Our History

Countryside Bible Church began in 1939 with a handful of believers from the Mosherville and Omega (the area surrounding Cobb Lake) communities. They fashioned a small building into a chapel in Mosherville Station and met Sunday afternoons for Bible study led by Rev. Blossom, the pastor of North Adams Baptist Church. When he moved from the North Adams area, pastor Stanley Blowers from Hanover Baptist Church continued the ministry.


Finding our place

It was not until 1947 that the congregation was large enough to call their own pastor, Rev. Neal Crapo. His vision was to see a church incorporating the communities of Mosherville Station and Omega, the last two stops on the train run from Jonesville to Jackson. In 1948, the old train station, now located on the Buehrer farm at 1581 E. Litchfield Road, was purchased. This building had been used for a number of farm purposes, including raising animals, but it now was cleaned and remodeled into a place of worship. The next year, the church organized and adopted the name, Friendship Church of Omega.


Changing our name

In the years to follow, pastors Grindle, Grimes, Jackson, Wonders, and Schoen would each have opportunity to shepherd this flock. In 1965 the growing congregation needed more room and decided to build a new building. It was started in September of that year and dedicated almost one year later. Along with the new building, a new name was given to this congregation, Countryside Bible Church. Following Schoen were pastors Matthews, Afman, Wheaton, and Balcom.


Growing in size

In February of 1981, Pastor Lillie became the church's 13th senior pastor. He, his wife, and three children had been involved in Christian camp ministries before accepting the call to Countryside. In March of 1987, the church broke ground on a 8,000 square foot addition. On September 10, 1989, the building, which cost $156,000, was dedicated. Although it took three years to complete, it was finished without a mortgage.


Moving forward

In January of 2018, Pastor Rob Stewart became the church's 14th senior pastor, with Pastor Lillie remaining with us as an associate pastor and elder. Today we have great expectations for the future of this ministry, and there is a swell of excitement as we anticipate the gospel ministry moving forward. We look forward to the years ahead as we continue to see God work in lives to accomplish His will in our church, community, and to the ends of the earth.