Scott Carlson didn’t plan to start a church when he moved to Southern Maryland. In fact, he’d just arrived from the Midwest to work at an existing ministry when he suddenly found himself without a job.

He and his family began to worship at Grace Chapel Ministries of Southern Maryland, a Grace Brethren congregation in Mechanicsville. Several other families from his previous ministry joined them.

“We wanted to fellowship together,” remembers Carlson.

He’d already been meeting weekly to pray with the pastor of Grace Chapel, Dr. Carl Snyder. Snyder suggested the group begin to meet as a church with Carlson as the pastor

“Carl offered all kinds of help,” Carlson recalls.

The group found a home in a rented clubhouse about 22 miles on the other side of the Patuxent River in Lusby, Md. In June (2012), Redeemer Bible Fellowship opened its doors.

The Mechanicsville church provided some start-up funds for the new congregation and has offered office supplies and other necessities. They’ve even opened the church building for special services, such as baptisms.

Carlson says Redeemer Bible Fellowship is characterized by friendship and affection. “We love each other so much,” he says. “I’ve been in the ministry 17 years. This church has more love than any other I’ve seen.”

The congregation is excited to reach their community, according to the pastor. In January, several evangelistic Bible studies will begin, hosted by church members in their homes, with the goal of sharing the gospel.

“We want to win people to Christ,” says Carlson, “building them up in the Lord. We really want to be a blessing to the community that we’re in.”