DISTRICT: Western Maryland
LOCATION: 188 Zehner Road, Grantsville, Md. 21536
DATE OF FOUNDING: 1874
AVERAGE SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: 25
WORSHIP SERVICE: Sunday School – 9:30 a.m.; Worship Service – 10:30 a.m.
PASTOR: Merlin “Mert” Maust
Nestled in the Allegheny mountain range on Negro Mountain, you will find a small white frame church called Oak Grove Mennonite Church. It is located just one fourth mile north of U.S. Route 40 (Old National Pike), three and a half miles west of Grantsville, Maryland. Oak Grove Mennonite Church is a close-knit family of Christ. Oak Grove Mennonite Church exists to share the gospel to the lost, teach and learn the Word of God, lead each other to accountability and maturity, minister hope to the hurting, and offer restoration to the fallen.
The Oak Grove story began in 1874 in an old log schoolhouse on the opposite side of the present structure on Zehner Road. The community started a non-denominational Sunday school. The first members were formally received at Oak Grove in 1888. They were Louis and Dan Gingerich and Mary Keim Beachy. In 1890, Conrad and Annie Wisseman were received as members. On August 8, 1900, a group of thankful people gathered at this place to dedicate this house of worship to God. Menno Steiner preached the dedicatory sermon. In August 1959, people again gathered to dedicate the new vestibule and restroom area. The fellowship hall and upstairs classrooms were added in 1980 to complete the present structure.
Our congregation does outreach in a number of ways. Each year we organize a summer Vacation Bible School for church and community children. As a new school year approaches, we buy backpacks and fill them with school supplies for needy families in the community; we also buy supplies for the teachers at the local elementary school. Each year we collect items for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes. Recently we held a “Free Meal and Movie Night” for the community at the church.
We support a missionary in Chile through EMM. Last year we hosted the August EMM Board meeting and invited them to a church picnic. We also support Mercy Smiles International, Mennonite Disaster Service, and the local Hospice Program.