About Us
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Our Story | Church Leadership | Statement of Faith | Philosophy of Ministry | Who We Support
GCF is a Bible church in Newnan, GA focused on clear, verse by verse Bible teaching from a free grace perspective. Sermons are led by Pastor John Clark (more info), and worship music is led by a band that plays everything from classic hymns to modern worship songs.
So visit us! Learn, be challenged, and grow in faith!
Our Story
Grace is a non-denominational Bible church that was founded in 1982. We seek to be Christ centered in our worship, grace focused in our ministry, and biblically based in our teaching.
The church met in three different locations before purchasing the present facility in 1990. As the church has grown we have constructed additional space. The most recent addition is a new sanctuary completed in September of 2009. All construction is done debt free.
Our Purpose
Our mission is to: Make disciples, equip Christians in their faith, share the love of Christ with our community and the world, and worship Him with our whole life. We summarize it in three words: evangelize, edify, glorify.
Church Leadership
From left: Pastor John Clark, Shawn Kollodge, Andy Miller, Carl Greene, Nate Buchan, Robert Jennings, and John Newman
Grace is led and served by a team of elders and deacons. We believe that the Scripture makes clear that the pastoral/shepherding ministry is to be carried out by elders. The qualifications for elders and their responsibility for ministry is described in Acts 20:28-30; I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:1-9; Ephesians 4:11-16; and I Peter 5:1-4. The pastor serves with the team as the lead elder.
The deacons serve with the elders to enable them greater freedom in teaching and shepherding. They care for the physical needs of the congregation and facilities, and under the direction of the elders, help serve some of the spiritual needs also. Significant passages related to the Responsibilities and qualifications for deacons are found in Acts 6:1-7 and I Timothy 3:8-13.
The elder/deacon meetings are held once a month, along with specifically called meetings when the need arises. The appointment process we have adopted generally follows the pattern of Acts 6:1-7. It follows an annual review of the needs of the congregation.
We believe that the focus of the elder/deacon ministry is not on position and authority, though that certainly is involved, but on serving. If a man does not exhibit both the qualification of elder/deacon and a heart for serving, he should not be appointed to an office of service and authority. In the appointment process, the congregation recommends leaders, the elders and deacons review and appoint them.
Pastor
Pastor John Clark (Learn more)
Elder
Pastor Emeritus Carl Greene
Andy Miller
Nate Buchan
Robert Jennings
John Newman
Deacons
Shawn Kollodge
Worship Leader
Joshua Miller
Statement of Faith
We believe...
1. God is the creator and sustainer of all of life. He is a God of compassion, mercy and grace. He is as holy, just, and unchangeable. He is the Sovereign over all people and nations, and the one to whom all are accountable. We believe God is self- existent and reveals Himself as the Trinity (three persons yet one God) - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, co-equal in essence, authority, power, and glory. Genesis 1; John 1:1-5; John 14:16-18 & 23; Romans 11:36
2. The Bible is the fully inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original autographs. II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 4:12
3. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. We believe in His virgin birth, His death for all, His bodily resurrection, His current ministry of intercession, His personal return for His people and His kingdom. We are pre-millennial and pre-tribulational in our understanding of His return. Matthew 1:22, 23; John 1:1-4; 10:30; I Corinthians 15:3, 4; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 20:4-6
4. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin; regenerates those who believe in Christ; seals and permanently indwells believers; gifts (enables) believers for serving; guides Christians in truth; empowers believers in a walk of faith; always seeks to exalt Christ. John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; I Corinthians 12
5. Mankind was created in the image of God but by his own choice rebelled against God. As a result of this rebellion in sin, every person is born spiritually dead, separated from God, and in need of redemption. The one who dies as an unbeliever is eternally separated from God. Genesis 1:26, 27; Genesis 3; John 3:18, 19; Romans 3:9-23; Romans 5:12-14; Revelation 20:11-15.
6. Salvation for eternal life is a free gift of God by grace, apart from good works, undeserved, received by faith, and believers are eternally secure. John 1:12, 3:16-18, 5:24, 10:28, 11:25-26; Romans 5:6-11, 11:6; Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 2:8.9; I John 5:13 and Romans 8:1, 31-39.
7. The New Testament church is composed of all those who have believed in Christ for eternal life. It includes believers from all languages, races, ethnic groups and economic backgrounds. It is called the 'body of Christ', 'the building of God', 'the family of God'. We called to be one in Him. Christ is the head (ultimate authority and guide) of the church. I Corinthians 12:12-14, 27; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:14-22; Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 5:9.
8. Though baptism and the Lord's Supper are two essential ordinances of the church, neither of these contributes to a person's salvation. Both are steps of obedience for those who are believers in Christ. Baptism is an outward identification with Christ as Savior and a commitment to follow Him as His disciple. The Lord's Supper is a regular remembrance of the cost of His forgiveness and an ongoing practice of accountability. We practice baptism by immersion as the fullest picture of the death burial and resurrection of Christ. (Matt.28:19, 20; Romans 6:1-6; I Cor. 11:23-34)
9. The purpose of the church is:
To learn to live all of life in relationship to Christ, in worship of Him, for the glory of God - proclaiming His excellence (Romans 12:1, 2; I Corinthians 10:31; I Peter 2:4, 5, 9, 10).
To learn to love Him with all our heart, mind and soul; to love our neighbor as our own self; to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; to love our family; to love our enemies (Matthew 22:37-40; John 15:9-13; Matthew 5:43-48; Ephesians 5:22-6:4).
To equip believers for ministry and maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16).
To share Christ with those around us and around the world who do not know Him. (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 20:21)
Philosophy of Ministry
Proverbs 29:18 emphasizes the central importance of vision for a ministry that reflects God's priorities: 'Where there is no vision the people perish…'. This passage is commonly seen in terms of modern, market place vision statements. However, the emphasis here is specific and different. It could be translated: 'Where there is no revelation (God's Word and will revealed) the people scatter (lose their way)' or 'Where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint' (NKJV). In other words, the vision of ministry is always to be based on what God has revealed. It is centered on the teaching of Scripture. The Word provides the 'vision' for how we are to serve and the direction we are to take in ministry.
The following is a brief summary of what we believe to be the essentials for ministry.
1. The centrality of the Word - We believe in the sufficiency of Scripture.
We seek to teach the Scriptures in an accurate and understandable way so that Christians are equipped for ministry and a life that honors Him, and so that non-Christians can understand God's love for them. (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Timothy 3:16, II Timothy 4:2, Hebrew 4:12)
2. The centrality of Christ - We believe in the sufficiency of Christ and Christ centered worship.
Worship is to permeate every area of life. We emphasize living all of life before His face, in humble gratefulness. (Romans 11:36 & 12:1, 2; I Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 1:16-18).
3. The centrality of grace - We believe in the sufficiency, simplicity, and clarity of the gospel.
We emphasize grace as the basis of our relationship with Christ. We desire to be clear and keep it simple to understand. Salvation is by grace alone in Christ alone, apart from any works we perform, completely undeserved (Romans 11:6). The same grace that brings salvation is sufficient to enable us to serve Christ effectively (Titus 2:11,12 & II Cor.9:8).
4. The centrality of prayer - God is the source of all of life.
We are dependent on Him for all things. Therefore, prayer is primary to all of life. (I Thes.5:16-18; Phil.4:6, 7)
5. The centrality of missions - We emphasize going, sending, and supporting in world missions.
Our prayer is to increasingly support the spread of the gospel around the world. We emphasize the training and support of national missionaries as well as sending missionaries from our own congregation. We believe we are all sent to share the gospel. (John 20:21, Matthew 28:19, 20)
6. The centrality of family - We emphasize family integrated ministry.
The family is a basic building block of society and of the church. The contemporary family tends to be fragmented at home, at school, and in personal pursuits. We want to help keep parents and children together in worship and ministry. We want to equip families to learn to worship and serve together. We desire to provide a place to belong - family - for those who are single and do not have family. Youth ministry is not a separate entity with its' own identity, but an integral part of the family and church family. (Deut.6:4-9 & Eph.5:22-6:4)
7. The centrality of love motivated service.
We desire for God's love to be the motivation and goal of all we do in ministry. Our prayer is that we receive it, reflect it, and extend it to all. May it permeate and make effective all we do. (I Corinthians 13; I Corinthians 16:14; II Corinthians 5:14, 15)
8. The centrality of financial integrity - We emphasize a debt free ministry, careful stewardship.
In a culture in which people find it hard to save or wait for purchases, and are bound by debt, we believe it is important for the church to set a different example. We believe it is wise to save and trust God to supply funds for ministries and buildings. The provision then helps confirm God's direction and honors His name as 'the God who provides'. The construction of the first tabernacle and temple are examples of God's provision for facilities through the gifts of His people prior to construction (Ex. 36;2-7, I Chron.29:1-9). Numerous Proverbs, and Christ's parables related to money and wise stewardship, are some of the biblical reasons we seek to operate debt free. (Prov.3:9,10; 10:22; 22:7 & Matt.6:19-21, 24; 25:14-30).
Outreach Projects
We believe that all Christians are sent on the mission of helping reach the world for Christ (John 20:21). We seek to do so by being, and training others to be, faithful witnesses for Christ in daily life.
We seek to support mission efforts both here and around the world. Our goal is to offer substantial support to a few rather than a little support to many.
Local Care
We support several ministries that help meet the needs of the poor and hurting in our community
The Coweta Pregnancy Services
Helping women in a crisis pregnancy situation with counseling, medical referrals, adoption referrals, and material support.
Benevolence Ministry
Our in-house ministry to people who have needs with food, shelter or assistance with utilities.
U.S. & World Missions
We support a growing number of missionaries and mission organizations. These currently include the following:
DM2 (Disciple Makers Multiplied
Disciple Makers Multiplied (DM2) is a nonprofit disciple making organization developed to train Christian leaders to be disciple makers. DM2’s emphasis is on replication, indigenization, transferability and sustainability.
Southwest Christian Care
Care Givers for the terminally ill, special needs children, seniors and their families.
Other ministries we support
Coweta County Food Pantry - Help for needy people with food, necessities, and spiritual guidance.
The Potter Family (Crossworld International) - Evangelism and discipleship ministry in the USA.
The Woody Family (New Tribes Mission) - Representatives N.T.M .in central Florida.
The Chollars (Crossway International) - Evangelism training ministry, schools, orphanages, and water wells worldwide.
The Cyprian Family (Awana) - Area missionaries in North Georgia.
The Caleb Burdett Family (Baptist MidMissions) - Missionaries to Spain working mostly with young adults.
The Bobby Burdett Family (B.M.T.F.P.) - Missionaries to Madagascar doing discipleship and church planting.