Grace Bible Baptist Church

Grace Bible Baptist Church History 

The seed of Grace Bible Baptist Church was planted in 1963.  Moving to Stafford Springs, Connecticut to work for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Robert and Carol Smith joined Faith Baptist Church in Enfield.  After several years faithfully serving as a deacon and Sunday School Teacher, Robert was called to become a preacher of the Gospel.  Obedient to the call of God, Robert, Carol and their children moved to Springfield, Missouri to attend Baptist Bible College.  The Smith’s were the first couple to leave Faith Baptist Church to study for the ministry. 

After graduating in May of 1972, the Smith’s moved to the Vernon area.  Concerned that there was a need for an independent Bible Baptist Church, Robert Smith started a mission of the Grace Bible Baptist Church of Springfield, Missouri, with a bible study.  Twelve people attended that first meeting.  Within the first month, the group had become too large to meet in a home and moved to Vernon Center Middle School. 

On December 9, 1973, 18 months after its first informal meeting, Grace Bible Baptist Church was officially organized with 45 charter members. 

The congregation continued to grow, majoring on Bible teaching and personal witnessing.  The church began a worldwide mission’s outreach, sending monthly support to missionaries approved by the church.  Between 1973 and 1982 several faithful members surrendered to serve the Lord in the gospel ministry. 

The Church began the process of looking for property to have as a meeting place of their own where they could enjoy having revivals, mission’s conferences and fellowships.  In 1979 the former building of Trinity Lutheran Church on Prospect Street in Rockville became available, the property was purchased and now Grace Bible Baptist Church had a permanent home. 

March of 1983 brought a change to the church, as Pastor Smith resigned.  In April, David Davis was called to be the new pastor.  Pastor Davis also was a 1972 graduate of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.  Before coming to Grace Bible Baptist Church, David and his wife Dorothy had served in churches in Michigan, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York in various capacities.  Pastor and Mrs. Davis reside in Ellington.  They have four grown children and now enjoy their grandchildren. 

Under the leadership of Pastor Davis the church has continued as it was started, Bible teaching and personal witnessing.  The churches missions outreach has expanded and families continue to surrender to the gospel ministry.  Pastor Davis has been involved with regional and national fellowships of pastors serving in different capacities and serving as a board member of a Bible college. 

In 2004 God used Pastor Davis to help start an independent Bible Baptist Church in Baghdad, Iraq.