Core Beliefs

Grace Baptist Church Doctrinal Statement

The Bible: The Bible is made up of 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament). It has God for its author (and is, therefore, without error), and reveals the true nature of God, and His redemptive purposes through Jesus Christ. It is the authority on all matters of life, and is the authority of the church. Jesus Christ is the focus of the Bible.
Supporting Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-15, 3:14-17; 2 Peter 3:14-16

God: God is the highest being, completely self-existent and eternal (having always existed and will always exist). He eternally exists in three persons (the Trinity), Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. All three are equally God, without separation in essence or being.  All things, seen and unseen, were created by God and for God, out of nothing; He simply spoke them into being. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and controls all things in every moment. He is holy (distinct) and all of His attributes (love, mercy, justice, wrath, grace) flow perfectly from Him.
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3; Exodus 3:14; Leviticus 22:2; Psalm 97:1-6; Joel 2:12-13; Isaiah 43:1-13, 48:11; Romans 8:28, 9:22-23, 15:9-12; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 1:8

Mankind: Mankind was created in God’s image out of the dust of the earth, and is the pinnacle of God’s creation. However, through the sin of Adam, we have inherited a sin nature, having our hearts turned away from God and towards ourselves and wickedness. Therefore, we now stand condemned and worthy of judgment by God.  Men and women are sinners by nature and by choice.
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 1:26-30; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:36, 8:34; Romans 3:9-20, 5:12-14; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:21

Jesus: Jesus is God in the flesh, 100% God and 100% man. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life (sinless), died on a cross (taking on Himself the penalty for our sins), and was raised from the dead. He ascended to heaven, and today He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on behalf of those who have put their faith in Him.
Supporting Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; John 1:1-5, 14, 36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-3

Salvation: Salvation comes when a person is reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work (the cross and resurrection). When a person comes to understand he is a sinner, confesses that understanding to God, and trusts in Christ to forgive his sins (turning from himself and his sin, and to Christ, in faith), he is immediately forgiven, given a new heart/nature, and made a child of God. The wrath that was on him is now removed, and he is accepted by God based on Christ’s work. This is an act of grace, totally undeserved. One’s good works in no way contribute to salvation. Because salvation is an act of grace and is a work of God, it cannot be lost.
Supporting Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12, 55:8-9; Matthew 23:37; John 3:16, 6:35-40; Acts 2:14-41, 16:14; Romans 11:29-36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Ephesians 1:1-14, 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:1-2

Growing in Your Relationship with Christ: Following salvation, God begins to mold a person into the image of Christ, where he increasingly reflects Christ in his actions, thoughts, and attitudes. This is a life-long process, and will not be completely fulfilled until a person dies and goes to be with God, or Christ returns (whichever happens first). God’s primary means of this process is the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 5:48; John 14:16-18, 26-31; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:2-5; Philippians 1:1-6, 3:12-16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God/Christ. He is fully God. He convicts men of sin, converts them to faith in Christ, and continues to convict them of their sin after salvation – for the purpose of leading them into all truth and righteousness. He is the giver of spiritual gifts. He never acts, teaches, or leads anyone outside of the bounds of the Bible.
Supporting Scripture: John 14:16-17, 25-31; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

The End of the World: There will come a day when Christ will return literally and visibly to the earth. Those who have put their faith in Him will spend eternity with Him in eternal peace, in the new heaven and new earth. Those who have not put their faith in Him will spend eternity in torment in hell.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 24:1-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; the book of Revelation

The Church: The church is made up of all people who have genuinely trusted in Christ. Believers should commit to a local church for the purposes of fellowship, worship of God, ministry to others, prayer, personal accountability, learning more about God and His Word, and working to take the message of Jesus to those who do not know Him.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20;; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4, 5:25-32; Philippians 4:15-17; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-19; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Baptism: Baptism is the immersion of a person into water, following salvation, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It symbolizes union with Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. It is not a part of salvation; it symbolizes salvation. It is, however, important, since Christ commanded it.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 1:13-17

The Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper is the taking of the bread and cup in order to remember and reflect on Jesus’ death on the cross. It reminds Christians of the sacrifice of Christ, as well as the unity they have in their common faith in Christ. It is symbolic, and is in no way a part of, or necessary for, salvation.
Supporting Scripture: Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Our History

In September of 1976, Rev. Charles E. Smith met in the home of friends, Mr. And Mrs. Bob Smith and, along with a few other interested people, discussed the prospect of starting a new Southern Baptist Church on the south side of Indianapolis. Rev. Smith already had some experience in starting new churches, having served for 10 years as Director of Missions for Central Baptist Association in the Indianapolis area.

Sunday services began on the first Sunday in October, 1976. The small group met at the Carefree Subdivision Clubhouse where permission had been granted for the group to meet for one year.

The National Bank of Greenwood loaned money to the group which was used to purchase 10 acres of land and begin building a church facility on 740 W. County Line Rd, Indianapolis. Rev. Smith served as the general contractor and most of the work was done with volunteer labor from men of the church and friends. Volunteer work groups from other churches in Georgia and South Carolina also came and helped out for several weeks of the construction time.

Dedication of the new church building was on October 2, 1977, one year from the first Sunday service that had been held at the subdivision clubhouse. At that time, Grace Baptist was the first Southern Baptist church to accomplish this in a one-year period.

On October 4, 1981, the Memorial Annex was dedicated, which added new Sunday School rooms to the growing church. Again, all of the work was done by volunteers from the church and work groups from Alabama and South Carolina.

In February of 1989, Rev. Smith retired from full-time preaching, making Grace Baptist Church the last church he would plant. The members of Grace Baptist then called Rev. Skip Beal to lead the congregation.

Under the leadership of Rev. Beal, the church began work on a new Family Life Center in the early part of 1998. With the help of more volunteer labor from both inside and outside the congregation, and under the leadership of Elvin Yoder as contractor, the Grace Baptist Family Life Center was dedicated in the fall of 1998. The new building added classrooms, a kitchen, a nursery area and a gymnasium. In March of 2009, Rev. Beal retired. He had pastored Grace for 20 years. Jamie Murphy was called to be Grace’s new Senior Pastor the same month Rev. Beal retired.

In 2007, Grace called Alan Davidson to be its first full-time Youth Pastor. In June of 2015, Alan and his family, moved to the Dominican Republic where he began to serve as a chaplain for a Christian school. Andy Hilden joined the staff of Grace Baptist Church in May of 2016 as the Youth Pastor, and now serves as the Youth/Education Pastor.

Bruce Salazar was called to be the Worship Pastor in December of 2012 and served through December 2017. Curtis McGill was called to be the Worship Leader in June 2018.

Over the past few years, many renovations and updates have been completed to the facilities. The church has also been involved in several international mission trips. These mission trips led to a partnership with a church in Panama City, Panama, working in the areas of evangelism and children’s ministry. In 2017, Grace also helped support a local church plant in Bargersville, IN (Gospel Grove Church). The church continues to be a congregation made up of a balance of ages, preschool through senior adults, who work together to make disciples in Greenwood/Indianapolis, Indiana, the United States, and the world.