Church celebrates first year of Grace

With one year of ministry under their belts, the pastor and members of the Grace Community Baptist Church are looking forward to many more years of spiritual and ministerial growth.{{more}}

Last Sunday, August 15, the church, located at Kingstown Park, observed its first anniversary with a special service and luncheon.

Pastor of the young church, Dexter Kirby, said that he sensed a feeling of humility and satisfaction at reaching such an important milestone.

“It’s one of those feelings of contentment; not because of what you have done, but more of what God has done through you,” Kirby said. “It’s also a humbling feeling that God has used us to achieve and accomplish his purpose.”

Kirby, a graduate from the Piedmont Baptist College with a BA in Biblical Studies, shared the vision of starting a church with his wife Jackelle, who graduated from the Baptist Bible College of the Caribbean, and some members of their home church, the Community Baptist Church in Campden Park, which was supportive of the venture.

The faithful few were joined by American Missionaries Alan and Beth Hill, whom Kirby had met years before; and on August 2, 2009, the doors of the Grace Community Baptist Church were opened.

Kirby indicated that the year had not been without its ups and down, but insisted that that they have seen the good hand of God on the ministry.

“We’ve had our share of disappointment and discouragement in the first year…. Church work is not the easiest work. Whenever something happens in society, one of the first places people look to, even for criticism, is the church; they say the church is not doing its job.”

“This is a spiritual warfare we are facing and we live in a day and age in which the devil is opposed to the things of God. He has aligned himself against God, but as Christians we know we have a lot of weapons in our arsenal – especially prayer.

The pastor described the church as very conservative in terms of worship, but is nonetheless blessed by God in the way they serve him.

He said that in terms of membership, the church has been thriving.

Kirby said that the purpose of the church is a simple one – ‘to edify the saints, and evangelize the lost for the glory of God.’

“It is amazing how much God has achieved in a year.” Kirby said.

The church holds worship on Sundays at 10am and 7pm, with ladies’ ministry on Mondays, men’s fellowship on Tuesdays, Bible study on Wednesdays, and youth ministry (BURN) on Fridays.

At Sunday’s special service, the church adopted its constitution, and appointed Hill as Assistant Pastor. (JJ)