Church History
“For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the LORD," plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. -
Jeremiah 29:11
In August of 2001 Allen Gilchrest moved from West Virginia to
Chestertown, Maryland to be a graduate assistant swim coach at Washington
College. That same month, Elizabeth Smith moved from Boonsboro,
Maryland to be a freshman student/athlete attending Washington College
playing basketball and crew while studying physics. Only God knew what
would take place as a result of these moves! During the first week of
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. -
Jeremiah 29:11
In August of 2001 Allen Gilchrest moved from West Virginia to
Chestertown, Maryland to be a graduate assistant swim coach at Washington
College. That same month, Elizabeth Smith moved from Boonsboro,
Maryland to be a freshman student/athlete attending Washington College
playing basketball and crew while studying physics. Only God knew what
would take place as a result of these moves! During the first week of
school Liz and Allen attended the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting located in the Cain Gym classroom.
After the meeting the two played a game of one-on-one basketball and talked to each other for the very first time.
During the school year they became good friends. Allen served as an adult leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes
and Liz served as a student leader. There was another person, Scott Steinmuller, who was also attending the
Fellowship of Christian Athlete meetings and also was an assistant swim coach at Washington College. In the spring
of 2002, together, the three of them attended the first Assembly of God Church in Elkton Maryland. This was a
great time of growing closer to the Lord for the three of them! Prayer at the altar, bible reading, and a hunger to
know God more would change the life of these three young people and the lives of those around them!
That same spring, Allen drove a group of students from the Fellowship of Christian athletes to a Christian rock
concert in Baltimore, Maryland. It was during the concert that Liz shared with Allen that God laid on her heart to
start a church on campus. The two decided they should fast and pray about it. A few weeks later Allen, through
prayer, felt there was only one location the church should be held on campus. So he told Liz, pray about the location
on campus church should be held. I will wait for you to come and tell me, and if it is the same location God has
revealed to me in prayer, then we will start the church. A few weeks later, Liz revealed to Allen that she could only
come up with one location. She told him the location, and the two were the same!
God created each of us! His desire is for all to come and worship Him!
How do you start a church? Well, if you’ve got the creator of the universe on your side and believe you can do all
things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you, it is not that hard! Plans for the church started to shape up and
God provided! That same spring Allen was reading a Christian magazine and saw a sound system for the church for
sixteen hundred dollars. A few weeks later he received his government tax return for sixteen hundred dollars! May
came and Liz went home for the summer. In June Liz, Scott, and Allen took a trip to West Virginia to stay with
Allen’s church family. During the Sunday morning and night church services, Liz, Scott, and Allen lead worship
service together for the very first time. Liz and Scott on guitars and singing, Allen on the drums. The church in
West Virginia also blessed them with an overhead projector and stand, worship music and overheads, and a drum
set. The church at Washington College was really coming together! When Liz came back to Washington College in
the fall, Liz and Allen built a cross. Eight feet high and five feet wide, an overwhelming reminder of Jesus' Love for
us!
On September 8, 2002, Washington College Church had its first service. Liz, Scott, and Allen lead the worship
service. Allen gave the message from Amos 6: 1-7. The title of the chapter is "Woe to the Complacent." Allen
encouraged and challenged the students to take a look at their daily lives and see how much room they had for God
in it. Many students did not come back!
The following week, after service, a student, Junelle Wright approached the stage and asked if she could join the
praise team. She played guitar and sang the rest of the year. Soon after that another student, Bethany Heilman, joined
the praise team. They named themselves "Second Chance". As the school year progressed the praise team grew.
They practiced on Thursday nights and often played worship music and prayed to the Lord until midnight! They
prayed for the students on campus, for growth in the church, and a closer walk with Jesus. They were God
chasers! The praise team also stepped out in faith to play coffeehouses at the Baptist church in town and a free
Christian concert at the Fountain Park.
Liz and Allen agreed that the first year was a success for the Lord in planting a church on Washington College
campus. Students were able to come and worship the Lord, be encouraged in the Lord, and encourage one another.
The church even supported missions by sponsoring a child in India named Pandiya Rajan Pandy, through
Compassion International. The church’s support allowed Pandiya to have three meals a day, get weekly doctor
check-ups, and attend a Christian school. They also corresponded through letters and pictures and became a big part
of Pandiya's life.
So how did they get a Pastor? During the summer of 2003, God did even greater things! Before Washington College
Church existed, Scott Steinmuller attended a Baptist church in Chestertown. This is how the praise team got invited
to play the coffeehouse at their church. It was also at the coffeehouse that they met Minister Wendell Womble and
his family. Well, that summer God laid on Liz and Allen's heart to meet with Minister Womble and ask him to be
their Pastor at Washington College Church.. After church service at the Baptist church, they all met in McDonald's
and had an awesome time of sharing and prayer, talking about the goodness of the Lord right in McDonald's!
Shortly after, Pastor Womble agreed to serve as Pastor at Washington College Church!
Due to a trade name conflict with Washington College during the summer of 2004 our name was changed to the
present Campus Christian Church.
After the meeting the two played a game of one-on-one basketball and talked to each other for the very first time.
During the school year they became good friends. Allen served as an adult leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes
and Liz served as a student leader. There was another person, Scott Steinmuller, who was also attending the
Fellowship of Christian Athlete meetings and also was an assistant swim coach at Washington College. In the spring
of 2002, together, the three of them attended the first Assembly of God Church in Elkton Maryland. This was a
great time of growing closer to the Lord for the three of them! Prayer at the altar, bible reading, and a hunger to
know God more would change the life of these three young people and the lives of those around them!
That same spring, Allen drove a group of students from the Fellowship of Christian athletes to a Christian rock
concert in Baltimore, Maryland. It was during the concert that Liz shared with Allen that God laid on her heart to
start a church on campus. The two decided they should fast and pray about it. A few weeks later Allen, through
prayer, felt there was only one location the church should be held on campus. So he told Liz, pray about the location
on campus church should be held. I will wait for you to come and tell me, and if it is the same location God has
revealed to me in prayer, then we will start the church. A few weeks later, Liz revealed to Allen that she could only
come up with one location. She told him the location, and the two were the same!
God created each of us! His desire is for all to come and worship Him!
How do you start a church? Well, if you’ve got the creator of the universe on your side and believe you can do all
things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you, it is not that hard! Plans for the church started to shape up and
God provided! That same spring Allen was reading a Christian magazine and saw a sound system for the church for
sixteen hundred dollars. A few weeks later he received his government tax return for sixteen hundred dollars! May
came and Liz went home for the summer. In June Liz, Scott, and Allen took a trip to West Virginia to stay with
Allen’s church family. During the Sunday morning and night church services, Liz, Scott, and Allen lead worship
service together for the very first time. Liz and Scott on guitars and singing, Allen on the drums. The church in
West Virginia also blessed them with an overhead projector and stand, worship music and overheads, and a drum
set. The church at Washington College was really coming together! When Liz came back to Washington College in
the fall, Liz and Allen built a cross. Eight feet high and five feet wide, an overwhelming reminder of Jesus' Love for
us!
On September 8, 2002, Washington College Church had its first service. Liz, Scott, and Allen lead the worship
service. Allen gave the message from Amos 6: 1-7. The title of the chapter is "Woe to the Complacent." Allen
encouraged and challenged the students to take a look at their daily lives and see how much room they had for God
in it. Many students did not come back!
The following week, after service, a student, Junelle Wright approached the stage and asked if she could join the
praise team. She played guitar and sang the rest of the year. Soon after that another student, Bethany Heilman, joined
the praise team. They named themselves "Second Chance". As the school year progressed the praise team grew.
They practiced on Thursday nights and often played worship music and prayed to the Lord until midnight! They
prayed for the students on campus, for growth in the church, and a closer walk with Jesus. They were God
chasers! The praise team also stepped out in faith to play coffeehouses at the Baptist church in town and a free
Christian concert at the Fountain Park.
Liz and Allen agreed that the first year was a success for the Lord in planting a church on Washington College
campus. Students were able to come and worship the Lord, be encouraged in the Lord, and encourage one another.
The church even supported missions by sponsoring a child in India named Pandiya Rajan Pandy, through
Compassion International. The church’s support allowed Pandiya to have three meals a day, get weekly doctor
check-ups, and attend a Christian school. They also corresponded through letters and pictures and became a big part
of Pandiya's life.
So how did they get a Pastor? During the summer of 2003, God did even greater things! Before Washington College
Church existed, Scott Steinmuller attended a Baptist church in Chestertown. This is how the praise team got invited
to play the coffeehouse at their church. It was also at the coffeehouse that they met Minister Wendell Womble and
his family. Well, that summer God laid on Liz and Allen's heart to meet with Minister Womble and ask him to be
their Pastor at Washington College Church.. After church service at the Baptist church, they all met in McDonald's
and had an awesome time of sharing and prayer, talking about the goodness of the Lord right in McDonald's!
Shortly after, Pastor Womble agreed to serve as Pastor at Washington College Church!
Due to a trade name conflict with Washington College during the summer of 2004 our name was changed to the
present Campus Christian Church.
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Campus Christian Church
“For I know the plans I have for you,
"declares the LORD," plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future”.
Jeremiah 29:11
"declares the LORD," plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future”.
Jeremiah 29:11