Brief History of Colmar Manor Bible Church
Laying of the Cornerstone in 1937.
The history of Colmar Manor Bible Church starts when it was born in March, 1936, and was given the name Independent Fundamental Church of Colmar Manor. One year later the church would be renamed Richardson Memorial Church (after the brother of the founding pastor – a firefighter who was killed in action). The laying of the cornerstone of the
church took place at 3:00 p.m. on Sept. 28, 1937. There were 200-300 people in
attendance. In 1940 – the church hosted its very first Vacation Bible School (VBS.)
The church remained faithful to sound doctrine through the years, and
would make an impact during hard times such as WW2 by leading many to Christ…
In 1943 the church would be renamed Grace Memorial Church, which remained unto
1996 when the church name was changed to Colmar Manor Bible Church by Pastor Ken
Burge Sr.
Church Plants
Colmar Manor Bible Church has planted two local churches.
- The first is Grace Bible Church located at 9920 Lanham-Severn Road in Lanham, Maryland.
- Grace Bible Church became independent on Oct. 25, 1967.
2. The second branch work was New Carrollton Bible Church.
- New Carrollton Bible Church became independent in Jan. 1981
The Sr. Pastors of Colmar Manor Bible Church:
The Church in the 1950s…
1. Rev. Byron P. Richardson, March 1936 – June 1945
2. Rev. R. A. Roberts, July 1945 – April 1948
3. Rev. David E. Geiman, April 1948 – March 1951
4. Rev. William Oxenford, April 1951 – October 1967
5. Rev. L. Samuel Martz, February 1967 – November 1979
6. Rev. Zachary Gray, November 1979 – May 1983
7. Rev. Jay K. Hollinshead, October 1983 – April 1991
8. Rev. Dr. Kenneth J. Burge, Sr., June 1991 – Present
CMBC’s Vision
The goal and vision of the Colmar Manor Bible Church is finding the lost and training the found. Why is this our passion? It is all for God’s glory. This game-plan comes from The Great Commission that Jesus gave to His disciples.
Matt. 28:18-20 says,
“Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
All of our ministries focus on finding the lost and training the found based upon Jesus’ command to make disciples. Ambassadors for Adonai, Dr. Burge’s messages via youtube.com, and the churches app and website give us both a venue to find the lost and train the found locally and globally. We have Sunday school, Junior Church, adult and youth Bible studies to build up the faith of our members (training the found). Our church has faithfully been serving the community of Colmar Manor since 1936. Our goal to help fulfill the Great Commission is by “Finding the lost and training the found for God’s glory.