Sundays, 10:00 AM

Alte Amberger Str. 43, 92655 Grafenwoehr

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6: 10-11

WHO IS GBC?

Grace Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church located just outside of Grafenwöhr Training Area, which is the largest U.S. Military training facility in Europe. Our church body consists of U.S. Army personnel, contractors, and their families, along with a growing number represented from the local German community and beyond.

QUICK HISTORY OF GBC

Grace Baptist Church began in 2003 under the leadership of Pastor Chuck Sligh. Beginning as a home group, eventually the church was large enough to be established in its own building. In 2006, the church purchased and remodeled its present building located just a couple of doors down from the walk-in gate of Tower Barracks. Since its founding, the church has been autonomous and self-supporting, and it has been a steady anchor of Christian influence in the Grafenwöhr area.

VISION FOR GBC

Prior to 2003, while serving with Susan in a church in Bicester, England, Pastor Sligh was encouraged by his mission sponsoring organization to consider starting a Baptist church in Grafenwoehr, Germany to minister to the Grafenwoehr-Vilseck military communities. This was prompted by news of a dramatic increase in the overall number of troops to be stationed in the Grafenwoehr military community in the near future. After a survey trip to Grafenwoehr and prayer for God’s will, they felt God’s leading to move back to Germany and start a church in Grafenwoehr that would preach God’s Word clearly and practically with balance and relevancy, reach out to win soldiers and their families to Christ, and help those who have found Christ to grow in grace.

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS AT GBC

• 2003 – Grace Baptist Church started as a mid-week Bible study in September, meeting in homes

• 2004 – First Sunday services held on May 2 at the Grafenwoehr Stadthalle (town hall). The church was formally organized on July 18, 2004, and Chuck Sligh was called to be the pastor.

• 2005 – New ministries launched: K.I.D.S. Church, missions program, teen ministry, women’s ministries, monthly men’s prayer breakfast, and Sunday evening children’s program. First deacon, Larry Johnson, elected.

• 2006 – Purchase and initial remodeling of our present building. Dedication Service for new building: December 3, 2006.

• 2007 – Year of building and construction, partially with the help of a missions team from the U.S.

• 2008 – Major reconstruction projects finished by mid-February. Assistant missionaries Steve and Debbie Kissling joined our staff.

• 2009 – Three important new ministries started: Sunday School, homegroups (small group studies in homes throughout the Grafenwoehr-Vilseck military communities) and our Downrange Soldiers and Families ministry to minister to families of soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

• 2010 – Four deacons elected. Record attendance on Easter Sunday!

• 2012 – Year of change with deactivation of 172nd Infantry Brigade and new units arriving through the end of 2013.

• 2013-2018 – Incremental complete remodeling and renovating of various parts of our current church building.

• 2014 – A German Women's Bible Study begun

• 2015 – A Korean Women's Bible Study begun

• 2016 – Building mortgage paid off in full!

• 2019 – Significant influx of soldiers into Grafenwoehr military community of soldiers, their families and additional support personnel.

• 2023 - Pastor Chuck and Susan Sligh retire from Grace Baptist Church, Grafenwoehr, Germany while continuing on in the ministry through A.R.M.

• 2023 - Pastor Chuck and Susan take a 10 month furlough while they update and report to the ones who have partnered with them for the past 40 years. They were approved with A.R.M. through their mission board to fill pulpits in English speaking churches globally.

• 2023 - Grace Baptist Church called Mark John Bennett to serve as pastor.

• 2023 - Grace Baptist Church joins the IBC, International Baptist Convention, an association of English-language international churches.

• 2024 - Grace Baptist Church called Jordan Edgecombe to serve as pastor.

  We welcome you to come and grow with us!