Blue Ridge Christian Union Church

New To Blue Ridge?

We'd love to answer any questions you might have about our church, our community, and what we believe. Please let us know if we can serve you in any way.

About Us

Our mission is to make disciples who worship, belong, go!

Worship

Every Sunday Morning we gather together to worship our great God and Savior. We do this by reading His Word, prayer, giving financially to the church, communion, baptism, songs of praise, and listening to His Word preached. Throughout the week our worship doesn't stop. We stay committed to Christ through private times of prayer, devotion to His Word, acts of service towards others, Christian fellowship, and living our lives in ways that best honor His name.

Belong

Christ is honored when His people work towards building the church. At Blue Ridge, we do this through fellowship time, sharing meals, Bible study, small groups, Sunday school, and general time together. Throughout the week we are committed to pray for one another and serve each other as needs and opportunities arise. Our goal is to consistently demonstrate the love of Christ for God's glory and the good of His church.

Go

Our outreach ministries are designed to show the love of Christ to the world around us and beyond. Our goal in all of these ministries is to meet people's temporal needs through service, giving, and by sharing the truth of the Gospel that has brought us salvation.

Our Leaders

James Thurman

Senior Pastor

James Thurman has served on staff since 2018. He holds an associates degree from Heritage Baptist College in Biblical Studies. In addition to his role at the church, James works full-time as a first responder in the local community. He loves to teach the Bible, spend time with his family and hunt in his spare time.

Steve Sering

Worship Pastor

Steve Sering has served at Blue Ridge since January of 2020. He holds a bachelor's degree in leadership and ministry from Crossroads Bible College and a master's of divinity from Southern Seminary. His passion is to lead people into the presence of God through worship and to help hurting people. He enjoys reading Christian books, writing and playing different instruments in his spare time.

Lisi Campbell

At Large Church Board

Lisi organizes our church pantry outreach ministry and teaches in the youth programs. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking and teaching at the local homeschool co-op group that meets at the church.

Our Beliefs

At Blue Ridge, we are committed to the authority of the Bible and the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

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Our Beliefs

The Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)

God

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 14:16; 26:1 John 5:7)

Jesus Christ

We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the conception of His body by the Holy Spirit and His birth by the virgin Mary, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (Matthew 1:20-23; II Corinthians 5:21: Matthew 11:15; l Peter 3:18; Luke 24:36-40; Acts 1:9-Il)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is wholly of grace, but conditioned solely on repentance toward God and acceptance of Christ by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) When the sinner has met these requirements, God justifies and regenerates him. Justification is a judicial act absolving from punishment and restoring to divine favor. (Romans 5:1-9; Acts 13:39) Regeneration is the impartation of divine life effecting a change in the believer's nature. By the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word he is given a disposition to obey God. (II Corinthians 5:17; l Peter 1:23) This experience is witnessed to by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:16)

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, that He personally dwells within and guides those who are true believers, and empowers them for service, giving to them various gifts and producing within their lives the fruits of Christian Character. (I John 2:27; Romans 8:9, 11, 16, 26; John 14:26:16:13; Acts 1:5, 8; I Corinthians 12:4, 13; Galatians 5:22-23) b. We believe that all believers the moment they are regenerated are simultaneously baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:10-12) and also at that moment He comes to dwell within the believer. (John 14:16; I Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:9). The filling of the Holy Spirit should be a continuous and repeated action. (Ephesians 5:18)

Sanctification

We believe sanctification is that work of grace begun by the Holy Spirit at the moment of regeneration and continues progressively until physical death. We believe the old nature is not eradicated until after death, but that we must constantly guard against its influence in our lives. (I John 1:8; Romans. 6:16; 7:7-21)

Resurrection & Immortality

We believe that at the return of the Lord, the bodies of the righteous dead will be raised and the living believers will be changed so that both will have literal, spiritual, and immortal bodies like unto Christ's own glorious body. (Romans. 8:23; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:16; Philippians 3:20, 21)

Man a. His Creation

We believe that man was created by God and not by any accidental or spontaneous or self-propagated occurrence, action, method, or process; that he was created in the image and likeness of God, possessing personality and holiness, and that he is a free moral agent possessing the power of choice, and that the purpose of his creation was to glorify God. (Genesis 1:27-28; Galatians 3:10; Ephesians 1:5, 6)

His Fall

We believe the Biblical teaching about the fall of man (Genesis 2:16-17) and that because of his fall, death passed upon all men and sin entered into the world. (Romans 5:12-13), therefore, condemnation rests upon each person who has reached the age and development with which comes accountability before God and he is forever lost, except he be born again. (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:3, 5, 16, 36)

Church

We believe in the oneness of the church of Christ, composed of all Spirit-regenerated believers, (John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 10:17, 12:13-27; Ephesians 4:4), and that these believers both living and dead, shall be caught up together at His Second Coming. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-52).

Ordinances

We believe the Christian Ordinances are outward rites appointed by Christ to be administered in each church, not as means to salvation, but as visible signs of the facts and realities of salvation.

Baptism

We believe in water Baptism, (Matthew 28:19) and that it is to be administered to believers only. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12). b. We recommend immersion as the mode of baptism.

The Lord's Supper

We believe The Lord's Supper is an ordinance instituted by Christ for observation by his followers until He returns. It consists in partaking of the consecrated emblems of bread and wine, and symbolizes the death and suffering of Christ for the remission of our sins and our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. The Lord's Table should be open to all believers who are in right relationship with God, regardless of denomination. (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23, 26).

Marriage

We believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained of God in the time of man's innocence and that it is the mutual union of one man and one woman and morally binding so long as both shall live, and that therefore it cannot be dissolved by a decree of a civil tribunal, (1) except on evidence that one party is guilty of adultery: or (2) abandonment. (Matthew. 5:31-32; 19:4-9.) On positive evidence of such guilt the innocent party is free from further matrimonial obligations and justly entitled to marry again, but the guilty party has no such right. (Matthew 5:32, 19:9) c. We deny the right of marriage to both parties who have been divorced for other causes than adultery and abandonment. d. Any person sustaining a marriage relation contrary to that above recognized as justifiable shall be ineligible to enter into the office of the ministry of The Christian Union.

Tithing

We believe that the Scriptural teaching concerning the financing of the Lord's work is through tithes and offerings of God's people. (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians 16:2.)

Join Us For Worship

We gather for worship every Sunday at 10 AM

Every Sunday at 10 AM

466 S. 775 E.

Shelbyville, IN 46176

GET DIRECTIONS

What can I expect when I come to your church?

First of all, as a visitor, you will not be expected to do anything but enjoy the service. We simply want you to feel comfortable and enjoy worship. Once the service begins you will see that worship time at Blue Ridge is designed to glorify God by being Christ-centered and focused upon His Word.

Our services include a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary music. The main focus of our singing is to be centered on the person of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We also spend time in prayer, reading Scripture, confessing our faith, and giving. In addition, we have communion once a month, and we administer baptisms to new believers. The main focus of our service is the preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of God's Word. Our pastor regularly preaches through books of the Bible so we can learn the whole counsel of God.

What should I wear when I come to your church?

Feel free to come as you are. When you arrive you will notice people are dressed in all sorts of attire. Wear whatever is comfortable for you. Dress is not important. We just want you to come and enjoy your time at Blue Ridge.

What is Sunday School like?

There are classes for all ages. Just ask someone at the church, and we can direct you to a class. Our Sunday school classes are designed to help you grow in your faith. Each week we study a wide range of topics for the purpose of discipleship, missions and Christian living.

Sermons

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The Ridge

At Blue Ridge, our desire is to come alongside parents in the discipleship of their children to teach and train so that the next generation might know the Word of God and set their hope on the one true God (Psalm 78:6-7).

Children's Church

Children's church is for elementary-age children. After worshiping together as a family through singing, we dismiss the children for children's church during the sermon. In children's church, the kids receive an age appropriate message. If you would like more information, please see our youth ministry teachers.

Sunday School

In between worship Services at 10:10am, we have Sunday school available for children and youth of all ages. These classes include time for biblical instruction from our trained teachers in addition to time for fun and games. The aim of these classes is for the children to learn the gospel, respond to the gospel, and connect with each other. Classes usually last 35 minutes.

Youth Group

Youth Group activities will take place at various times scheduled in advance.

In addition to teaching and training, we also have regular get-togethers for our families. We want to share both the gospel and our lives (1 Thessalonians 2:8), so these outings provide an opportunity to connect with one another as families. Events include bowling, movies, eating out, other fun outings, and service projects. We announce these outings a month at a time.

Video Venue for young parents

If you have an infant or young child, Blue Ridge is a great place to come and worship. Feel free to keep your child with you during the service, but if you need to step out, we have a video venue right outside the sanctuary so you don't have to miss the service. In there, you can listen to the sermon, feed your kid and relax. Just ask someone at the church, we will be happy to show you where it is.

Nursery & Toddler Preschool

Every Sunday we provide qualified workers to care for your children during the 11am service and Sunday school. This area is for children 4 and under. Our workers will not release your children to anyone except the parents who drop the child off. Please feel free to utilize this service.

Summer Events: Junior Camp and VBS

Every June our church hosts a four-day Junior Camp. Children and youth gather with other Christian Union churches. These four days are filled with worship, teaching, fellowship, playing, eating, and hanging out. Every July our church hosts Vacation Bible School. This is a week-long event of fun and teaching starting every night at 5:30 pm and ending at 8 pm. If you are interested in signing your children up for VBS please contact someone in our church, and we will be glad to assist you with more information.

Need Direction in Discipling? We Can Help!

Because we believe the Bible calls parents to disciple their children (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9), we heavily encourage in-home discipleship. Therefore, we will provide Christian resources and material to help you train your children. Please see our pastors, and they will be happy to help meet your family's needs.

Growth Groups

Our Growth Groups are designed to cultivate Christian growth through study, fellowship, prayer, service and outreach.

Men's and Ladies
Small Groups

These groups meet at varying dates and times to connect, study God's Word and help encourage one another in friendship. The topics and study vary but are Biblically grounded and often include a leader and co-leader.

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Growth Groups

Thursday Bible Study

At Blue Ridge, we agree with the Psalmist.“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105). We regularly study the Word of God together, and as we grow in our knowledge of God's word, we grow in our knowledge of God Himself. Studying the Bible helps us grow in our love for God and love for one another. Therefore, every Wednesday we dive into books of the Bible with the goal of growth and Christian maturity.

Sunday School Classes-10:10 am

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work“ (2nd Timothy 3:16-17). Sunday school is designed to train Christians for the work of the ministry. During the worship service on Sunday morning, and Wednesday night Bible study we stay focused on books of the Bible. But during Sunday school we study topics such as prayer, missions, evangelism, and discipleship. This is so our people will be equipped to live out God's call on their lives, build up the church, and reach the world around us.

CUWF (Christian Union Women's Fellowship)

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing“ (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The CUWF meets the first Thursday of every month, 7-8:30 pm in the church basement. We have business, Bible lessons and close with dessert and fellowship. All women are welcome. Some of the projects the CUWF supports are: Christian Union Youth Camp- we pay 100% of the fees for the campers and workers from Blue Ridge. Funeral Dinners - organize and serve the dinners. Annual Fish Fry - organize the entire fish fry and serve. Church meals- free will offering lunches that the CUWF organizes and furnishes. CUWF State Spring Luncheon - the CUWF of the seven Christian Union Churches meet the first Saturday in April at a different church each year. The host church organizes the meal. Another church does devotions and one church will do favors for each lady who attends. The big event for this day is the auction. The ladies bring all kinds of different homemade baked goods, candies and crafts. New or gently used items are also welcomed. The funds go toward the youth camp. A very fun day.

Our History

The Blue Ridge Christian Union Church was organized in 1880. In the beginning, the congregation worshiped in the Methodist Church, which was located at the east end of Blue Ridge. In 1885, Rev. G. W. Hagans was called as pastor and served the church until 1899. In 1891, a new church was built on a slight hillside, just north of the main street in the little village of Cynthianna (now known as Blue Ridge). The church was a one-room, large wooden structure, surrounded by a fence.

There were various pastors who came from Ohio to conduct the services that were held every 2 to 4 weeks. Members of the congregation would go to Shelbyville to meet the train bringing these men to Shelbyville on Saturday and then would take him back to meet the train to go home on Monday. Their salaries ranged from $250.00 to $265.00 a year if they preached only 1 Sunday a month. If they preached 2 times a month, they received $400.00 for the year. The early church had an all Men's Sunday school class which met on one side of the church, next to a stove, which was heated by oil. An all Ladies' Sunday school class met on the other side of the room near a second stove. The Young People's class met at the front of the church and they brought their own wooden kitchen chairs to sit on. They also served as Choir members! Several years passed and remodeling was needed. In 1938, this remodeling took place. A full basement was added, consisting of a kitchen, a dining room, and an oil-burning heater. This gave the church property the value of $2,000.00. During the 8 months of remodeling time, the congregation met at the Blue Ridge School. Then, four Adult Sunday School classes met-all in the sanctuary. There was a class in each corner of the room. And, time marched on. There were many more changes that took place. The old windows were removed and stained glass windows were installed in memory of loved ones. They wished to purchased an organ and the Christian Union Endeavor (the youth group) gave the first $25.00 for this project. Many more money making projects took place to raise the funds to buy the Hammond organ. In 1968, the congregation began to talk about adding an annex to the church. Attendance was growing and more room was needed. This project was completed in 1969, with a complete renovation to the other part of the church also. Nearly 30 years later, 1997, it was evident that our sanctuary would not continue to accommodate the growing congregation. We needed more Sunday school rooms and more parking area. Once more things began to change. We needed to be more handicapped accessible. The basement Sunday school classrooms were upgraded, painted, and carpeted; two upstairs classrooms were removed to enlarge the sanctuary and new pews were installed in the new addition with the old pews being redone to match the new. At this time, a new, large stained glass window was installed at the front of the sanctuary-in the place where the front doors of the church were originally. An Emergency Exit door was installed at the northwest front of the church. A new and improved Sound System was installed. Much work was done again at this time and we met in the basement of the church until this was completed. The parking lot was expanded at the rear of the church. In 2001, another building project was begun. A new Sunday school classroom and a Nursery was added to the rear of the church on the upstairs level. In the basement level, there were added two much needed restrooms, a new furnace, and storage room. New carpeting was purchased for the dining room area of the basement in 2002 along with new hickory cabinets replacing the old metal cabinets. On February 6, 2009, disaster began. A portion of the ceiling of the sanctuary collapsed. Three days later, the entire ceiling had fallen. The insurance company was called and the adjuster came to check things out. She called a renovation company and the owner of that company came and looked things over. Two days after the complete ceiling had fallen, renovation began. Again, worship services were held in the basement. On a Sunday afternoon, just 5 months later, a dedication service was held with many members and friends of the surrounding community and churches attending. Again, we had a lovely sanctuary in which to worship our wonderful Lord. The home and property of the late Rev. Paul and Margaret Eninger (a former pastor and wife) was donated to the church. The house was razed and the lot graveled. Plans are now for the blacktopping of this lot for extension to the parking area. The structure and grounds have changed in many ways-financial status, physical appearance, the Sunday school, Youth Program, and Worship Services-but the message is still the same. Our mission is to promote the fellowship among God's people. We could not have accomplished these things if it were not for all of the generations past and our hope is for the generations to come will continue to do the work God has blessed us with in this community.

Outreach and Service

Here are some brief descriptions of the outreach and service ministries we offer at Blue Ridge.

If you would like to serve or be apart of any of these ministries please contact the church office.

Food Pantry

Every third Saturday we furnish food for the community. Our pantry has food, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies. These items are donated by the members of the church and other organizations. Fresh foods (milk, eggs, fruit and etc.) are furnished also.

VBS

Every year in July the church hosts a week long Vacation Bible School for children of various ages. There are many areas to help with such as food, games, teaching, crafts etc.

Junior Camp

Every year in June volunteers gather at Camp Woodsmoke in Greensburg, Indiana for 4 days to minister to our youth and have fun. Children and volunteers always needed.

Ministry Workers

Every Sunday we need help conducting our service. Jobs include greeters, ushers, acolytes, offering counters and communion servers.

Benevolence Team

The church is willing to help out individuals with financial assistance as needed. If you or someone you know ever needs this service please contact our pastor or the church office.

Events

Advent services each Sunday in December

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Ministry Schedule

In Person Services:

• Sunday School / Group Classes: 9:00 am
• Fellowship & Greeting “Coffee” Time: 9:40 am
• Worship Service: 10:00 am
• Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study: 6:30 pm

Online Content:

• Sunday Pre-Recorded Worship Service: 3 pm

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