Bethany Community Church

Since 1986, Bethany Community Church (BCC) provides faith-based community outreach and interaction in suburban Washington, D.C.

History

The work to establish Bethany began in September 1986, when Kevin & Ann McGhee and Rick & Laura Mastroiani moved from Long Beach, CA to Laurel, MD to start a new church. These two couples began to meet the community through a door-to-door survey that sought to explain low church attendance in the area.

On September 28, 1986, Bethany Community Church began as a home bible study. On December 14 of that year, Bethany Community Church held its first worship service at Laurel High School. After four years, the church leased space in an office park at Laurel Lakes on Route 1.

As membership at Bethany grew, the time came to seek out property on which Bethany could build its own facilities to more effectively serve the suburban Washington, D.C. community. In 1996, the family of Dr. James W. Smith of Laurel donated 24 acres of its beautiful wooded farm on Riding Stable Road to Bethany Community Church . After many years of construction, the church recently moved from its Laurel Lakes facilities to its new home between Laurel and Burtonsville. From this location–which lies at the crossroads of Montgomery, Howard, Prince George’s, and Anne Arundel counties–Bethany is uniquely equipped to minister to those who serve the federal government; in state, county, and local governance; and adjunct business partners.

From the initial two couples, Bethany Community Church has grown to well over 200 families. From an initial budget of $25,000 provided by a mother church (also named Bethany) in Long Beach, CA, the BCC budget has increased to more than $500,000 per year.

Laurel was chosen as a location for the BCC for the following reasons:
* its proximity to Washington, D.C.
* the rapid growth of the population in this area (Laurel Lakes, Konterra, and other new developments)
* the large population of young, professional people
* the large population of "unchurched" people

As the church planting team considered many areas around the greater Washington metropolitan area, Laurel was identified as one area with tremendous need for a church like Bethany.