The Open Bible Standard Churches are the result of a merger of the Standard Bible Conference and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association in 1935. The denomination is generally known as Open Bible Churches.
These two groups were similar in doctrine and structure, both having their roots in the 1906 Azusa Street revivals in Los Angeles, California. The Bible Standard Conference was founded by Fred Hornshuh in 1919 after withdrawing from the Apostolic Faith Mission, and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association was the result of the teachings of John R. Richey in 1932, who separated from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. One of the reasons these two groups had left their parent organizations was a resistance to authoritarian leadership and local church autonomy.
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, the denomination has churches in thirty-seven states, is active in more than thirty countries, and sponsors ten Bible institutes The emphasis of its missions work is on training nationals for the ministry.
The teachings of the Open Bible Churches are "fundamental in doctrine, evangelical in spirit, missionary in vision, and Pentecostal in testimony."
The church holds that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, infallible, and the sole guide for faith and practice.
The Open Bible Churches believes in the unity of the Godhead in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are equal in divine perfection, fulfilling complementary roles in the work of redemption.
Jesus is the Son of God. In the incarnation, He took on human form, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He died on the cross for the sins of humanity, thus reconciling mankind to God. He rose physically from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for us.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, leads believers to the truth, and empowers the church to carry out the work of Christ on earth. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the time of salvation. The baptism of the Spirit is distinct from salvation and releases the power of the Holy Spirit through faith. Believers should anticipate that baptism by the Spirit will be accompanied by speaking in tongues. The church also believes in divine healing, which is provided for in Christ's atonement.
The church holds that because of the sin of Adam and Eve, mankind has fallen from its original goodness. Jesus died to make salvation possible, and salvation is by the grace of God alone. It is received by faith with repentance for sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as savior.
The church is made up of Christians who should assemble regularly for edification, fellowship, worship, and the proclamation of the gospel. Every believer should be involved in the work of the ministry of the church, in accordance with the spiritual gifts that have been given to each.
Local churches are governed congregationally and are locally owned. They are organized into districts, which are themselves grouped into regions. The highest governing body is the General Convention, which meets biennially.
Open Bible Standard Churches observes baptism and the Lord's Supper as sacraments. Baptism is by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and is viewed as an outward sign of inward work. The Lord's Supper involves the bread and the cup in remembrance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The church practices open communion.
The Open Bible Churches teach that the Second Coming of Christ will be personal, visible, and triumphant. There will be a final judgment of all unbelievers, whose eternal destiny will be in hell. The saved will experience eternity in heaven, which will be a place of happiness and security.
The focus of this category is on the Open Bible Standard Churches, also known as the Open Bible Churches. Websites representing the denomination, its regions, divisions, missions, ministries, publishing arms, or affiliated corporations or organizations, are appropriate for this category. In most cases, those representing local churches should be submitted to the appropriate Local & Global category, which would be the one corresponding to the geographical location of the church.
Recommended Resources
Open Bible Standard Churches sent its missionaries to Liberia in 1935 and, over the years, several missionary individuals and families have served the churches in Liberia. Its work was nationalized in 1979 because of civil instability, at which time it took the name, Liberia Open Bible Standard Churches. Although the last missionary was forced to leave the country in 198, Open Bible Churches has continued to send monthly support to the churches in Liberia. Its work and its needs are outlined.
https://loveliberiamissions.org/
The association of churches and ministers is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The official denominational website features its mission and purpose, core beliefs and values, global missions, extension ministries, leadership structure, and the OBC manual which contains its statement of faith, bylaws, policies, and procedures, and other official statements. A calendar of events and several informational documents are included.
https://www.openbible.org/
Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica
OBSCJA is an autonomous national organization of churches and ministers in Jamaica which originally consisted of two movements, the Bible Standard Churches of Eugene, Oregon, and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association of Des Moines, Iowa. Its history and an introduction to the Pentecostal association is put forth, and a directory of member churches and ministers, leadership and administrative contacts, and a photo gallery are included.
http://openbiblejamaica.org/
Headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, the regional offices represent member churches of the Open Bible Standard Churches in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Its core beliefs and a general introduction to the region are given, along with a calendar of events, a ministry overview, partnerships, a directory of member churches and ministers, and administrative contacts.
http://pacificopenbible.com/
The regional association of the Open Bible Standard Churches is made up of member congregations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Headquartered in Valrico, Florida, the region’s purpose and mission, strategies, ministries, and administrative contacts are posted to the site, and a list of member churches, a calendar of events, and educational opportunities are reported.
http://www.openbible-se.org/
