WHO WE ARE LOCALLY
We’ve been directing Blair County to the Savior since 1893. Our foundation is built on the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.
Our doors are always open to visitors; we’ll make you feel welcomed and part of our church family. We care about the community and try to show them love just as Christ loves us.
You may ask yourself why did we picked the slogan “Back to the Basics?” We feel that the fundamental teachings of the Bible are not being taught today. Here at the Altoona First GBC we are going “Back to the Basics” to teach our youth of today how the Lord wants them to live through the love Christ has for us, and why it’s important to keep God in the center of your life.
WHO WE ARE STATE WIDE
We are affiliated with The Charis Fellowship (Formally known as The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches), located in Winona Lake, IN.
The Grace Brethren movement consists of congregations in more than 250 cities, 11 national and cooperating ministries, and 23 cooperating districts, just in the U.S. and Canada. Our district is known as The West Penn Grace Brethren Fellowship. The West Penn Grace Brethren Fellowship, consisting of 17 churches in Western Pennsylvania stretching from West Kittanning (north of Pittsburgh) to Kish Valley (in Reedsville to the east)
WHO WE ARE NATIONALLY
The Brethren commitment to following biblical truth began in 1708 near Schwarzenau, Germany, when a small group of Christians committed themselves to following Jesus and the Word of God, no matter what the cost. Since 1939, the Charis Fellowship has perpetuated that passion, believing that every word in the Bible comes from God and gives us direction and hope. Through the scriptures, we learn to have a personal relationship with God, to experience biblical community, and to work together to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ world-wide.
Today, the Charis Fellowship is part of a multi-national network of churches whose values are defined by that pursuit of biblical truth, biblical relationships, and biblical mission. In the U.S. and Canada, the Grace Brethren movement consists of congregations in more than 250 cities, 11 national and cooperating ministries, and 23 cooperating districts. Outside of North America are nearly 3,000 Grace Brethren churches, hundreds of new church starts, and an ever-growing number of cooperative ministry initiatives.
For more information about the Charis Fellowship, see charisfellowship.us/.
* the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is now known as the Charis Fellowship