In 1984, Pastor Joel and Laurie Freeman purchased a rancher situated on 10 acres of land between Ellicott City and Columbia on Stillmeadow Lane.
In 1983, Stillmeadow Church won the softball league. The softball league was a form of ministry and a fun outlet for the church to maintain camaraderie. Stillmeadow played against banks, private companies, government teams, and churches. Stillmeadow had a longstanding rivalry with Coldwell Banker and defeated them in the 1983 championship.
In 1986, Pastor Joel Freeman and members divested themselves from The Bible Speaks and became independent. They became Stillmeadow Church, named after Stillmeadow Lane, where the property was formerly located.
In 1988, Stillmeadow placed a down payment on the current grand estate on 5110 Frederick Avenue. Stillmeadow sold their 10-acre property on Stillmeadow Lane for about 1 million dollars and made a deal with the Chesapeake Conference Association of Seventh Day Adventists and Chapelgate Presbyterian. Their agreement led to Stillmeadow’s acquisition of their current property, originally owned by the Chesapeake Conference Association of the Seventh Day Adventists on Frederick Avenue.
In 1995, church members paid off the rest of the balance they owed on their church property. Church members raised thousands of dollars by developing and selling bonds throughout Maryland County. To celebrate, they burned the mortgage paperwork in church service.
On the first Sunday in June 1989, Stillmeadow held its first church service with around 38 members in attendance. The church had a strong preaching and music ministry. Pastor Freeman hand-picked his first elders who became the Ministry Council (who was on the council?). The Board of Trustees continued to be founding members (Lucine Young, Renee Tuck, and Joyce Swayne?).
From 1989-1991, Stillmeadow joined under the umbrella of Calvary Chapel, pastored by Pastor Chuck Smith. The church expanded so much in membership that it hosted two church services.
Listen to Renee Tuck’s oral history to learn more! (include link here)
