The History of Grace Baptist Church

     In the August of 1988, a small group of people from a dissolved independent Baptist church called Ronald E. Young to help organize another independent Baptist church to minister to Warren County, Georgia. Brother Young was serving as Assistant Pastor at a church in Belton, SC when he obeyed the call of God to Warrenton, Georgia.  Upon his arrival, Grace Baptist Church was started and constituted in the same building as the previous independent Baptist church.

     While Bro. Young was pastor at Grace Baptist Church, the church began several ministries and experienced great growth both numerically and spiritually under his leadership and with the Lord’s help. The church facilities were improved by the connecting of the main church building and the fellowship hall, remodeling the fellowship hall and the addition of a total of four Sunday School classrooms.  All of the improvements were able to be done by the church without the acquisition of debt.  The church remained and still remains debt free.  While Bro. Young was pastor, great men of God preached many revivals and special services at Grace Baptist Church.  Preachers include: Dr. Sammy Allen, Dr. Stinnett Ballew, Dr. Milford Biddle, Dr. Tony Hutson, Evangelist Ray Brown, Pastor Bobby Vangiller, Dr. Ronald Young and many others.  The church was helped greatly through Bro. Young’s ministry and the preaching of these men of God. 

     In August of 1997, Brother Young accepted the call to pastor the Morning Star Baptist Church of Cleveland, NC.  Bro. Ralph Hoffman, Pastor Young’s father-in-law, had been the previous pastor at Morning Star Baptist and upon his death, the church unanimously called Bro. Young to fulfill the role as pastor.  Pastor Ronald E. Young is still loved, respected and appreciated by the congregation of Grace Baptist Church.  Much of the ministry he started continues on today.

     From August of 1997 until March of 1998, Grace Baptist Church carefully sought for the will of God concerning a pastor for Grace.  For just over six months the church prayerfully considered a few candidates for pastor then agreed to extend a call to Pastor Bill South, who was the pastor of Calvary Baptist Temple in East Bernstadt, KY.  Bro. South accepted the call of the church and the will of God and left the church he had been pastoring for six years to come to Grace Baptist Church in March of 1998.

     Since March of 1998, the church has seen some growth both numerically and spiritually as well as physically.  Recently the church added a foyer, baptistery and choir loft as well as remodeled and extended the auditorium of the church.  Vinyl siding was put around the exterior of the church building as well as river rock on the front of the building.  Other plans are in the making for more building projects as the church continues to experience slow but steady growth.  Other ministries to reach the lost have been birthed in the prayer closet and will be brought to fruition as God sends in and sends forth laborers.  The Lord has blessed Grace Baptist Church with laborers whom He has sent both to work in and through Grace Baptist Church.

     In 2003, Brother Wesley Whitworth and his family joined Grace Baptist Church to help with the youth at Grace.  The youth department experienced great growth and has initiated several ministries since Bro. Whitworth arrived at Grace.  Every week, the youth of Grace Baptist Church go out into “the highways and the hedges” to compel people to both the Savior and our church.  Also other street ministries are in the works to involve the youth at Grace in the work of God. Bro. Whitworth and his wife, Sister Tabatha, also were the bookkeepers for the missionary accounts of our church.  They arrived at Grace Baptist with their daughter Lydia, and in 2006 the Lord gave them another daughter, Leah. We are thankful for this fine family and the work that they do for the Lord at Grace Baptist Church.  The Whitworths moved to Kentucky (June 2009) where Bro. Wesley has been called to pastor the Sunshine Hill Baptist Church in London, KY.  We are thankful for the time the Lord had them here and wish God's richest blessings upon their family. 

     Also in 2003, Brother Timothy Aguiar, son of Evangelist Dale Aguiar, joined Grace Baptist Church with the intention of being commissioned by Grace Baptist Church and becoming a missionary in Puebla, Mexico.  Since he has arrived at Grace, Brother Timothy has married the former Miss Dana Hinson (daughter of Evangelist Duane Hinson).  Timothy and Dana now have a daughter (Bethany) and a son (Dale Timothy III). They left for Puebla, Mexico on January 2, 2010 to reach the people of Puebla, Mexico with the Gospel.  They have arrived and moved into their new home and are doing well!  Praise the Lord for safety and for meeting their needs as they have traveled and got settled in Puebla, Mexico!  Check out their website at www.reachingmexico.com

     In 2005, the Lord led Brother Daniel Sims and his family to Grace.  When Brother Sims arrived he worked as a Sunday School teacher as well as preached in our monthly youth assembly and in regular church services.  His wife Laurie and son Jacob have also served in the adult and youth choirs. Then, in 2006, the Lord allowed Brother Sims and his family to start Messiah Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia.   Since arriving at Grace, the Lord has given Brother and Sister Sims a new addition, Isaac. Isaac was born in February of 2007 and is such a blessing and a miracle. Praise the Lord for Isaac!  Now, the Lord has blessed the Sims family with a third son in June of 2009.  Thank the Lord for David!  Please check out their website at www.athensmessiah.com. 

     In July of 2009, the Lord opened the door for Bro. Alan Helms, a former pastor and missionary, to come to Grace Baptist Church to be the director and superintendent of Abounding Grace Restoration Ministry.  Though this ministry is still in its infancy, Bro. Helms has been and indispensable asset to Grace Baptist Church and Abounding Grace. 

     In October of 2009, Bro. Jerry Fincannon and his family left Grace Baptist Church so that Bro. Fincannon could become the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Girard, Georgia.  Bro. Fincannon was faithful in fulfilling the duties of Adult Sunday School teacher, Choir and Music Director for nearly 15 years as well as preaching monthly in the Warrenton Health and Rehabilitation Center .  He is missed but we are thankful that God is using our church as a source to find servants to make up the hedge and stand in the gap in these last days.

     At present, Pastor South has been at Grace Baptist Church for over 12 years.  The vision for the church is as bright as it was 12 years ago.  Many great men of God have preached revival and special services at Grace.  Some of them include: Evangelist Joe Bryant, Missionary Allen Barker, Evangelist Stinnett Ballew, Pastor Alfred Willis, Evangelist Tony Howeth, Pastor Steve Goolesby, Evangelist Steve Epley, Evangelist Bobby Barnes and others.  The folks of Grace Baptist Church are thankful for what the Lord has done for them in the past and are equally excited about the future.  Won’t you come “grow” with us?