Have you ever wondered about a church born from a childhood dream? Right here, at Grace Baptist Church in Denver, stands a testament to the enduring power of friendship and faith. Grace Baptist Church wasn’t always this impressive structure. Its story began in the hearts of two junior high best friends, Rick Long and Greg Stier. They envisioned a church centered on God’s grace and the clear gospel. It’s a remarkable story, considering they were just 12 years old, involved in sports and school activities, when they started dreaming of this church. Greg recalls feeling God’s call, a desire to break free from the legalism they felt stifled by in their current church. They began planning their ideal church, envisioning a space where grace and truth intertwined.
After high school, their paths diverged. Greg attended Liberty University in Virginia, while Rick stayed in Colorado, studying at Colorado Bible College. Five years later, they reunited as youth directors at a local church. Yet, their childhood dream persisted. Grace Baptist Church held its first service on March 12, 1989, in a friend’s living room. Only 23 people attended. Within weeks, the congregation grew to 75, necessitating a move to a daycare facility. The church continued to expand, moving several times, even occupying the old Colorado Bible Church building where Rick and Greg had grown up. Finally, Grace Baptist Church found its home at 6969 Sheridan Blvd, purchased in 1997.
By 1996, the church faced a new challenge: rapid growth without the infrastructure to disciple new members. They turned to the “Purpose Driven Church” model for guidance, realizing the need to nurture new believers and integrate them into the church community. Rick recalls the surprise of discovering ingrained traditions within just seven years, traditions that needed breaking to embrace a new vision. Today, Grace Baptist Church thrives as a Purpose Driven church, even training other churches in this model. Greg transitioned to lead Dare 2 Share, a ministry he’d started in 1991 with Rick’s support. Their partnership continues, fueled by the same passion that ignited their childhood vision.
In 2003, Grace Baptist Church launched the “40 Days of Grace” program. This curriculum, written by the pastors, emphasized five core purposes, summarized by the acronym GRACE: Glorify, Relate, Aspire, Commit, and Evangelize. These principles, personalized for Grace Baptist Church, guide their outreach and discipleship. Grace Baptist Church strives to help members transition from spectators to committed participants, actively serving within the church and its mission. This commitment extends beyond initial salvation to nurturing lives transformed by faith, offering hope and purpose through Christ. Grace Baptist Church stands as a living testament to a dream conceived in youth, brought to life through unwavering faith, perseverance, and the grace of God.