About Us

    A group of 36 people, believing that this was God’s plan,  left First Christian Church, Bessemer, Alabama to start a new church.

 

    The group gathered for Sunday worship on October 12, 1997 at the home of Ronnie and Ruth Ann Arnett.  Plans were made to meet the following week in the basement of the home of Lisa and David McDonald.  Several of the group met during the week to clean and turn the basement into a “sanctuary”.  For eight weeks the group met in what they lovingly called “The Church of the Living Basement”.  Sunday School classes and a nursery were provided upstairs in different rooms of the home.

 

    With the help of Revered John Mobley, Regional Minister of the Christian Churches in the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region, process was started to become a new Disciples of Christ Church.  Rick Herbert was our contact with the “Region”.  He met with the Committee for New Church Development and filled out all the paper work involved.  Rick conducted the Sunday Morning Worship and with the help of John Mobley filled our pulpit with guest ministers each Sunday.  On the Sundays that we did not have a minister, Rick preached.  We were blessed with wonderful leadership:  Bob Herbert directed the choir, Denise Campbell played the organ and Sima Atkinson played the keyboard.  (Yes! we were able to purchase a used organ and Denise and Dan Campbell bought a keyboard.

 

    We continued to grow and decided it was time to give ourselves a name, Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born.  On December 14, 1997, having outgrown the “Basement Sanctuary”, we moved to a storefront building in Helena on County Road 52.  Our “crew of builders and planners”, went to work again and turned this rental space into a sanctuary.

 

    We continued to grow in membership while in the “storefront” and with the help of Rev. John Mobley and the Region, we were able to call a full-time minister.  Reverend John Autry from Milan , Tennessee joined our “journey in faith” in May 1998.

 

    With Reverend Autry’s leadership and ministry, our attendance reached 100.  We outgrew the “storefront” and had to move again.  We moved to the “ Storage Place ” (then Acton Hardware) on Highway 17.   

    Even though we were not on the highway, we continued to grow.  We purchased land and began dreaming of building. 

    You can see the results of our dreams – drive down Highway 52 and you can see the first of three planned buildings -  our Chapel upon the hill.  Grace Christian Church is being built on a foundation of love: An inclusive community of faith where everyone is welcome.

 

    We have an active children and youth group.  There are several adult Sunday School classes in addition to the children's Sunday School.  Nursery care is provided for all services by qualified workers. 

 

   Our Music Ministries, led by Phyllis Kirk - Director of Music, offers many opportunities for adults, children and youth to participate:

   We also have a morning and evening group for CWF, who meet on the first Monday of each month.  The CMF meet for a breakfast meeting on the first Sunday of each month.

 

    Reverend John Autry retired on April 8th.  Our Interim Minister is Dr. Harold Dowler, who was the minister at Huntsville Christian Church (DOC) for many years.  Harold's last day at Grace will be November 25, 2007.

 

    Dr. John R. Turner was called to be our Senior Minister as a result of our congregational vote on November 11, 2007.  John accepted our call and will begin to serve here at Grace on December 9, 2007.

 

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT

  • to seek God's will as followers of His son, Jesus Christ;  

  • to nurture that fellowship of believers through love, worship, communion, prayer, education, ministry, music, and stewardship; 

  • to grow in faith, compassion, and service to others; 

  • to go forth as an inclusive community of faith where all people are loved.