Grace Chapel had its beginnings in the early 1930’s with Bible studies in homes led by itinerant evangelists. Among them was John Hunt, whose nephew Jim Hunt served as our Elder for many decades and recently went to be with the Lord. You may know his brother, the Christian author and apologist Dave Hunt.
In the late 1930’s the believers acquired a building in the 2200 block of Montana Avenue and met there until 1956. A new building site was found in what was then a new neighborhood, Ranchland Hills, which is the present location. During the transition, between selling the building on Montana Avenue and when the current building was completed in Ranchland Hills, the congregation met in the home of Jim and Evelyn Hunt, just a few blocks from the present location.
At Grace Chapel, we try to follow New Testament biblical concepts, which had been taught directly by the Apostles who, in turn, had been instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, loving God, each other and our neighbors, following the Great Commission and the Lord’s ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper / Breaking Bread) are important elements of our identity in Christ.
When we repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and become members of the Body of Christ, the Church. For that reason, we do not believe that a formal membership of a believer in the local congregation/assembly is required.
Some of the distinctives of New Testament churches include the following:
– The Authority of Scripture
– The Headship of Christ – Christ is the Head Shepherd of the Church
– Imperative of the Gospel: Evangelism and Discipleship
– The Priesthood of all Believers
– Freedom to Exercise Spiritual Gifts by Both Men and Women within the headship structure of God’s Word
– An Elder-led Leadership Structure, Sharing the Teaching Among Gifted Men, Rather than Just One Pastor
– Weekly Remembrance and Worship of the Lord Jesus with Communion
– Expectation of the Future Return of Christ
Although Grace Chapel has roots in the Plymouth Brethren, we base our doctrine on scripture alone and not on any “movement”, denomination or association. The so-called “Plymouth Brethren” movement began in the British Isles in the 1820s in an attempt to break away from the corrupt Anglican church and restore a biblical model of New Testament churches. It was not a name that was taken to be another denominational identity, which is exactly what they were rejecting, but it was merely something by which they were called by others. From the very beginning it was their desire not to take any name other than “Christians”, since all other names tend to divide. Therefore, in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 1:10-15, we reject the name “Plymouth Brethren” or any other title that might divide us from other sincere Christians.
