All Things to All People

There are four services, three separate congregations, a homeless ministry, missionary support, an athletics ministry, counseling and various community outreaches, all under the banner of off of Spriggs Road. This church is has a little something for almost everyone.

“We are a big church with a small church feel,” said Cheryl Nester, administrative assistant at the church. The church’s welcome brochure has no fewer than ten separate brochures to explain the various ministry opportunities available, anything from orchestra and performing arts to a library ministry, multiple children programs, student ministry, meals for the homeless, and the list goes on.

Every week Grace holds four services to accommodate its 700 regular attendees. There is a “super casual” Saturday night service for those who work on Sundays, where the pastor wears jeans and people come in straight from work. Then on Sunday morning there are two contemporary services with a praise band and one traditional service complete with orchestra, choir and hymnals.

Beyond these, there is also a Hispanic congregation that is part of Grace Baptist and meets separately to hold a Spanish service. A Filipino church, not officially part of Grace Baptist, also meets in the building. “Sundays are really busy here!” Nester laughed.

When you first pull off Spriggs Road you are greeted by the church office building and signs directing you to the various facilities. If you keep driving down the tree-lined driveway, past a couple volleyball nets, you come to the main worship center and classroom buildings—which look more like a school or community center than the traditional steeple and brick church building.

The church celebrated its 25th anniversary two years ago and its current pastor, Tim Perrin, just celebrated his 10th anniversary as pastor.

On top of the multiple weekend services, the church holds many events throughout the year, such as festivals and concerts, as well as small groups to help people connect on a more personal level. Especially in an area with so many military families and a high turnover, Nester said that they church is dedicated to meeting people where they are and giving them love and fellowship while they are here.

Grace Baptist has an outreach to mothers of preschoolers and a separate one for mothers of school-age children, which Nester said draws a lot of military mothers. These meet twice a month and are open to the community regardless of religious belief.  

The church also has a homeless outreach. Every Friday night from November to March, volunteers from the church take the two church vans to the Winter Shelter and bring whoever wants to come back to the church for a hot dinner, devotionals and personal items. They also provide meals at the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center and at the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center at various times throughout the year.  

If they see a hole, Grace Baptist Church seems to fill it!