Open Bible is a charter member of the National Association of Evangelicals and cooperates with its commissions and agencies. We are also a charter member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America and the Pentecostal World Conference. Our leaders serve on the governing bodies of these organizations.

There are over 46,000 members in 371 Open Bible congregations and over 1100 licensed or ordained ministers in the United States. Additionally, Open Bible ministers in 32 countries of the world. There are 842 credentialed ministers and 719 churches with a constituency of 46,000 people. There are 12 traditional Bible institutes with 446 students and 370 INSTE (INStitute of Theology by Extension – the school goes to the student, instead of the student going to the school) groups with 3,624 students.

There are 24 OBSC Hispanic churches with approximately 2,600 members. Hispanic ministries is an exciting part of Open Bible Churches. The multi-linguistic and ethnic fabric of America has never been more evident. The Church in America recognizes that the mission field has come to us. Other Open Bible ethnic churches include: Asian, Chinese, East Indian, Cambodian, Korean, Native American...with several churches being multi-ethnic. OBSC is reaching out to all nationalities, and is developing plans to more effectively implement intercultural, ethnic ministries.

The strategic focus of the department is church planting within the 10/40 Window, penetration of unreached people groups with a strong discipleship emphasis. The INSTE program, a non-traditional discipleship and leadership training program, has been initiated in 17 nations of the world and has been made available to many other denominations. The program has become a primary focus of our mission ministries, providing a strong foundation for church planting and the penetration of unreached people groups. One factor that allows the department to continue to enjoy growth and expansion is adherence to the indigenous missions principle which prepares national leaders and churches to become self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating. Strong emphasis on that principle and the goal of nationalizing the ministry in each country in a timely manner, releases missionary personnel and resources to be deployed to new areas of the harvest.

Our Purpose Statement declares that “Open Bible is a family of churches united in the purpose of glorifying God and fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ by equipping people through biblical, Spirit-empowered ministry.”

In the framework of our Policies and Principles we believe in the “five-fold ministry.”

Our pentecostal roots take us back to the 1906 Azusa Street revival. We identify with the pentecostal-charismatic movement because of our passion for the Holy Spirit and His work of renewal.

Open Bible Standard Churches originated from two revival movements: Bible Standard Conference, founded in Eugene, Oregon, under the leadership of Fred Hornshuh in 1919, and Open Bible Evangelistic Association, founded in Des Moines, Iowa, under the leadership of John R. Richey in 1932. Similar in doctrine and government, the two groups amalgamated in 1935, as “Open Bible Standard Churches” with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

Historical roots of the parent groups reach back to the outpourings of the Holy Spirit in 1906 at Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles and to the full gospel movement in the Midwest. Both groups were organized under the impetus of Pentecostal revival. Simple faith, freedom from fanaticism, emphasis on evangelism and missions and free fellowship with other groups were characteristics of the growing organizations.