ABOUT US

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV)

OUR PASTOR

A man wearing a black robe with red arrows on it

Rev. Lawrence W. Bryant began his ministry in 1975 under the leadership of the late Bishop John Trammel, Sr., Pastor of the Church of Christ in Boyds, Maryland, where he was ordained and licensed to preach the Word of God. In 1982, he began to serve under the leadership of the late Rev. John L. Ford while attending Asbury United Methodist Church in Frederick Maryland. In 1984, the Methodist Conference appointed Rev. Bryant as pastor of the Warren-Keys Chapel United Methodist Charge in Mt. Airy and Union Bridge, Maryland, where he served until 1988. His pastoral services also include co-pastoring with the late Rev. John L. Ford on the Buckeystown United Methodist Charge #80 from 1991 to 1992, which was at that time a four-point charge.

In August 1992, upon the retirement of the late Rev. Alonzo O. Graham, the Pleasant Grove Christian Community Church in Damascus, Maryland, selected Rev. Bryant for the pastoral position. The President of the United Council of Christian Community Churches of Maryland and Vicinity (UCCCC), the late Bishop Kevin A. Rogers ceremonially installed him as Pastor on January 17, 1993.

Rev. Bryant also served as Third Vice President, Second Vice President, and First Vice President of the UCCCC. He was elected and served as President of the UCCCC from August 2014 to September 2018.

Formal training for Rev. Bryant includes the Lay Speaker School in Boonsboro, Maryland, the Local Preachers License School in Hagerstown, Maryland, Wesley Theological Seminary School in Washington, D.C., and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, Virginia.

Rev. Bryant and his wife Diane, live in Frederick County, Maryland.

A man is standing at a podium holding a microphone

OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ORIGIN

The United Council of Christian Community Churches of Maryland and Vicinity (UCCCC) is an organization based on the fellowship of churches of diverse backgrounds. Member churches operate autonomously and are self-governing without bureaucracy and taxation. The UCCCC strives to work in unity calling Christians to seek spiritual transformation and discipleship to build the body of Christ and become witnesses to those who have not accepted or built a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pleasant Grove Christian Community Church (PGCCC) is a member of the UCCCC. Under the UCCCC, we are self-governing, having autonomy with the freedom to structure our worship. We practice and teach the Word of God and doctrinal beliefs as found in the Holy Bible.

What it Means to be Non-denominational

As a non-denominational conference, the United Council of Christian Community Churches (UCCCC) is not associated with a major denomination such as Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. The UCCCC is made up of a group of self-governing congregations held together by means of mutual recognition of or accountability to other congregations and leaders with commonly held doctrine, policy, and worship without formalizing oversight of the other congregations in such matters. The UCCCC practices and teaches the Word of God as found in the Holy Bible and practices doctrinal beliefs.

OUR PLEASANT GROVE HISTORY

In 1868, George T. White and his wife sold an acre of land to the people of Burnt Hill for twenty dollars for the site of a public school and church.

The people of the community held picnics and other fund-raising activities to build what would serve as a school and church. The Bureau of Engraving gave a donation to help with the project. After funds were raised, Mr. John Burdette offered to use his horse and wagon team to go to Frederick, Maryland, and haul the lumber for the building at no charge to the community.

On September 12, 1869, the building was ready for use as a public school and church. The school/church became known as the White School House, named after the owner who sold the land to the community. The White School House closed in 1908. However, the church remained open. A few years later, The White School House reopened but finally closed permanently in 1936.

The White School House became known as Pleasant Grove Methodist Church. The Methodist Conference placed Pleasant Grove on the Mt Airy Charge with Friendship Methodist Church. In 1920, Pleasant Grove and Friendship became the Damascus Charge. Then in 1929, the Methodist Conference renamed the Charge, the Mt. Airy, and Damascus Charge.

The Methodist Conference closed Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in 1966. Pleasant Grove officially withdrew from the Methodist Conference, maintaining the church deed in their possession.

In 1967, Trustee Arnold Hawkins led the effort to reopen Pleasant Grove. He visited the Reverend Alonzo Graham, who had retired from the Methodist Conference and asked him to become the pastor of Pleasant Grove. Rev. Graham accepted the position, sought, and obtained church membership in the United Council of Christian Community Churches of Maryland and Vicinity, under the name Pleasant Grove Christian Community Church. The Reverend Lawrence W. Bryant, also a former Methodist minister, became Pastor Graham’s successor in August 1992.

Pleasant Grove, located on Mountain View Road in Damascus, is established as one of the oldest, active churches founded after emancipation in Maryland.

OUR DOCTRINAL BELIEFS

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. II Timothy 3:16-17

The Holy Bible contains the inspired, infallible, and eternal Word of God, who is its author. Following are the core tenets upon which we base our faith in the Scriptures breathed upon us by the Almighty God:

We believe the Holy Bible contains the inspired Word of God, written by man under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We believe the teachings of the Bible to be the holy infallible word of God by which we conduct ourselves as children of the Most High.

II Timothy 3:16-17

We believe there is only one God, known to mankind as the Word. He is the creator of the universe, having made everything that exists in the universe. He is the creator of Man, designing him in His likeness.

John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:27

We believe the one true Godhead is comprised of three (3) separate and distinct personalities who are eternally self-existent, self-revealed, and function as one person: God the Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth; God the Son, who took away our sins through His death on the Cross and is the Savior of the world; and God the Holy Spirit who was sent to be our Comforter after the ascension of the Lord Jesus. We believe this to be the Trinity. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

I John 4:9, I Peter 2:24, John 14:16-17, I John 5:7-8

We believe in the Incarnation of Christ, Jesus taking on a body of flesh. Jesus came to earth and clothed Himself in a human body, taking upon Himself the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men.

John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-7

We believe in the Salvation of Man. God made provision for the salvation of a sinful world through the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son, Jesus the Christ. By doing so, Christ opened the way of salvation for all. With a public confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and a sincere belief in His resurrection by God, we are saved.

Ephesians 2:8, Romans 10:9

We believe in the Ordinance of Water Baptism as an outward sign, an example of true repentance of a sinner from his or her sins. Jesus gave His sanction to the ordinance by submitting to baptism. So baptism is a voluntary act on the part of the individual, in obedience to the command of the Lord. When a person is baptized, he/she is joined with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Matthew 28:19

We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, a special experience following salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service.

Acts 2:1-4, Mark 1:8

We believe in Holy Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper) which was instituted by our Lord in the upper room just before His death on the cross. It is to be observed as a memorial of His atoning death.

Matthew 26:26-28, I Corinthians 11:24-25

We believe in the Blessed Hope of Jesus coming again to gather all His Saints to Heaven. Upon His return, all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them to be with the Lord forever.

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

We believe in the Millennial Reign of Jesus upon His return from Heaven with His saints to rule and reign over the Earth for 1,000 years. After this, there shall be a new Heaven and a new Earth. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. And so shall we forever be with the Lord!

Revelation 20:1-7, Revelation 21:1-3