1980’s – Rob Zins and his wife, Nancy, were called to pastor a newly started church, Grace Bible Fellowship. Rob was a new graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and through prayer and study, became convinced that the Bible presented a theology in which God held complete power and authority, that He was the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe and everything in it, and that He was and remains sovereign in all things.
1988 – Eight families met to pray and consider what the will of God was for believers in the area who did not have access to the preaching/teaching of God’s sovereignty and Reformed Baptist theology, as they saw clearly expressed in the scriptures. On the night of February 22, they determined God’s will was to begin a new local church committed to preaching and teaching Reformed theology, believer’s baptism, and God’s sovereignty. Rob Zins was appointed Bible teacher and Reformed Bible Church was born in Zins’ home, later moving into the basement and first floor of the Evelyn Street facility.
1990’s – RBC proclaimed the gospel in an effort to be faithful to the great commission. RBC did door to door evangelism after Wednesday evening prayer meetings.
1996 – RBC purchased the currently owned facility. Within 10 months, the trimming, painting and carpeting of the sanctuary was completed just in time for the first Reformation Conference.
1996 – Gilbert and April Robichaud join RBC. Gilbert would eventually become a Deacon and is still serving in that position today.
1997 – Hugh and Karen Diggins join RBC, Hugh as the assistant teaching Elder.
1998 – RBC joined the Green Mountain Baptist Association in October, 1998 at the inquiry of Pastor Hugh Diggins and as a recommendation of John Reisinger and Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministry. The Men’s Saturday Theological Society was also started, known today as the monthly Men’s Theo meeting, where men gather for a time of fellowship around a meal followed by spirit-filled men singing and bible study.
1999 – David and Madeline Kerstetter join RBC. David would eventually become an Elder and is still serving in that position today.
2000’s – RBC handed out tracts and Rob Zin’s tapes at the Rutland City sidewalk sale in 2000 and from the RBC booth that was set up at the 2007 VT State Fair. Tracts were also provided at the Crisis Pregnancy Center and the gospel was presented at the nursing home. RBC also partnered with and supported RACS, the Rutland Area Christian School.
~2002 – Hugh Diggins becomes primary teaching Elder.
2002/2005 – RBC was pleased to work with JAARS team, a division of Wycliff in September 2002 and 2005 for the Missions at the Airports events.
2003 – The south end project began to finish the four Sunday School classrooms on the 2nd floor, construction of the men’s and women’s rooms on the first floor, and the ceilings, carpet and painting of the first-floor meeting room. On May 16th and 17th was held the first RBC Ladies Conference with the topics “The Excellent Wife,” “Pure Attitudes,” and “Developing a Meek and Quiet Spirit,” with guest speaker Martha Peace.
2004 – A second RBC Ladies Conference was held on May 21-22 with Beth Dial as the speaker.
2004/2005 – RBC was privileged to host 2 FIRE conferences in October of 2004 and 2005. FIRE is the Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals, a nationwide network of reformed churches. There were 24 in attendance with the farthest attendee coming from Mississippi in the first and Washington in the second. Many friendships were made.
2006 – RBC held a 3rd Ladies Conference with Martha Peace speaking again on “Man (Who Thinks He is Most High)” and “Attitudes of a Transformed Heart.”
2007 – All windows and siding were replaced and a new roof installed. Green Mountain Baptist Association and Dewey Aikins, the disaster relief coordinator, were contracted. Other SBC churches from NC, SC and LA agreed to come on short term mission trips to assist in the renovations.
2009 – RBC became a sponsoring church for the National Bible Bee began by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation. The first year had 19 contestants at the local level and 1 that went on to the national competition. The amount of material memorized was monumental; however the voices of the contestants reciting God’s word were an inspiration to all who volunteered.
2009/2010 – RBC hosted 2 missions conferences. We viewed To Every Tribe’s mission conference with John Piper and heard from Robert Mogret and Keith and Sharon Doster. The second year we enjoyed Grace Deaf Missions and an update from Amanda Swift, who has a heart to present the gospel in China.
2011 – RBC held a 4th Ladies Conference with Faith Hart speaking on “The Gift that Keeps on Giving,” Amy Aubrey on “Grace for Every Season,” and Barbara Woolfenden on “Doubting the Goodness of God.”
2024 – BJ and Jessica Horne join RBC in August. BJ transitioned to Teaching Elder over several months.
2025 – RBC hosts a Scripture Memory Conference in August by Scripture Memory Fellowship, discussing the importance of memorizing scripture and the free tools and resources available to assist with memorization.