Grace — that was the theme of the 50th anniversary celebration May 3 at Grace Baptist Church, Fayette. And that theme has resonated throughout the history of this Fayette Baptist Association church.
During the celebration, Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, spoke on grace, using Titus 2 as his reference.
Rachel Taylor, Linda Elliot and Brandy Unger provided special music. Two former pastors, Jimmy Mitchell and John Stamps, attended the service. In 1962, Stamps was the first person to be licensed and ordained to preach by Grace Baptist.
Gary Farley, a commissioner with the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission and director of missions (DOM) for Pickens Baptist Association, presented the church with a plaque commemorating its 50 years.
Larry Barnes, DOM for Fayette Association, also presented a plaque, listing the church’s 37 charter members. The only two living charter members, 94-year-old Kathleen Ayers and 65-year-old Bill Anderson, were present.
“It is a joy to celebrate Grace Church’s anniversary as they continue a vibrant ministry that is reaching so many young adults and their families,” Barnes said.
At the invitation time, 8-year-old Gracie Beavers, whom Pastor Brad Doss had led to the Lord the previous week, literally ran down the aisle to make a public profession of the divine grace that has covered her sin.
On May 3, 1959, the church was founded by members of First Baptist Church, Fayette, meeting in an old Presbyterian church building in Fayette.
In August 1959, a fund for a new church building was begun. Also the church requested admittance into Fayette Association and Glen Houlditch was called as pastor. The next month, the church bought a 2-acre plot, and by August 1960, a new building was ready to be occupied. That same month, Eugene Tennison became pastor.
Today Grace Baptist has an average Sunday School attendance of 100 and more in worship services, Doss said. (TAB)
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