A Church That Began in 1927 on Walling Road
Grace Baptist Church sits on Walling Road in Springfield, Tennessee, where it has been rooted in Robertson County for nearly a century. The congregation was established in 1927, and its story is told in a history book by John C. Orndorff called Great Trees from Little Acorns Grow. The book is available as a free eBook through Barnes & Noble and Apple Books, and printed copies can be requested through the church office.
What began as a small country congregation has grown into a multi-generational ministry that includes Grace Baptist Academy, a benevolence program called GraceHelps, an unusual bass-fishing tournament league, and a sister campus in Florence, Italy. The driving mission of the church is summarized in Matthew 28:17-20: Exalting the Savior, Equipping the Saints, and Evangelizing the Lost.
What Grace Baptist Believes
Grace Baptist aligns itself with the Baptist Faith and Message and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Robertson County Baptist Association. In their own words, the church holds to these convictions:
- God. One true and living God, existing in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Bible. The Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God and the only rule of faith and practice.
- Salvation. A person cannot save his or her own soul; salvation is by grace through faith and is eternally secure.
- Baptism. One of two New Testament ordinances, and it is by immersion of believers.
- The Lord's Supper. One of two New Testament ordinances, observed as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice.
- Heaven and Hell. The lost will experience everlasting separation from God, and the saved will be eternally in God's presence.
Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Nights at Main Campus
Sunday worship at the main campus is offered at 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM. Sunday School runs in three time blocks - 7:30, 8:30, and 10:00 AM - so that families can pick the hour that fits best. A virtual Sunday School is also offered at 9:00 AM for those joining from home.
The midweek schedule begins with a fellowship meal at 5:00 PM, followed by a prayer meeting at 5:45, then midweek worship at 6:00, and a slate of adult electives under the banner of Grace University at 6:45 PM.
Worship services are streamed on the church's YouTube channel, and the latest sermon is featured on the home page. Giving and a daily devotional app are available online.
Grace Baptist Academy
Grace Baptist Academy (GBA) is a ministry of the church and a regionally accredited private Christian school serving students from Pre-K3 through seventh grade. The school shares the church's mission of exalting the Savior, equipping the saints, and evangelizing the lost, with a vision of being a Christ-centered school that promotes academic excellence and godly character.
GBA is divided into three divisions:
- Preschool. Pre-K2, Pre-K3, and K4. Students must be 18 months by August 15 for Pre-K2 and fully potty-trained for Pre-K3.
- Elementary. Kindergarten through fifth grade.
- Middle School. Sixth and seventh grades.
The faculty includes Mandy Ralph as principal, Amanda West as administrator, and teachers across preschool, elementary, middle school, music, art, and band. The school accepts Education Freedom Scholarships and offers need-based financial aid. Base tuition for the 2026-2027 school year is $6,600 for preschool and $7,200 for K-7th grade, with a $300 sibling discount.
Pre'z, Kidz, Midz, and Studentz: A Full Children's and Youth Ministry
Children's ministry at Grace Baptist runs from birth through high school and is branded as the NexGen family of ministries, directed by Dr. Derek Smith, Interim Associate Pastor of NexGen.
NexGen Pre'z (birth through age 4). Directed by Halley Sanford, Pre'z meets at 7:30, 8:30, and 10:00 AM on Sundays and at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays in the preschool hall. Each hour includes a Bible lesson, music, crafts, and snack time using the Explore the Bible curriculum.
NexGen Kidz (K through 5th grade). Led by Braden Stewart, Kidz meets Sundays at 8:30 and 10:00 AM in the Kidz Hall, and Wednesdays at 6:00 PM. XLR8 Kidz Worship is the high-energy Sunday experience at 8:30 AM, with songs, crafts, games, Bible lessons, and visual learning. Sunday School runs from 10:00 to 11:30 AM and uses Explore the Bible Kids. Wednesday nights feature Children in Action, a missions-focused program that teaches kids how to share the Gospel.
NexGen Midz (middle school) and Studentz (high school). Walker Flanningan leads Midz, and the youth program is rooted in Colossians 1:28. Sunday School meets at the Pentecost Property at 8:30 and 10:00 AM. Wednesday nights run from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and include a game, worship, a message, and gender- and grade-specific small groups (Middle School Boys in the basement, Middle School Girls in the house, High School Boys under the pavilion, and High School Girls in the garage).
Grace University: Wednesday Night Electives for Adults
Grace University is the adult Wednesday night school that meets from 6:45 to 8:00 PM during the fall semester. Classes rotate throughout the year. Recent offerings have included Midweek Worship with Dr. Roger Freeman and later with Dr. Adam Hughes, Wednesday School, Leading NexGen (Kids and Grandkids) with Dr. Steve and Leigh Ann Freeman, Esther, Hebrews, Relaxed, Bible Light for young adults led by Katie Freeman, and the Celebration Choir led by Abby Pratt.
Another church-wide Bible reading initiative called 26n26 walks the congregation through the Gospels and Church History in about 26 minutes per week, with reading reminders available through the church app.
Grace Men and Grace Seniors
Grace Men invests in the congregation through ministry projects that serve elderly and homebound members with home repair and improvements. Grace Seniors (also called Golden Seniors) is pastored by Bro. Bob Carroll, who serves as the church's Senior Adult Pastor.
GraceHelps: A Benevolence Ministry in the Heart of Springfield
GraceHelps is a ministry of Grace Baptist Church dedicated to supporting anyone in need - whether facing financial challenges, emotional struggles, or simply needing a helping hand. The program offers need-based financial assistance, mental, emotional, and spiritual guidance, family wellness, and addiction support.
The director, Katie Freeman, is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and was called to ministry at age 15. To begin a benevolence application, individuals come in person on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. All other assistance is handled through a hotline at (615) 842-8483.
Anchored by Grace Fishing League
One of the more unusual ministries at Grace Baptist is the Anchored by Grace Fishing League, a five-tournament bass fishing series run from the church's Fellowship Hall. Tournaments have been held on Percy Priest, Old Hickory, and Kentucky Lake. The registration fee is $75 per boat, with a discounted $250 season pass offered at the pre-season info meeting. Prize money is paid out to the top five boats, plus a Big Fish award, and a season-ending Fish-Off offers additional payouts. Rules, points, and the registration form are all handled online.
A second recreation ministry, Trails of Grace, also reaches out into the community.
A Florence Campus in Italy
Grace Baptist partners with native Italians to plant campuses in Italy, where only about 1.5% of the population is evangelical Christian. The Florence Campus meets at Via Citadel 16/R, Florence, Italy, 50144. The schedule is:
- Sunday Worship (Culto Domenicale) at 7:00 PM.
- Tuesday Prayer Meeting (Incontro di Preghiera) at 7:30 PM.
- Friday Bible Study (Studio Biblico) at 7:30 PM.
All three services are held in Italian. The campus is pastored by Davson Ferreira. A second Grace Baptist campus operates in Moncalieri.
Plan a Visit to Grace Baptist
The main campus is at 2176 Walling Rd., Springfield, TN 37172, with the admin office open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The church phone is (615) 384-3393 and the general email is info@gbcspringfield.org. First-time guests can let the church know they are coming through a short form on the Plan Your Visit page.
For a congregation founded nearly a hundred years ago, Grace Baptist continues to expand its reach - from Springfield to Florence, from Sunday School to Grace University, from preschool to seventh grade, and from the pulpit to the boat ramp.