200th Anniversary Celebrated This Year By Harford County Church

JOPPA, MD — For 200 years, Mountain Christian Church has played a pivotal role in Harford County and beyond.

The church was established in 1824 and has grown from a handful of founders to more than 7,000 people who worship there nowadays. In fact, the church witnessed a surge in attendance in early 2024, growing nearly 40 percent in 2023.

“There is a new hunger for God, truth, depth and community,” Mountain Christian Church Lead Pastor Ben Cachiaras told Patch. “For 200 years, Mountain continues to be mission driven; our mission: to make more and better disciples. It’s easy for churches to drift and make it about ‘us’ and forget why we’re here. But for us, if a decision ever comes down to choosing between making ourselves more comfortable or reaching out to one more lost person, we are going to do whatever it takes to reach out. Every single time.”

To explain just how long Mountain Christian Church has existed, its congregational members have endured the Civil War, World War I, World War II, cold wars and cyber wars. The church has witnessed the Great Depression and other economic downturns. It also has seen not one but two pandemics. Through each of these moments, "God has made a way," Amber Robinson, digital and online pastor for Mountain Christian Church, shared with Patch.

One of the most painful moments in Mountain Christian Church's long history became a turning point, a defining moment for its leaders.

"In 1983, our church split and it was an incredibly sad time. The congregation that remained was faced with financial commitments to global missions that seemed impossible to fulfill now that so many had left. But Mountain held onto the vision and kept the commitments it had made and when all the funds came in, it was larger than the original commitment," Cachiaras said.

"God was faithful to provide and Mountain people were faithful in generosity in order that the mission could continue to spread far and wide. The pandemic was thoroughly disruptive and disorienting for everyone, and we felt it throughout our church. But it also galvanized our team, forced us to think creatively to engage people through different means, and taught us to depend on God more fully," Cachiaras continued. "The mission never stopped. It changed forms—almost weekly as we reacted to the changing situation. But we were still able to follow through with opening a new campus and another EPICENTER site in Aberdeen right in the middle of the pandemic. New opportunities opened up even as the world was largely shut down."

One celebrated aspect of Mountain Christian Church happens to be its vast diversity of members.

"People of all different backgrounds, ages, races and experiences call Mountain home. We genuinely believe 'This is for everyone!'" Cachiaras told Patch.

The church will be celebrating its 200th anniversary this summer at Ripken Stadium June 22 and a homecoming weekend Sept. 29. Mountain Christian Church has locations across Harford County including in Abingdon, Aberdeen, Edgewood and Joppa. Leaders will be expanding their reach into Parkville, soon. For more information, visit Mountain Christian Church's website.