80’s until today, the population of Jonathan Creek has exploded. Attendance in the churches has not. Pastor McDaris served until November 2004 when a young pastor, Chad Ellege, took the church over with only 12 in attendance.
The next few years were sometimes a
struggle, but through faithfulness to the Word, preaching, and
soulwinning, the church began to grow. Today many people regularly
gather together on Beantown Road to worship the risen Christ. People are
being saved, christians are growing, and the outreach of the church into
the community is increasing.
In September 2012, Brother Ellege resigned as pastor under good terms and pursued the Lord’s will in other ministries. He continues to serve on GGI’s board of directors in an advisory role.
Philosophy of Ministry
GGI reflects what we are as a church. Old Pathway Baptist Church is committed to:
- The Gospel
- Bible preaching—that’s how people are saved and built
- Independent Baptist distinctives
The doctrinal statement of the Grasty’s doctrinal statement, available here, is representative of our church and all those associated with our ministry.