- The first service of our church was held on May 11, 1920. The church was formed from a group of committed Christians who had banded together out of a mutual concern to hold fast to the essentials of orthodox Christian beliefs. The church with forty original members was formed under the name Grace Baptist Church. The word "Baptist" was chosen as part of their religious identity because there were certain biblical practices (including believers' baptism) that the original congregation felt should be incorporated into the life of the church.
- The church met in homes and various rented facilities until February 1922 when they moved into their first permanent home on Magnolia Avenue. This was to be Grace's home for eighteen years until 1940 when the church had grown to the point where they were able to buy the existing facilities of The First Methodist Church located downtown. Grace remained there ministering to the downtown university area until we moved to our present location on September 13, 1964.
- Over the years of its ministry Grace was instrumental in starting Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship at Chico State as well as help start five churches. In addition, Grace's passion to reach out to its world has resulted in commissioning many young people to Christian ministry over the years.
- Since its humble beginnings, Grace has been led by thirteen different pastors, each one talented and faithful in preaching God's Word and leading the church through its various stages of growth and development. In the early 1980's the leadership of the church became convinced that a long-term pastorate would bring greater stability and potential for lasting growth to the church. In searching for their next pastor, God brought them into contact with a young man who shared similar convictions. In February, 1981, Grace called our present pastor, Dave Workman, to lead us. Under Dave's leadership God has increased our church four fold and expanded our ministry into its present form.
- In 1990 the congregation decided to change our church name to Grace Community Church because we wanted the focus of our identity to be placed on God's love for people (GRACE) and our desire to be relevant to our entire COMMUNITY. Grace became an independent, non-denominational local church.
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