History
Beginning: In 1975 four Winona families were meeting weekly for Bible Study, prayer, and fellowship with the hope that someday God might use them to raise up a new church in the city. By July, growth had created the “unofficial” church known as Berean Baptist Fellowship.
Early in 1977, the group became an official church and was known as Berean Believers Church of Winona, MN. The church continued to experience significant growth over the next five years.
Community Bible Church Appears: In 1982, the church moved to the Lincoln Christian Community Center where they would remain for five years. In 1984, the church was re-named Community Bible Church. In 1987, CBC purchased the church building and house located at 901 West Broadway.
Community Bible Church Moves: CBC left 901 West Broadway due to it not being adequate for accommodating growth and the expansion and change of ministry. In 2006, CBC purchased the property at 69 East Third Street in downtown Winona.
Renovation: We put a new back stairwell into the building to gain access to children ministry area. We also put in a new roof, heating units, and insulated front windows. A number of small construction projects and a lot of painting were also done.
2011 Fire: In April 2011, Community Bible Church suffered an act of arson when it was set on fire. CBC was forced to move to a new space for two months while the building was investigated and smoke, fire, and water damage could be assessed.
Community Bible Church Now: CBC is in the midst of building reconstruction after the April 2011 Fire. Additional renovation of the bathrooms, new children's ministry spaces, additional new flooring, along with a few small projects such as a stage will be taking place during the late part of 2011. In conjunction with the renovations, a number of redecorating efforts will take place in the coffee bar and game room areas.
CBC is in a period of time without a pastor since God called both of our pastors to serve in new locations. We have formed a preaching team and worship leadership team to work with the elder board, ministry leadership team, and trustee deacon board. These leadership groups will ensure that CBC continues to move forward . We continue to be praying and evaluating where God is taking CBC and what He has in store for us in the future.
Community Bible Church Future: As we move into the next phase of reconstruction during the last part of 2011, we will be closing up the old stairwell in the center part of the building and install the shaft for a lift to run between the lower and main level floors. The lift will be put in at a later time. We are also looking at putting a new stairwell in on the Third Street side of the building, along with the new windows in the alley side of the building. The building team, which has created the master plans for the main floor, will look at layout plans for the lower floor sometime in the future.
