In January 1974, five families felt led by the Holy Spirit to begin a new work in the Havana Area. The families came out from the Disciples of Christ Church and began a non-denominational work known as The Havana Bible Church. The first meetings were held in homes until a one-room schoolhouse was rented for the purpose of establishing regular services. The regular meetings were initiated in June of 1974. In August 1974, Reverend Olan Turner, affiliated with the Bible Baptist Fellowship, was called and accepted the Pastorate. The Havana Bible Church became the Bible Baptist Church on October 13, 1974.
The Bible Baptist Church purchased property for the construction of a new building in 1975. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 23, 1976 and construction began on the church basement. Reverend Turner resigned the pastorate in February of 1978. Three members of the church were sent to contact Reverend John Brander in Peoria regarding the fellowship of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC). Following a meeting at the Church with Reverend Brander and Reverend Fred Molkenthin, a GARBC state representative, the Church decided to make an application into the fellowship.
Reverend William Kuhn accepted the pastorate call for Havana in April of 1978. Shortly thereafter, a construction loan was secured and Missionary Builders from Hiawatha Baptist Missions(Continental Baptist Missions) came and began construction on the building in August of 1978. On February 7, 1979, the first service was held in the lower level of the new facility, although the brick was not complete on the building's main floor.
On March 4, 1979, the members voted to change the name of the church to Grace Baptist Church and moved to seek fellowship with the GARBC. The members adopted a new Constitution and Articles of Faith on April 22, 1979. The second phase of the building construction began in February of 1984 and services were held in the newly completed ground floor in the Spring of 1984.
Reverend Kuhn resigned in the Fall of 1988. Pastor Bill Petite served as the Interim pastor during November of 1988 until January of 1989. Pastor Daniel French, Missionary Pastor with Continental Baptist Missions, was called in November of 1988 and moved to Havana in January of 1989. Pastor French began his services in Havana in February of 1989 and resigned from the church in January of 2001.
The church reached self-supporting status and was then lead by Pastor Darrell Auten following Pastor French's resignation. Pastor Auten served the Lord faithfully for over a decade and went to be with the Lord in June of 2014. Pastor French returned to perform Interim pastoral duties until the new pastor was called.
Grace Baptist Church called Matt Reeves to be the new Senior Pastor. He began on July 1, 2015 and served for five years, and then feeling God’s calling to a pastorate in Iowa. The church prayed again for new leadership and God perfectly planned the timing of leading Mike Henson and his family to Grace Baptist in October of 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic. We look forward to seeing God grow us both individually and corporately as we seek to do His will in His Church.
Reverend William Kuhn accepted the pastorate call for Havana in April of 1978. Shortly thereafter, a construction loan was secured and Missionary Builders from Hiawatha Baptist Missions(Continental Baptist Missions) came and began construction on the building in August of 1978. On February 7, 1979, the first service was held in the lower level of the new facility, although the brick was not complete on the building's main floor.
On March 4, 1979, the members voted to change the name of the church to Grace Baptist Church and moved to seek fellowship with the GARBC. The members adopted a new Constitution and Articles of Faith on April 22, 1979. The second phase of the building construction began in February of 1984 and services were held in the newly completed ground floor in the Spring of 1984.
Reverend Kuhn resigned in the Fall of 1988. Pastor Bill Petite served as the Interim pastor during November of 1988 until January of 1989. Pastor Daniel French, Missionary Pastor with Continental Baptist Missions, was called in November of 1988 and moved to Havana in January of 1989. Pastor French began his services in Havana in February of 1989 and resigned from the church in January of 2001.
The church reached self-supporting status and was then lead by Pastor Darrell Auten following Pastor French's resignation. Pastor Auten served the Lord faithfully for over a decade and went to be with the Lord in June of 2014. Pastor French returned to perform Interim pastoral duties until the new pastor was called.
Grace Baptist Church called Matt Reeves to be the new Senior Pastor. He began on July 1, 2015 and served for five years, and then feeling God’s calling to a pastorate in Iowa. The church prayed again for new leadership and God perfectly planned the timing of leading Mike Henson and his family to Grace Baptist in October of 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic. We look forward to seeing God grow us both individually and corporately as we seek to do His will in His Church.