Our Story
Where we've come from.
On February 16, 2001, God put a new dream in the hearts of Steve & Sharon Lowe.
A dream to start a new kind of church in Eldersbug, MD. A church that would appeal
to many disinterested in Church. With the help of Cornerstone Community Church,
Converge Worldwide and the Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, The Journey Church
Community was born.
Pastor Steve and Sharon Lowe with their three sons, McCabe, Noah and Braedon.
In September of 2002, ten adults began meeting in the basement of a home in Finksburg, MD to pray and talk about what this new community of faith might look like. On Sunday, March 14, 2004, we held our Grand Opening with over 150 people in attendance. Journey Groups began meeting and meaningful relationships began to take shape.
In the spring of 2005, the unique vision of The Ugly Mug Cafe and Concert House began to take shape. The Ugly Mug will be a place where people of all ages can hang, drink coffee, play games and listen to live music seven days a week. On Sunday mornings The Journey will hold it’s service there.
The missions of building community and establishing The Ugly Mug Cafe have faced countless challenges in finances, leadership and growth. Most church plants don’t make it past year three and we’re proud to still be alive. But we’re not close to reaching our full potential. At times progress on The Ugly Mug has moved quickly and at other times not at all. Despite the challenges, we’re sure this is what God has for us and we will continue to press into all that God is leading us to.
Through all of this, we’ve grown more and more convinced that God does his best work in community and we strive to build a God-centered community in everything we do.
