Who We Are

Our History

Grace Fellowship Church (GFC) is a local congregation committed to maintaining a high view of God and His Word. Practically, this is expressed through a deep reverence for the Scriptures and a focus on the corporate worship of God.

By God’s kindness, the church was formally established in 2012. From its earliest days, Josh Case, Dustin Hawkins, and Nic Wiseman have served as pastors, guiding the young congregation through formative years. The church initially gathered in a conference room in Grayville, Illinois, but it soon became clear that the setting was not ideal for nurturing a young church toward maturity.

In God’s providence, GFC was able to purchase and renovate the former Fortney United Methodist Church, located off the Browns blacktop road. The building was a gracious provision and a place for worship, where the church deepened its doctrinal convictions, grew in unity, and established its identity. In 2018, Kyle Kearbey was called as the full-time pastor for preaching to serve alongside the other pastors.

The Lord’s hand was evident during this time, as He brought new members from across Southeastern Illinois and even from neighboring Indiana to sit under the preaching of the Word. Fortney proved to be a tremendous blessing—a place marked by a rich Christian heritage and significant spiritual growth.

By early 2024, with a vibrant and growing congregation, it became apparent that more space was needed. The church began to pray and seek the Lord’s provision. In response, an opportunity arose to acquire the former Browns United Methodist Church building. By God’s grace, GFC was able to purchase the property in December 2025. Renovations began immediately, including two church-wide workdays and a complete overhaul of the sanctuary.

The first worship service in the new location was held on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The Lord was faithful to provide GFC with a suitable place to worship, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and enjoy fellowship as the people of God.

It is the church’s hope and prayer that the risen Lord Jesus Christ will continue to bless the ministry of His Word in this place—that sinners will be saved, and the saints built up in faith.

Grace Fellowship Church holds its morning worship service every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Sunday School is held at 9:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month, and evening services are held at 6:00 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month. Come join us as we worship the living God by singing scriptural hymns and songs, praying corporately, listening to the Word read out loud, and sitting under it preached.

Our Identity

Grace Fellowship Church joyfully identifies as a Reformed Baptist congregation. By this, we mean that we stand firmly within the rich theological heritage of the Protestant Reformation, holding without hesitation to the Five Solas — Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Gratia (grace alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone). These biblical truths form the foundation of all our worship, preaching, and ministry, affirming that salvation and life are entirely of God’s grace, revealed through His Word, and aimed at His glory.

As a Reformed church, we wholeheartedly embrace the Doctrines of Grace, often referred to as the biblical principles summarized in Calvinism. We believe that God, from eternity, sovereignly chose to redeem a people for Himself, that Christ’s atonement effectively accomplished their salvation, and that the Holy Spirit irresistibly draws and preserves every believer to the end. These truths magnify the sovereignty of God in salvation and foster humility, assurance, and worship in the life of the believer.

As Baptists, we affirm the necessity of personal conversion, believer’s baptism by immersion, and the autonomy of the local church under the lordship of Christ. We practice congregational government led by a plurality of elders and served by deacons, seeking to order our church life according to the clear teaching of Scripture. Our understanding of the ordinances—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—flows from the New Testament pattern and reflects our conviction that they belong to those who have been united to Christ by faith.

To be Reformed also means to be Evangelical and Orthodox. We joyfully affirm the faith once delivered to the saints, as expressed in the great ecumenical creeds of the early church—the Apostles’, Nicene, and Chalcedonian Creeds—confessing the triune God, the full deity and humanity of Christ, and the gospel of His saving work. Our Reformed convictions do not divide us from other faithful Christians but rather unite us more deeply with all who stand upon the gospel of grace. We recognize that being Reformed is not merely a theological position but a call to live under the authority of God’s Word and for the glory of His name.

We gladly confess the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 as a faithful and time-tested summary of the doctrines we teach and uphold. This confession anchors us in the historic faith of the Reformation and connects us to a global community of churches that share these same convictions.

To be Reformed Baptist, then, is to be biblically grounded, confessionally rooted, Christ-exalting, and gospel-proclaiming—a church that delights in the sovereign grace of God and seeks to glorify Him in all things, standing in unity with the historic, orthodox, and evangelical church of Jesus Christ.

Our Distinctives

At Grace Fellowship Church, we desire every part of our life and ministry to reflect biblical truth and bring glory to Christ. The following distinctives summarize key convictions that shape who we are and how we serve.

The Centrality Of The Gospel

All that we do and proclaim flows from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We affirm that sinners are justified by faith alone, that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers by God’s grace alone, and that this righteousness is the only ground of our acceptance before Him. True faith is always evidenced by good works.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 1:17–31; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; 2 Corinthians 4:1–6; Philippians 1:27; Revelation 14:6–7

Expository Preaching

We are committed to the verse-by-verse exposition of God’s Word because we believe in the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture. By preaching systematically through books of the Bible, we seek to faithfully proclaim “the whole counsel of God” and to feed His people with truth that transforms.

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:1–12; Matthew 4:4; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5; Titus 1:3, 9; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:22–2:3

Christ Exalting Worship

Our worship is shaped and governed by Scripture. We desire to honor God through Christ-centered worship that includes prayer, preaching, Scripture reading, singing, giving, and obedience. Worship at GFC is not guided by human invention or preference but by the Word of God.

Scripture References: John 4:23–24; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:18–20; Philippians 2:9–11; Colossians 3:16

Regenerate Membership/Biblical View Of Conversion

We long to see true, Spirit-wrought conversion among our members. Right belief precedes right practice—good works do not earn salvation but flow from it. We continually proclaim and explain the gospel, walking patiently with those seeking to understand what it means to follow Christ.

Scripture References: Romans 3:23; 5:8; 10:9–14; Ephesians 2:1–10; Matthew 7:21–23; Luke 6:46; 2 Corinthians 13:5

Elder-Led Congregational Leadership

We practice a congregational, elder-led form of church government. Our decisions are made within this local body of believers, under the leadership of a plurality of elders who are called to shepherd, teach, and care for the flock of God.

Scripture References: Titus 1:5–11; 1 Peter 5:1–5

Age Integration

We gather all generations together—families, singles, and children—for worship, teaching, prayer, and evangelism. We believe the church is strongest when believers of every age grow together in the knowledge and grace of Christ.

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:7–9; 31:9–17; Exodus 10:8–11; Joel 2:16; Matthew 14:15–21; Ephesians 6:1–4