New Christian church opens in Brownsville
The church began in early 2001 with members meeting in their pastor’s home. But the Brownsville Christian Fellowship is now officially established in downtown Brownsville. Brownsville Christian Fellowship, which recently hosted a dedication of its building, is located at 29 Market Street. It operates as an independent Christian church. The Rev. John McGrath is pastor. The Rev. Tim Wilson is evangelist. Ann McGrath, Rev. McGrath’s wife, leads worship.
“My dad was in the ministry. I moved to Uniontown eight years ago and served as an elder on the staff of Bread of Life for seven years,’ said Rev. McGrath.
Eventually feeling he needed to start a church in Brownsville, Rev. McGrath began holding meetings in his home in early 2001. The church then began meeting at the Union Station Building in summer 2001.
Last November, the membership purchased a former church on Market Street and began hosting services there. The formal dedication for the building took place the first weekend in March, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Visitors included Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan as well as speakers from Virginia.
Rev. McGrath noted that during the dedication weekend, the church ordained his brother Mike and sister-in-law Karen, who are starting a church in Virginia Beach called Beach Christian Fellowship. They hope it will be a sister church to Brownsville Christian Fellowship.
Asked about membership at Brownsville Christian Fellowship, Rev. McGrath said, “There are about 40 people who we know are going to be here every week. And you have people who come because they want to see what we’re doing.’
Rev. Wilson reported, “Sometimes you come in and there’s 70 to 80 people.’
Services are held Sundays at 11 a.m. There is also a Tuesday prayer meeting at 8 p.m. The church also hosts prayer at 10 a.m. on weekdays. Beginning April 28, the church will host a Bible study at 6 p.m. on Sundays.
The church also has plans to do a children’s ministry on its second floor and would eventually like to make a prayer room on the third floor.
“We’ve run into a lot of people in Brownsville who haven’t been in church for a long time,’ said Rev. McGrath. “Really, those are the people we’re going after. We don’t encourage people from other churches to come. We are coming for people who have no church and haven’t made a committee to the Lord.’
Rev. Wilson was born and raised in Brownsville. He spent 17 years living in Virginia Beach before returning to the area two and a half years ago.
“I’m an evangelist,’ said Rev. Wilson. “I do a lot of preaching in the church and out of the church.’
Rev. McGrath and Rev. Wilson previously worked together at Freedom Ministries in Martinsville, Va., where they worked with other churches to minister to people suffering addictive disorders.
Rev. McGrath has a theology degree from the International College of Bible Theology and is earning a degree in psychology and business from Liberty University.
Rev. Wilson went through church training in Virginia. Both of them were ordained through Brownsville Christian Fellowship.
The church is hosting special services this weekend with the Rev. Bud Votaw of Ohio as guest speaker. They will take place today and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
Rev. McGrath said, “My ultimate goal is to see every person in Brownsville saved.’
“We want them to know Jesus,’ said Rev. Wilson, “just like the other churches.’
He added, “We want to see the community revived spiritually and physically.
Rev. McGrath added, “I think we’re in the perfect location. I really do.’
For more information on Brownsville Christian Fellowship, phone the church at 724-785-7055.