Bible Chapel marks its 50th anniversary
The Bible Chapel in McMurray is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The church was founded by nine couples who were attending a church in Pittsburgh, but envisioned something bigger. They began a midweek in-home Bible study.
A little more than a year later, on April 15, 1964, they incorporated as St. Clair Bible Chapel. The first Sunday service was held June 15, 1965, and attracted 11 adults.
Today, the nondenominational church has more than 3,500 members and more than 70 employees. It has five area campuses: McMurray, Robinson, Washington, Wilkinsburg and online.
Since 2000, the Bible Chapel has been broadcasting weekdays on the Journey Ministry to people in the United States and abroad.
The church aids in medical helicopter flights as a landing site and also as an emergency evacuation shelter. The 115,000 square-foot facility and 1,450-seat worship center in McMurray hosts several major events each year.
The church also is a collection site for the National Drug Take Back program and has developed relationships with several community partners, such as Light of Life, City Mission and Pregnancy Resource Center of the South Hills.