Building By Faith

The rise of Olive Branch Community Church is best understood as a  narrative of what can happen 

“when you are somewhere listening for your name”… 

The Olive Branch Community Church opened its first worship service within the sacred walls of the Oseh  Shalom Synagogue on October 1, 2006 in Laurel, Maryland. Less than two years later, Church Elder Hank  Boyd found a property in Sandy Spring, Maryland that would become the future home of the Church.  Divine providence allowed the founding pastor, Dr. Donald R. Kelly, the chairman of the Elder Board, Brett  Tyler, and Elder Hank Boyd to sign settlement papers on October 1, 2008-–establishing the Oliver Branch  Community Church at 416 Olney Sandy Spring Road—forever and for God. 

OBCC became the steward of Elmhurst House (the historic Lansdale home) which was built in 1870 by  Quakers. The site consists of 3.05 acres of land and initially served as both the Pastor’s Rectory and OBCC  Administrative Offices. Montgomery County records indicate that this hallowed land was the last station  along the Underground Railroad. 



OBCC’s Sanctuary:

Chronological History 

Humble beginnings at Oseh Shalom Synagogue

  • 05/10/2008

    Elder Hank Boyd discussed the 416 Rt. 108 properties (house and land) that he found in Sandy Spring, Maryland at a special Church leadership meeting. By unanimous vote he was given authorization to begin official inquiry involved in

  • 09/07/2008

    Elder Hank Boyd informed the leadership that he had offered Carol Littleton, (a congregant) the option of acting as OBCC’s realtor for negotiations on the Rt. 108


    property. Carol’s son assisted with property documents in Carol’s absence.

  • 11/08/2011

    OBCC’s Elder Board appoints Elder Hank Boyd sole Project Manager for the construction of the sanctuary.

  • 02/12/2002

    Elder Hank Boyd awards Miche Booz (architect) the sanctuary’s design contract.

  • 05/30/2013

    Maddox Engineering, Miche Booz, Cortez White, Elder Hank and Elder Vivian Boyd as well as Ms. Lansdale (original property owner) attended the 1st Park & Planning Commission hearing for the approval of the site plan for the sanctuary.

  • 09/21/2014

    The official Ground-Breaking Ceremony was organized by Elder Hank Boyd. Local dignitaries in attendance included Congressman John Sarbanes; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; County Councilman Al Leventhal, and Oseh Shalom Synagogue’s Rabbi Fink.

  • 07/02/2015

    The Elder Board unanimously approved a contract with the Nichols Construction  Company for pre-site construction to clear the land. Elder Hank Boyd requested that Guilford Construction monitor all facets of the building project. 

  • 04/05/2016

    Land excavation in earnest - contract awarded to Joe Washington by Elder Hank Boyd. 

  • 05/30/2017

    During Sunday morning service, Elder Hank Boyd announced the completion of the buildable lot for OBCC’s sanctuary.



  • 05/30/2017

    During Sunday morning service, Elder Hank Boyd announced the completion of  the buildable lot for OBCC’s sanctuary.  monitor all facets of the building project. 

  • 11/19/2017

    In a Special OBCC Meeting, Elder Board Chair, Brett Tyler, announced the Elder  Board’s decision to abandon the original plan in preference for the WLP pre engineered construction design. He subsequently formed a new Construction  Committee comprised of himself, Rev. Kelly, Elder Harvey Pullen (Treasurer), Elder Deserene Worsley (Comptroller), and Elder Steve Whetstone. Elder Jeff Lee,  Cortez White and Milton Marquis assisted occasionally. 

  • 09/13/2018

    Montgomery Co. Park & Planning Commission approved the WLP revised plan for the construction of OBCC’s pre-engineered sanctuary.

  • 09/18/2019

    2019 Montgomery Co. Park & Planning Commission issued the official building permit 

    for the WLP’s pre-engineered sanctuary construction.

  • 05/16/2019

    The cornerstone foundation of the WLP sanctuary is laid.

Sanctuary Floor Signing 12-5-2020

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