Stillmeadow Community Fellowship

The property that Stillmeadow now lives on was built.

The Bible Speaks, a Christian nondenominational school and religious organization in Lenox, Massachusetts, is the parent church of Stillmeadow. The founder of The Bible Speaks, Dr. Carl Stevens, and members fled Massachusetts and settled in Baltimore to re-establish themselves. Once in Baltimore, The Bible Speaks split into two groups: one located in East and one in West Baltimore. Pastor Steven Duff led the main group, which settled in East Baltimore. Pastor Joel Freeman, who recently graduated from The Bible Speaks training program, led the group in West Baltimore. Lucine Young, a founding member of the organization, opened her home on Belview Avenue for the West Baltimore group to hold church services. Joyce Swayne and Renee Tuck are founding members who led a bible study with praise and worship in Lucine Young’s home. When the church attendance began to overwhelm Young’s home, the members rented a Lantern Hills apartment to hold services. Pastor Joel Freeman, Laurie Freeman, and founding members expanded The Bible Speaks in Columbia, MD, holding church services in several places, including the Howard County YMCA, Waterloo Elementary, and intermittently in the basement of Pastor Freeman and Laurie Freeman’s house. While moving from place to place in Columbia, MD, they looked fervently for church properties to buy.

Listen to Richard Shuey’s oral history to learn more!

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!

In 1993, Pastor Joel Freeman stepped down from leadership, and the church appointed Dave Shive as Pastor. This created a church split, members followed Pastor Freeman in his departure. The church was losing members, and there was a significant need for leadership and members.

In 1994, Stillmeadow ended its partnership with Calvary Chapel and became independent again. Between 1994 to 1995, Stillmeadow transitioned into the Evangelical Free Church (EFCA).

In 1997, Stillmeadow became associated with the EFCA.

Pastor Dave Shive led from 1993 to 2004.

Pastor Dan Murill led as Youth Pastor from 1991 to 1995.

Pastor Mark Bogumill led from 1991 to 1995.

Mike Futrell became an Associate Pastor from 1996 to 1998.

In 2000, Gregory Dutcher became Youth Pastor and eventually became Senior Pastor. Dutcher stepped in after Richard Shuey left his administrative role. Dutcher left unexpectedly to lead another church. 

In 2004, Pastor Dave Shive stepped back into leadership to assist the congregation in seeking a new pastor. From 2004-2006, Wright Proctor, John Harris, and Roscoe Adams served as substitute pastors while the congregation looked for a permanent leader. 

In 2006, Loren Kraft became the lead pastor. Eventually, the elders of the church terminated Pastor Kraft which caused a second split. From 2006 to 2008, Bob Vogel and other interim pastors led the church. This time of church division and search for a new leader proved to be painful for the congregation.

In 2007, Stillmeadow developed the vision statement (include here). 

In 2008, Stillmeadow hired Pastor Dave Gehret. Pastor Gehret gave a trial sermon and decided to serve Stillmeadow only if 100% of the trustees voted for him.

In 2016, Pastor Dave Gehret stepped down, to make room for another leader in the church. Pastor Gehret believed Stillmeadow needed a Black pastor to reflect the local community, as well as someone seasoned in their ministry and sound in their doctrine. The Evangelical Church transferred Elder Stevie Thomas to Stillmeadow, and he became a vital temporary pastor. 

In month 2017, Pastor Michael Martin became the lead pastor of Stillmeadow. The EFCA prayed and suggested Pastor Michael Martin for leadership. Pastor Martin took on a role of stewardship to first guide the healing of a church dealing with years of hurt and division, and then to steward the forested lands, compromised by invasive species overgrowth. 

In month 2017, operations began to create a park with the 10 acres of forested lands. Patrick Healy began forming trails.

Listen to Pastor Michael’s oral history to learn more!

May 2018: On the Sunday afternoon before Memorial Day, torrential rain fell and caused a catastrophic flood, wreaking havoc in the flood zones of Beechfield and Catonsville. Many buildings and dozens of vehicles experienced flood damage devastating for the community. Frederick Avenue is in the middle of the floodplain with the least flood resistance, causing it to receive an overwhelming amount of flood damage. Maiden’s Choice watershed. These areas did not receive as much new coverage as Historic Ellicott City. There was another flood in July.

Stillmeadow Church, atop a hill and unscathed from the flood, stepped in to help their nearby community suffering from the effects of the storm. Pastor Martin purchased a cart or two of groceries and had a cookout to feed people. After this cookout, the church held cookouts every two weeks to gather people from the community and eat. The cookouts created a space for people to connect in their recovery from the storm and share their stories of surviving the flood. These summer cookouts initiated the annual Fridays in July Cookouts.

There were several organizations that partnered with Stillmeadow’s flood recovery efforts. The American Red Cross established themselves at the church to talk to people about flood resources. Team Rubicon, a group of veterans who respond to natural disasters, lived at the church for two weeks to help people remediate their homes. EFCA sent volunteers and funds. Pastor Ron (from where?) and David Franklin from Miracle City and worked together to gather resources. The church also received support from Baltimore City police department, Senator Hayes, Morgan State, Coppin State, fraternities, and sororities from these universities.

Pastor Martin drew new people from the community after becoming more community oriented in response to the floods. Stillmeadow Church became known as the “city upon a hill.” 

In month 2018, Pastor Michael announced a vision to reinvigorate the church years down the road. He was inspired to turn the 10 acres of land into a Peace Park. Had a church meeting to announce these plans. 

In month 2018, Campus Crusade for Christ or Cru, a college student ministry, organized volunteers to clear out trash and brush to manage the Peace Park. In the first year of the Peace Park’s development, 400 + young people supported the park's creation. 

In month 2018, Stillmeadow Community Projects Inc., the non-profit arm of the church, was formed and eventually became active in 2020. 

In month 2019, Stillmeadow connected with the Beyond the Natural Foundation (BTNF), a summer camp that provides music and visual art enrichment programming. Participating youth learn positive ways to express themselves, collaborate on projects creating community, enhance their critical thinking and writing skills, and decrease summer learning loss. Participating youth grow musically by learning songwriting, music production, piano, drumming and vocal performance while exploring the fundamental aspects of rhythm and harmony. 

In month 2019, Stillmeadow became a partner of the US Forest Service. 

In month 2019, Stillmeadow became a Resiliency Hub in the city of Baltimore. 

In month 2020, Yorell Tuck became the Operations Manager. 

Listen to Yorell Tuck’s oral history to learn more! (include here)

In month 2020, Stillmeadow announced the Grand Opening of the Peace Park. Between 2019-2021, Stillmeadow accumulated partnerships within the Environmental sector. BAMM, Bonnie, Aubrey, McKay, Morgan; Audubon, Turnaround Tuesday, Nature Sacred, The US Forest Service, Baltimore Green Space, Bluewater Baltimore, Libraries without Borders, and others. These partnerships helped Stillmeadow regenerate their Peace Park and become a voice of environmental science and justice in Baltimore.

In month 2020, the food pantry expanded to serve thousands of people struggling with food shortages during the pandemic. Most of the recipients came from across Baltimore or even out of state.  They received more and more participants through word of mouth, social media, and “text in church”, a mass text system with a couple thousand in their database. To serve this massive number, the church’s entire common area on the first floor was packed with food and supplies. The parking lot was full as well, directing 3 to 4 lanes of traffic. The food drive includes fresh produce, canned goods, and MRI meals (military rations). The church received meals donated from restaurants, boxed lunches from Aramark which would be delivered to the elderly in the community, and fresh produce received through the local government food bank. The pantry is run by and serves a diversity of people ranging in ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic positioning, etc. Stillmeadow understands and addresses the community’s food needs, through informal conversation and formal surveys.

In month 2021, Stillmeadow launched its partnership with Turnaround Tuesday, an organization with a mission to prepare, train, and connect ‘returning,’ unemployed, and underemployed citizens to living wage jobs and to build a vibrant public life. 

Established the Urban Silviculture Program