Since the Lord God Almighty is the owner of time, history—as we know it—is really His story revealed to people through the ages, one life at a time.
Gravel Hill Baptist Church fits beautifully into God’s tapestry of plans for many generations of families that have been greatly touched by such a rich church heritage. The church was officially planted in September of 1892, the fruit of a God-inspired dream placed in the hearts of those now in heaven as a great cloud of witnesses before us.
Over the years, the Lord has sent over 30 different pastors. One of them, Bro. Gary Gipson, served the longest pastorate on record—27 years. During that time, he gained valuable insight into the congregation’s history and was able to lead the church of 1992 in a Centennial celebration by piecing together a fascinating history book of the church.
Recounting the beginnings of our church in 1892, Bro. Gary wrote that there was “a need to receive direction on how to conduct your private life, how to raise your children and how to meet life’s daily challenges. But the greatest need was a place to share the Word of God and introduce the lost, that had no hope, to the Lord Jesus Christ.” By God’s grace, Gravel Hill has pursued that same mission through the past 130+ years, laboring to be light in our community and the surrounding area.
We’re in the next 100-year period of time now as a church family, and one thing is clear: our mission for Jesus Christ is still the same. Therefore, for God’s glory and in honor of those in our church family that have run the race of faith before us, we press on—fueled by their tenacious faith, grit, and determination—to persevere for the glory of God until Christ our Lord returns.