Glorifying God by Being Bible Centered and Gospel Focused
Grace Community Church gathers on Pennfield Road in Battle Creek, Michigan, with a singular aim: "Glorifying God by being Bible centered and Gospel focused." The motto Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone, hangs over everything the congregation does, from its expository preaching to its family ministry and global missions. Grace describes itself as contemporary in worship yet conservative in doctrine, a church that has been saved by God's grace and seeks to extend that grace to its neighbors in Calhoun County.
The congregation welcomes visitors with a simple invitation: "Join us on Sunday mornings as we sing, pray, and proclaim God's Word together; we would love to worship with you."
Expository Preaching and the Five Solas
Two commitments shape life at Grace Community Church more than any others. The first is expository preaching, a method that lets the biblical text speak for itself as the pastor works carefully and systematically through Scripture, explains its meaning, and applies it to daily life. The leadership calls this the best way to feed the congregation a robust, regular diet of Scripture.
The second commitment is a Reformed theological heritage, summarized in the five solas:
- Sola Gratia: by grace alone, God saves through His unconditional and undeserved grace.
- Sola Fide: through faith alone, we are justified not by works but by grace working through faith.
- Sola Christus: in Christ alone, the Person and work of Jesus is the source of salvation.
- Sola Scriptura: by Scripture alone, the Bible is the inerrant, sufficient, and final authority for the church.
- Soli Deo Gloria: to the glory of God alone, every aspect of salvation redounds to His eternal glory.
Plural-Elder Leadership
Grace Community Church is not denominationally affiliated and so is independent in its governance. Within the church, a group of elders provides spiritual oversight, while deacons serve the administrative and physical needs of the congregation. The elders are co-equal as overseers, with one elder set aside as the elder-pastor to carry the main responsibilities of teaching and preaching. Grace calls this representative government, rather than democratic or autocratic leadership.
The current elders are Pastor Nick Snellgrove, Dave Wilson, Rick Britten, and Pernell Gibson. The deacons are Dave Britton, Dave Yeager, Kevin McCann, Jeff Collins, and Eric Varga.
Christ-Centered Worship on Sunday Mornings
Worshipers gather every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM at 9037 Pennfield Road. Grace teaches that worship is more than singing: it is where the spirit finds rest, the mind is focused on eternal things, the heart cries out in confession, and the congregation comes under the authority of God's Word for the purpose of drawing nearer to the One who saved them. The worship style places a strong emphasis on congregational singing, treating song as an act of worship offered together to the Lord.
Sermons are recorded each Sunday and made available the following Monday on YouTube and Facebook, so anyone unable to attend can still engage with the preaching. Visitors are welcomed with a gentle instruction: "Come as you are. With your Bible. A notebook. A heart ready to praise. A spirit seeking the Spirit. Simply. Sincerely. Making much of our Savior."
Family Ministry and Graceland
Grace Community Church is, in its own words, a church family made up of many smaller families. The church encourages multi-generational worship together and welcomes children of any age in the main worship service. At the same time, it provides nursery care and a children's ministry called Graceland for children from birth through fourth grade on Sunday mornings.
Beyond Sunday, the church teaches that the primary means of growth in faith and biblical maturity happens through family discipleship in the home, supported by full participation in the corporate life of the church. Children's ministry at Grace aims to supplement, not substitute, that shared family life.
A Catechism for Boys and Girls
Grace takes seriously the catechism tradition. The church offers A Catechism for Boys and Girls, a 134-question primer that walks children through the key doctrines of the faith, including God, man, sin, salvation, the Ten Commandments, prayer, the Word, the church and ordinances, and last things.
The booklet traces its lineage to the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, which Benjamin Keach later tailored to the London Baptist Confession of 1677/89, and which Charles Spurgeon updated for his own congregation. More recently, Erroll Hulse simplified the work for parents training young children at home. Grace recommends it as a very helpful tool for teaching young children to understand and remember the basic truths of the Christian faith.
Lifegroups and Wednesday Bible Study
Small group life is woven into the rhythm of Grace. Lifegroups meet throughout the week at various times, in homes and at the church, studying a variety of Bible books and topics. The leadership explains that small groups allow believers to grow closer to each other in Christian fellowship and encouragement, and closer to the Lord through in-depth, interactive Bible study.
On Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM, a Bible study meets weekly at the church. A Men's Study gathers on Saturdays at 8:30 AM, and Women of Grace Coffee and Fellowship meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM.
Rooted in Christ: The Youth Ministry
The youth ministry at Grace Community Church is guided by three commitments: rooted in Christ, serving His Church, and growing in faith. The mission is to glorify God by encouraging young men and women to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, their connection to the local church body, and their desire to share their faith and serve those around them.
The church keeps youth deeply connected to the ministry of the Word by prioritizing their full participation in corporate worship, biblical teaching, and discipleship within the whole church. It fosters relationships across generations rather than isolating youth in a separate subculture, and provides regular gatherings focused on fellowship and service where youth build godly friendships and grow in their desire to share their faith. The conviction is that the primary means of growth happens through family discipleship in the home and full participation in the corporate life of the church.
Women of Grace
The women's ministry at Grace seeks to glorify God by encouraging women to grow in faith, love, and good works within the life of the local church. The mission statement is rooted in Christ, serving His Church, and growing together.
The ministry fosters rich fellowship among women, marked by encouragement, hospitality, and mutual upbuilding in the Lord. It strengthens the body of Christ through joyful service as women use their gifts to meet needs, extend hospitality, and care for the saints. Women are kept deeply connected to the ministry of the Word through participation in corporate teaching, worship, and discipleship alongside the whole church. Occasional studies and gatherings are offered, with the regular Coffee and Fellowship meeting on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM.
A Confessional Church
Grace Community Church takes seriously the historic creeds of the Christian faith. On Sundays, the congregation confesses the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed together, using contemporary English translations and the plural "we" to reflect the unity of the body. The church also confesses the Chalcedonian Definition, the fourth-century statement that carefully articulates the biblical truth about the two natures of Christ.
The church's own Statement of Faith covers the Bible, God, the Person and Work of Christ, the Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Salvation, Eternal Security, Man, the Church, the Christian's Walk, Eternal Life, Satan, Sin, the Christian Home, and Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The church teaches that salvation is God's free gift, received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and maintained by the grace and power of God, not by self-effort. Grace practices believers' baptism by immersion as a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus as Lord, and observes the Lord's Supper as an ongoing symbol remembering Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and promised return.
Missionaries Around the World
Grace Community Church supports a global network of missionaries and ministries. The church partners with Bridge Ministries/Enlaces Con Cristo, where Sandi Burgess serves; this organization uses sports, games, a bilingual school, and a wedding ministry to reach its community, sharing brief testimonies every hour.
The Pasley family serves in France under the Baptist Missionary Association of America. Ray and Grace Brandon assist pastors and churches in multiplying disciples, developing leaders, and establishing new churches through ABWE in the United States. Ashton Glod serves with Ratio Christi at the University of North Florida, engaging in campus apologetics and evangelism.
Closer to home, Grace supports Isaiah 117 House in Calhoun County, providing a comforting place for children awaiting foster placement, and Alternatives Care Centers in Battle Creek, which offers pregnancy testing, ultrasound, STI testing and treatment, and material support for families. In retirement, the church also supports Bill Damick with Trans World Radio and Chuck Broughton with the Navigators, both still active in their ministries.
Visiting Grace Community Church
Grace Community Church is located at 9037 Pennfield Road, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014. The phone number is 269-963-6606, and the general email address is contact@bcgrace.net. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 AM. Visitors are invited to come as they are, with a Bible and a notebook, ready to sing, pray, and hear God's Word proclaimed. Sermon recordings are posted on YouTube and Facebook the following Monday. Wednesday night Bible study meets at 6:30 PM, and various Lifegroups meet throughout the week in homes and at the church. The Men's Study gathers on Saturdays at 8:30 AM, and Women of Grace Coffee and Fellowship meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM. Online giving is available.