Grace Baptist Church

Grace Baptist Church

Bellingham, WA

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History of Grace Baptist Church

Beginnings - 1956

Grace Baptist Church (GBC) was founded in 1956 by Pastor Carl Wheeler and sixteen other individuals.
GBC's meeting was held in a the former Gladstone Methodist Church at Gladstone and Franklin Streets.
GBC's first service was held on Sunday, May 13, 1956.
In the first formal meetings of Grace Baptist, sixty-five attended Sunday School, and fifty-three attended the morning worship service.

Donation of Supplies & a Home for the Pastor

On Tuesday, May 15, a group of S.S. teachers met with the Wheelers in the annex at Gladstone. The teachers were concerned that the students would have nowhere to sit - as GBC had no chairs. After prayer the group went home.
On Wednesday (of the same week), word was received that an unnamed source had given GBC seventy-six chairs -- of wooden upright type.
Of concern also was a place for the Wheeler family to live; Pastor Wheeler was trusting in God to find a home.
A family living near Cain Lake was leaving for the summer and needed someone to live in their home and care for the grounds; clearly, God answered the prayers, and saw to the needs of this small body of believers.

1956-57

The first years 1956-57, saw some familiar names come through GBC -- especially notable were Bill and Lillian Lancaster (missionaries to Japan, who visited the Church in September) and evangelist Elton Crowell who held evangelistic meetings during October.
Church attendance was usually sixty to seventy in the morning services, with a record S.S. attendance of ninety-three in Dec. of 56.'

Drafting of the Articles of Faith - 1957

On May ninth of 1957 Articles of Faith were read and approved.
In July of 1959 articles of incorporation were read and approved and later filed with the State.
Shortly after, GBC applied for membership in the Regular Baptist Convention (GARBC); GBC's membership was approved on June of 1960.

Move to High Street - 1959

In 1959 the congregation that owned the Gladstone building was anxious for us to buy that facility. We looked at several options, including buying some lots on Lakeway Drive and building our own church.
However, in early September the price for the old Faith Lutheran building had been lowered to a sum thought affordable by our congregation. The motion was made that we buy this building. On October 4th of 1959 we held our first services in our "new" building. We continued our services in our "new" building at the corner of High and Maple Streets in Regular Baptist fashion. Fifty to eighty regulars attended most services. Now and then, the pastor's "musical saw" would ring out, accompanied by Mrs. Wheeler on the piano.
In 1960 Mrs. Watson joined us after her baptism; she has been an active member ever since - longer than any other person in our membership.
In September of 1962, Pastor Wheeler in a loving and gracious manner told the congregation that, "no church is, or should be dependent on one man, that he would move on."
In October of 1962, Pastor Wheeler accepted a position as pastor at First Baptist Church of Tumwater, WA.

Arrival of Pastor Cordell Baker - 1963

On January 20th of 1963 the members voted to call Cordell Baker as pastor.
Pastor Baker organized a church choir. The choir sang a song at nearly every morning service, at times there were as many in the choir as were seated in the pews. At one time or another it seems, nearly every member served in the choir.

Construction of a New Facility - 1973

The sixties saw a gradual increase in attendance. By the late sixties our morning worship service saw an average attendance near one hundred. We were starting to outgrow our building, and we had nowhere to expand at that site.
Our parking strip had room for only six or seven cars and people were having to park all around the neighborhood. Thus, discussions pertaining to the purchase of a new property ensued. We were originally given one property as a bequest, but at the time it was landlocked and access was too costly. We purchased five acres on Donovan Street with the intent of building there. However, we later decided to purchase the ten-acre parcel that is now our present site for $14,000. We didn't jump in hastily, records show that it was six years from the first ideas in 1967 to the start of construction in 1973.
Ground was broken for our present building in 1973 and the building was fully completed in 1976. We sold the High and Maple facility to a martial arts teacher -- who still operates a school on the present site.
During a short period in 1974 the Church was without a physical home. We held Sunday services in the YWCA building for about six months. Late in 1974 we moved into the basement of our church as work continued on the main auditorium and offices.
Mr. J. Helgeson acted as the general contractor and Pastor Baker acted as the construction supervisor. Except for a few items, a crew of volunteers from our membership and others in the county constructed the building, which was a major factor in keeping costs down.
Total cost for the building including the pews was about $76,000. Many local GARBC churches gave assistance in the labor to construct our building. Especially noted are Nooksack Valley Baptist and Grace Baptist of Lynden.
We held the dedication service in November of 1976. We thank God for the men and women who's effort and perspiration have given us our building and our Church.

Resignation of Pastor Baker - 1982

The year, 1982 was another year that saw major changes at Grace Baptist. In February of 1982 we called Mr. Moir as Minister of outreach.
In the summer Pastor Baker resigned as pastor with the intent of serving as a church planter for Baptist Mid Missions.
We asked Mr. Moir to serve as interim pastor while we looked for a new pastor.
Pastor Baker was still part of our congregation until 1984 when he went into a church planting ministry with Baptist Mid-Missions. He had served our Church for almost twenty years as pastor, lead us through the acquisition of our property and the building of our Church. He worked long and hard in the service of the Lord and in service to the congregation. We as a Church owe Pastor Baker our gratitude and our thanks for a job well done.

Pastor Hoefs - December 1982

In December of 1982, we called Mr. Hoefs as pastor.
In 1985 we installed the sign that now faces James Street Road. It was paid for in part with the memorial fund of Carl Sorstokke, who was one of the original members of Grace Baptist.
During the mid eighties Bellingham Baptist School operated in our building. The School was a cooperative effort between Grace Baptist and Bellingham Baptist.
The mid eighties also saw our Church come free of rent or mortgage for the first time in its history. Praise the Lord!
Pastor Hoefs served us for seven years, until 1989. Thanks Pastor Hoefs.

Pastor Vater - 1989

After Pastor Hoefs left, Pastor Vater came to Grace Baptist to serve initially as an interim pastor. While here as an interim pastor, we called him to work as full time pastor.
Pastor Vater put time, effort, and thought into how Grace Baptist could better do the job God has called us to. After evaluating member surveys the pastor made the observation that "Our purpose as a church is to evangelize and to edify believers. . . . Too often we gear our church programs to meet our tastes, when we need to consider the needs of the unsaved around us."
Perhaps this is still true. One item Pastor Vater looked into was the idea of bringing in a youth pastor. There were some hopeful candidates, but, it was not to be at that time.
Pastor Vater served our congregation until 1991. Thanks Pastor Vater for your service to Grace Baptist.
After Pastor Vater resigned, we were without a pastor for nearly a year. We had several prospective candidates for the job during that time, but we were not able to make things come together. According to one member, these were bleak times for Grace Baptist, attendance and participation were dropping to a very low number.

Pastor Mordhorst - 1992

The struggles and trials proved worth it when we called Pastor Mordhorst (right with wife Cynthia) to our pulpit in 1992. where he still serves. During his time with us, we have added several new members and hired the church's first Youth Pastor (who has since joined the faculty of Cedarville University).
God has blessed Grace Baptist by giving us such distinguished and capable pastors throughout the years. We have never been wanting in quality Bible preaching and teaching. Truly the Lord has blessed us through these men. Thanks again to Carl Wheeler, Cordell Baker, Hank Hoefs, Virgil Vater, and Bob Mordhorst.
Lest I forget, we should also thank the wives of these men who served along side of their husbands. Thanks to Florence Wheeler, Virginia Baker, Deanna Hoefs, Marty Vater, and Cynthia Mordhorst for their service to the Lord and to Grace Baptist Church. Lastly, thank You LORD for providing these men and women to bless us and to serve the church called Grace Baptist Church of Bellingham.
During November of 1999 we held our first church reunion. All former members were invited as were the former pastors. Many of the old members attended our reunion weekend. With the exceptions of the Wheelers all of our former pastors attended and took part in the various services. Although not physically able to attend, Pastor Wheeler was interviewed on via telephone by Pastor Mordhorst and explained some of the history of our church. Pastor Wheeler, though now in his late eighties is as sharp and witty as ever. (Click here to hear the interview)
It is important that we not forget the struggles we as a church have gone through and the people that have lead us through them. We have come a long way since 1956. In forty-three years, we have occupied three different buildings and have had five different pastors. We have seen the joy of babies born to our members and we have had the sorrow of burying old and dear friends in Christ. We have seen new members come in and we have seen some move away and others fall away. Yet it is more important to consider where we are going.
Pastor Vater stated it well when he said, "Our purpose as a church is to evangelize and to edify believers." We need to work as individuals and as a body to carry out this purpose. As Pastor Wheeler said, "Hats off to the past and coats off to the future." Pray that God will use each of us, this body, and this building for his glory. -FLM-