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OUR STORY …
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them, and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (2 Cor. 6:11-16).
It was this portion of Scripture that served the founding members of Grace Baptist Church to separate themselves of any affiliation with the American Baptist Convention (ABC), National Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches to which they had been part while members of a local Church on the basis of the ecumenical approach and acceptance of differing doctrinal beliefs clearly contrary to the Word of God.
For three months, this group of believers sought to reconcile members of that local church to the importance of doctrinal integrity. What a person believes will impact how s/he will live! When an association believes that there is more than one way to God or that the Scriptures contain error, then there is little upon which to establish a church.
April 28, 1971 in a living room, a gathering of 37 baptized believers organized an independent Baptist church, what is now known as the Grace Baptist Church of Muncy PA!
For the next several Wednesday evenings, without any property or even a song book, GBC went from house to house, singing Trust and Obey and Jesus Loves Me many times over, with an attitude of obedience and surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the unchangeable truths of God’s infallible Word.
June 13, 1971, GBC began meeting in the new auditorium and the Heritage Lodge at the Muncy Terraces. While worshiping there, the congregation purchased 6 acres on the Clarks Town road in Muncy.
During the remaining months of 1971 our membership grew to 85 with over 100 in attendance Sunday mornings!
As GBC began their second year, Pastor Graham Freeman challenged the congregation to commit themselves to the following:
1. Continue searching the Scriptures for God’s will and do God’s work God’s way.
2. Carry on the attitude of “we will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit no matter where He leads us.”
3. Do all we can to strengthen and maintain a true gospel witness and a Christ honoring testimony; Love God, love His Word, love the local church and its work, love one another and love righteousness.
4. Stand guard. Never allow the permissive attitude of the world to creep into the church.
5. Do all we can to share the gospel with Muncy and the world so as to win souls to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who saves the lost, keeps the redeemed and whose grace is sufficient for every need.