History of CABC

Late in 1979, Christ’s American Baptist Church began its roots as a hometown family church. Through humble beginnings in the home of George and Lucille Kennedy, the basement of a Hanover bank, and even into the kitchen of Bob and Janet Coddington, CABC continued to grow slowly. Although this group of church planters met many obstacles on this journey, they continued to pray and respond to God’s leading for the future of the Spring Grove congregation. They were blessed with weekly services provided by retired Pastor Charles Stotsenburg as well as the arrival of Reverend David Dunn in Gettysburg, who would chair the steering committee for American Baptist churches in the area and later serve as an Associate Pastor of CABC.

In the early 1980’s, Pastor Ralph Eib was called to be the first full-time pastor of the church, and in 1983, with only 32 members, they became chartered as Christ’s American Baptist Church. With no church building to call home, the growing group met in the Colonial Valley Social Hall and then in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Through much prayer and sacrificial giving, funds were raised to break ground on a new church building, which was ready for use in April of 1986. To accommodate for the growing needs of the church body and to provide for greater outreach in the community, the congregation continued to seek God’s will through prayer and sacrificial giving in order to add the gym and classrooms in 1991 as well as other additions that were made in later years. Upon the retirement of Pastor Ralph in September of 2007, Pastor Todd Witmer took on the role of Senior Pastor.

Throughout the years of the existence of Christ’s American Baptist Church, several values have remained constant:

  • We have a passion for the Word of God and we seek to learn through the study of His Word in worship services, small groups, and personal study.
  • We love people. From children to adults of all ages, the ministries of CABC seek to provide biblically based teaching and Christian fellowship with one another within an atmosphere of God’s love and grace.
  • We have a zeal for Missions. We support many local, national, and international ministries and missionaries.
 
Today, we continue to keep these core values at the forefront of all we do and remain true to our hometown start as we continually strive to listen and follow the plan God has for us.
Founding Faces of CABC

A brief piece of our history from the perspective of one of the founding families and members of what would later become Christ’s American Baptist Church.

A brief piece of our history from the perspective of some of our founding pastors and spiritual leaders.