November Church Highlights
Looking back over November and ahead to Christmas, BCM/D churches continue to love and serve their communities with the goal of sharing the gospel. Below are just a few examples of outreach among hundreds of churches in Maryland and Delaware. We have also included funeral arrangements for Brian Tubbs, the beloved pastor of Olney Baptist Church, who died on Dec. 3.
Thanksgiving at the Beach
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Ocean City Baptist Church shared free Thanksgiving meals with the community. The meals included turkey and all the trimmings and more prepared by Chef Paul Dehaurte of Ristorante Antipasti, along with his two sons, Matthew and Paul Jr. Guests enjoyed stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, and a choice of apple, pumpkin, or cherry pie.
Volunteers work to prepare Thanksgiving dinners at Ocean City Baptist Church. (Courtesy of Ocean City Baptist Church)
Ocean City Baptist Church Pastor Sean Davis wrote, “With the help of the community, we were able to serve 115 people who dined in, made 251 deliveries to first responders, shut-ins, and others who had to work, and provided 369 carry-out meals. This led to a total of 735 meals served to the community.”
Davis added, “This was the 46th year that OCBC has hosted this event, and every year it just gets better.”
The dinners have become a cherished tradition in Ocean City, bringing together the church family, neighbors, and those without local family. Hundreds come to serve meals at the church and deliver them across the city.
OCBC partners with several community organizations, including the OC Elks Lodge 32645, the Humphrey’s Foundation, Inc., and private donors. Davis expressed his gratitude to the many volunteers and church members who gave of themselves to serve others.
Davis said, “Thanksgiving is a time of year when we can truly be grateful for God’s blessings in our lives. What made this year so special is the unity and love displayed by the hundreds of people who came together from all different backgrounds. Everyone who received a meal left with a full belly and a full heart—including me.”
Serving Communities in Love
As Ocean City celebrated at the beach, churches across the region were busy blessing their communities in creative ways.
Clinton Baptist Church distributed 1,600 Thanksgiving boxes throughout the DMV area in partnership with Project GiveBack. They also served 80 seniors a free Thanksgiving meal.
Christian Liberty Church had a time of worship, sharing the gospel, enjoying a meal, and giving away hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners. (Photo courtesy of Christian Liberty Church)
Christian Liberty Church in Reisterstown hosted its annual “O’ Give Thanks” event, providing over 250 bags of food—including turkeys and all the trimmings—as well as a free hot meal. More importantly, they worshiped together, the gospel was shared, and there was plentiful one-on-one ministry and prayer.
South of Baltimore, The Transformation Center in Brooklyn collected over 670 bags of food for Thanksgiving to serve their neighbors.
Now, they’re gearing up for their Holiday of Hope on Dec. 13, where they expect to welcome 500 children! They are accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys by Dec. 10, or you may donate online, and they will shop on your behalf.
Members of Buck Valley Christian Church, Warfordsburg, PA, supported a local school by packing food boxes for families to ensure children have meals during the winter break.
Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach, Pasadena, is collecting new toys, children’s clothing, and books for Caring Cupboard in Anne Arundel County through Dec. 14.
Funeral Information for Pastor Brian Tubbs
Brian Tubbs, the beloved pastor of Olney Baptist Church, passed away on Dec. 3. Pastor Tubbs was very active and deeply valued within the BCM/D and the Montgomery Baptist Association, serving in various capacities.
BCM/D President and Montgomery Baptist Association Director of Missions Ron Blankenship wrote:
“Brian supported and spoke with fondness for Montgomery Baptist Association and BCM/D. Brian loved deeply his dear wife Jane, his two wonderful children, Jonathan and Jennifer, and his friends at Olney Baptist Church. I pray for God to give us all an extra measure of strength as we grieve in the days ahead. Thank you, my friend, Brian, for your friendship and love over the years.”
Olney Baptist Church Pastor Brian Tubbs passed away on Dec. 3.
Olney Baptist Church submitted the following information:
Funeral Service – Monday, December 15
Visitation: 10:00–11:00 AM
Service: 11:00 AM
Location: Derwood Bible Church
16011 Chieftain Ave., Derwood, MD 20855
The service will also be livestreamed. For the link, please email [email protected].
Following the service, all are invited to travel individually to the cemetery for the interment.
Interment: 1:45 PM
Chestnut Grove Cemetery
831 Dranesville Rd., Herndon, VA 20170
For those who have asked about additional ways to support the Tubbs family, a GoFundMe has been set up to assist with medical expenses. To give, visit: https://gofund.me/ebe1b500.
We will provide a full obituary when more information is available.