With a vast history in the Greensburg area, members of Open Door Baptist Church have something to celebrate.
The North Main Street church will observe its 100th anniversary on Oct. 3, when special services will be presented by former Pastor Craig Pendl, who was at the church for 11 years.
“This church has made an impact on people’s lives in the community who were former drug addicts, former alcoholics — from every walk of life they’ve found the answers here,” said 40-year member Carol Boyce. “It’s not just a religion, it’s a relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s what we’re taught here.”
Open Door Baptist, originally organized as the Church of the Open Door, was founded in 1920 and was located at the corner of Oakland Avenue and Stanton Street in downtown Greensburg. During its time at that location, members of the church established the Every Man’s Bible Class in 1925 and the Greensburg Bible Institute in 1947.
In 1958, former Pastor Robert F. Nitz took over the church and moved it to its current location, 970 N. Main St., in 1972. Under his direction, several outreach ministries were created, including a deaf ministry that taught sign language. He also established “dial-a-devotion,” a phone ministry that included a 15-minute radio broadcast.
A year after Open Door moved to its Main Street location, Nitz established the Open Door Christian Academy that eventually closed in 2004. The academy followed curriculum of the Accelerated Christian Education program. In addition, a ladies ministry and Neighborhood Bible Time were started in 1972.
Today, the church is home to several programs and includes a daycare, a gym with a basketball court, a kitchen and a teen room, where teenagers can take lessons and play games such as table tennis, basketball and air hockey.
About 70 parishioners attend services each Sunday. The church’s current pastor is Joshua Franklin.
“We try to have a warm, loving spirit here,” said Boyce, 74, of Greensburg. “Our pastor is always talking about loving one another.”
That warm welcome, as well as the messages taught at the Greensburg church, originally attracted Boyce to the location and caused her to stay for 40 years.
Similarly, 20-year member Barbara Snyder said she originally was attracted to the church because of its school. At the time, Snyder was looking for a school for her then-5-year-old grandson. Before enrolling him, the 69-year-old Greensburg resident said she attended a kindergarten graduation ceremony to get a feel for the program.
“I came and watched it, and all the little kids in their caps and gowns going up front, they got hugs,” Snyder said. “You saw the love between the teacher and the kids. It was personal. It just sold me on a lot of things seeing that love in this church because you don’t get that everywhere.”
In addition, Snyder said she enjoys the messages preached during church services.
“That’s what I like, the good, sound messages,” Snyder said. “You get taught from the Bible and different people use different versions, but they’re good. Nothing’s missing, and when you hear the messages, sometimes they just build you up. You walk out on cloud nine.”
The Oct. 3 ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Former and current members are invited to attend.