Open Door History…
In early spring of 1991, several individuals began sensing the Lord stirring in their hearts to experience more. One young couple started a Bible study in their home with three other people. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, a local businessman was shaken by God’s presence in his bedroom with a “repent now or else” kind of message. Right away he made his peace with God and began hosting a prayer meeting in his home. Neither group knew the other existed.
At the same time, God was stirring the hearts of Mark and Nicki Pfeifer, who were living in another town. The Lord spoke to them saying, “Very soon I will give you a ministry in Chillicothe.” Not long after that, Mark and Nicki were introduced to the group having the Bible study Chillicothe by a mutual friend. A week later, they were having Bible studies together with the five people who attended.
While driving through Chillicothe on his way to a revival in Pennsylvania, Mark had a vision of a huge door slowly opening over Chillicothe. The scripture in Revelation 3:8 came to him. To the church at Philadelphia Jesus said, “. . .behold I have set before thee an open door. . .”
And so came the name – Open Door!
At this point, Mark and Nicki were still involved with the denomination to which they belonged but were feeling pressure to make a decision one way or another about the future of
their involvement in the Bible study. After the final service of the revival meeting in Pennsylvania, a doctor and his wife asked Mark if they could pray for him. The doctor’s wife began to prophesy and say “Son, behold I have set an open door and no man can shut it!” She knew nothing about the vision Mark had seen on the way to that meeting. It had been all confirmed and there was no doubt about what God wanted.
With this confirmation, the name of the church being decided, and five people as initial members, only one thing was missing. They needed a building. While driving home from Pennsylvania, Mark asked the Lord for direction. God clearly spoke the following words: “Find a man named Joe.” Mark knew no one by that name in Chillicothe but believed with God’s help, he could find this man named Joe.
About a week later, Mark visited the home of one of the five people who were involved in the Bible study. She began to tell the story of how she had met a businessman recently who had felt led to buy a downtown building after he was confronted by God and told to repent immediately
“What’s his name?” Mark asked.
“Joe” she replied!
A week later, Mark called Joe. He said, “You don’t know me and you’re going to think I’m crazy, but God told me to find a man named, Joe because he would have a building for me to use for church.”
A couple of days later, Mark was shown the building at 131 East Main Street in Chillicothe. The sign above it read, “Philadelphia Hall.” Philadelphia! The church to whom Jesus was speaking when he told them that he had set before them an open door.
The five people who attended Bible Study joined the folks who were meeting at Joe’s house for prayer and with about fifteen people, Open Door had its first Sunday service on September 22, 1991. The church continued to meet on Tuesday nights for prayer, conduct Bible studies on Wednesdays, and hosted Coffee House on Saturday nights.
The small church grew in that location until two years later when God moved them to Lakeview Drive, just south of town. While at Lakeview (or the “little white church” as it is called), the church purchased the old Torch Drive-In Theater which is Open Door’s present location. With little money but a whole lot of faith and passion, the congregation worked together to build their first building which was completed in the Fall of 1994.
The small sanctuary was full in a matter of weeks. In the spring of 1995 Phase, Two was underway, doubling the seating capacity of the sanctuary. It was complete as the calendar turned to 1996. The next year, an administration wing was added followed by an educational wing the following year. In 2,000, the church had added the Life Center with a Food Pantry, teen sanctuary, and recreation space. Our present Worship Center was completed in the fall of 2002 and all Sunday services were immediately moved to the larger facility. The former worship space was converted into the Children’s Center you see now.
Our hope is that you and your family will join us as we move into the future – together! There is so much more to be done and by the grace of God, we can do it together.
