Why Elkton?
Cecil County Maryland has seen steady growth in the last twenty years. In 2000, there were 85,951 people, in 2020 there were 104,600, and the population continues to rise. Elkton, the county seat, is a key player in that growth. Midway between Baltimore and Delaware, people are flocking there for access to economic opportunities while maintaining the feel of small town living. Church growth has not kept up with population growth. There are very few Bible believing and gospel preaching churches in the area. Many people do not yet know Christ as their Savior. Many brothers and sisters in Christ need to drive far to find a doctrinally solid church.
Why Steve Morton?
Pastor Steve Morton has felt the Lord calling him to the ministry of church planting. He has been serving as a pastor at Bible Fellowship Church of Newark DE since 2004. He has been the Pastor of Outreach and Missions since 2016. Steve is married to Niki. They have four children.
Why DaQuan Gibson?
In 2025, the Lord called DaQuan Gibson to join Steve Morton as a co-church planter of Elkton Bible Fellowship Church. DaQuan and his church, Redemption Global, a predominantly black church, is merging with the existing, predominantly white Elkton Bible Fellowship Church.
DaQuan has a BA in Biblical Studies from Chesapeake Bible College and Seminary. DaQuan is married to Bay and they have two daughters and a son. “It has long been a desire to help shepherd a diverse community of believers. Elkton, a town of beauty, diversity, and spiritual hunger, is that place,” said DaQuan.
The Plan
Steve and Church Extension Ministries did demographic studies of the area to get to know the needs of the community. A core group of people for the launch team were gathered from the Bible Fellowship Church of Newark, DE. The group launched their first public worship service on November 5, 2023 at the Elkton Community Center. In August 2025, Redemption Global and Elkton BFC are working their merging plan to create an diverse body of believers in Elkton, MD.
The Next Step
Steve Morton and DaQuan Gibson will work together to merge their two congregations into one. Then they will continue the plan towards graduation as a Particular Church of the Bible Fellowship Church while they share the gospel and make disciples in Elkton, MD. In order to graduate, the Mission Church will need at least twenty committed participants, at least two lay elders, and be financially self-sufficient. Although not a requirement for graduation, the Mission Church would also like to have a 24/7 meeting facility in order to have a constant presence in the community.
How can I be involved?
You can be involved in the Elkton, Maryland Mission Church in many ways:
- Visit: Contact Steve and/or DaQuan to hear about ministry in Elkton, MD. Hear what God has laid on his heart. Worship with the mission church on a Sunday. See their website for service times.
- Pray: Email Church Extension at CEMoffice@bfc.org. Let us know whether you would like snail mail or email updates for Steve Morton and/or DaQuan Gibson.
- Follow: Stay in touch by following Elkton BFC Mission Church on Facebook.
- Read: the church planters’ prayer letters. Here is DaQuan Gibson’s latest. Here is Steve Morton’s latest.
- Give: Recurring gifts are a blessing for the planning of a mission church. Give a monthly, yearly, or one time financial gift for Steve Morton or DaQuan Gibson. Steve Morton is fully supported. DaQuan Gibson is just starting the raise support and needs about $4, 583 per month. If each prayer supporter gave $50 per month, the need would be more than met. You can donate online here. You can give by mail with a check to Church Extension Ministries, PO Box 3534, Allentown PA 18106
What is Church Extension Ministries of the Bible Fellowship Church?
The Bible Fellowship Church is an expanding fellowship of churches, united to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Over 10,000 people gather for worship in our churches every week. We originally began in the 1850s in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania and were known as Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Since then we have expanded to New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Florida, New Mexico, and Mexico. We changed our name to the Bible Fellowship Church in the 1950s to more accurately reflect who we are and what we believe.
Our doctrinal distinctives include:
- salvation by grace alone through faith alone
- believer’s baptism by immersion
- a premillennial view of Jesus Christ’s earthly return and reign
- local churches self-governed by a Board of Elders elected by the congregation
Our Bible Fellowship Churches are connected for accountability, fellowship, and collaborative efforts to share the gospel including church planting. Find out more about the Bible Fellowship Church on our website.
Church Extension Ministries is the church planting department of the Bible Fellowship Church. David Gundrum is the director of Church Extension under the guidance of the Board of Church Extension. Church Extension plants new Bible Fellowship Churches, coaches church planters, and connects with existing churches who wish to be part of the Bible Fellowship Church. You can subscribe to our weekly email updates, The Antiochan Report, here.