The History of Derwood Bible Church
Here are some highlights of nearly a century's worth of faithfully loving God and people:
February 17, 1917
Rev. William B. Waters became the pastor for the church in Derwood, MD. Mr. Waters was a salesman for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. He was saved on September 25, 1915 under the preaching of Gypsy Smith, the English evangelist, at the age of 39.
August 31, 1919
The work of the church was turned over to Brother Wolling when Rev. Waters went into full-time evangelistic work.
July 24, 1919
Derwood Church was incorporated as "The Derwood M.E. Church, South."
February 15, 1928
Rev. William B. Waters accepts work as pastor for the second time
February 27, 1928
The old church building is torn down and a new building called "Faith Chapel" is built. The small wooden, white building still stands in historic Derwood, less than a mile from the current church offices.
March 24, 1942
The church was incorporated as an independant church.
July 16, 1942
Grace Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, MD, sold the Derwood Church of Derwood, MD, for $1.00 to Rev. William Waters
June 21, 1944
Rev. Waters was admitted to the hospital for poor health
February 1959
Rev. Homer Heater, who later became the president of Washington Bible College and Capitol Bible Seminary in Lanham, MD, filled the pulpit until May 1959 at which time he was called to be the pastor.
1962
A new annex was completed with 6 classrooms
August 1962
The name of "Derwood Church of Montgomery County" was changed to "Derwood Bible Church."
1963
The main church building was completed
1967
Rev. Ronald Klein accepted the pulpit at Derwood Church
1971
Rev. Michael Reed accepted the pulpit at Derwood Church
1982
Rev. Gary C. Stefanski accepted the pulpit at Derwood Bible Church
1986
Rev. Steven J. Pettit became the Senior Pastor at Derwood Bible Church and served in that capacity for 20 years.
1989
Rev. Douglas Sweigert became the Youth Pastor.
1994
Theresa Hesch was hired as a family/women's counselor.
1997
Timothy J. Ripley was hired as the Worship Arts Director.
2000
The DBC congregation voted to shift to an elder-led body.
2001
Pastor Doug begins teaching at Mt. Airy Christian Academy and DBC hires John Long as Pastor of Youth.
August 2001
Scott Chopas is hired as Pastor of Evangelism & Discipleship
May 2005
DBC purchases 225 acres in Laytonsville from Damascus Road Community Church; after the Montgomery County Council determined we were disallowed to build the facility we desired on this land, we sold it to Rupert Nurseries.
May 2005
Hjarman Cordero joins the staff as our Multi-Cultural Pastor
June 2005
Todd Heishman is hired as Pastor of Operations
June 2006
Rev. Colin Seager is hired as an Associate Pastor
September 2006
Liz Tauber is hired as part-time Director of Women's Ministries
October 2006
Dr. Pete Theodore is hired as DBC's Senior Pastor
April 2008
Rev. Colin Seager becomes DBC's Senior Pastor
December 2008
Mike Speer is hired as Pastor of Student Ministries
October 2009
Pastor of Operations Todd Heishman leaves DBC to become the Senior Pastor of Fredericktowne Baptist Church