5 Anchors that "Hold" Mountain Lake Independent Baptist Church

In 1962, Brother Edmond Wilt came to Oakland under the leadership of the Lord Jesus and planted what is today the Mountain Lake Independent Baptist Church.

The spiritual maturity and Scriptural wisdom of Bro. Wilt prompted him to "anchor" this new work securely.  The church here in the mountains of Western Maryland has had some glorious "mountain top" experiences and has also gone through some long, dark, and difficult storms.  But we can confidently testify that THE ANCHOR HOLDS!

What is true for our church (and thousands of other churches like ours around the world) is true for us as individual Christians.  THE ANCHOR HOLDS!

1. From day "one," MLIBC has been anchored in the Old King James Bible!  "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33)  All throughout the Bible, we are assured again, and again that God's Word will never fail us, will not return "void," will carry us through the best and worst of times.  We have sound, Scriptural reasons for holding to the KJV and have held tenaciously to this preserved Bible.
   

2. From day "one," MLIBC has been anchored in the Power of the Gospel.  Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important and most powerful message this world has ever had. It is through the preaching of the Gospel, both from the pulpit and out in the community, that souls are saved, lives are changed, and churches are built. A church that forsakes the preaching of the Gospel has forsaken the purpose of it's existence. The Gospel "holds" and will never fail!
   

3. From day "one," MLIBC has been anchored in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus.  Jesus Christ is the "Head" of the church (Eph. 5:23), and has purchased the church with His blood  (Acts 20:28). He has promised us clearly and repeatedly that He will NEVER FAIL NOR FORSAKE those who "anchor" themselves in Himself. Note: this is more than just a statement in a doctrinal statement or creed, it is more than just a religious ritual, but rather a genuine RELATIONSHIP with a living Savior.  Both as a church and as individuals, Jesus Christ is our "Great Shepherd" and He will never fail us.
   

4. From "day one," MLIBC has been anchored in the Person and power of the Holy Spirit.  I do not believe for one minute that our church (or any other genuine church for that matter) has survived and flourished by any man's ingenuity or ability, but rather, it has been the presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God that has brought salvation to the lost, new life to believers, and spiritual influence to our ministries.  There is no room for the glorification of man in the work of the Lord, all credit and glory goes to the Lord and His working through the Holy Spirit.
   

5. From "day one," MLIBC has been anchored in the hope of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.  This has been the hope of the church from it's inception in the New Testament.  God has called us to watch, wait and work till He returns to take us home.  This has been a key factor in God's people living pure lives, working diligently to take the Gospel into all the world, and loving and caring for one another all these many years. 

   
   

Mountain Lake Independent Baptist Church has not continued all these years because of the generosity of our government, the ingenuity of any man, nor the beauty of our facilities. It has been the love, faithfulness, mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus that has kept MLIBC and all other churches in existence. 

It is to Jesus and Jesus alone that all glory must be given. 

This call is to all members of all true churches around the globe to keep our eyes on the Lord, depend on Him fully, obey Him completely, and trust Him to build, keep and develop HIS CHURCH.

THE ANCHOR HOLDS!