The History of Grace Bible Church

Grace Bible Church is a non-denominational Bible believing church and a member of the I.F.C.A. International.

Grace Bible Church held its first service, on April 8, 1973, with twenty-one people present. The church, including Sunday School, met at Ottawa Town Hall but moved to Summit Town Hall on May 17, 1973. Sunday Evening and Mid-Week Services were added in Feb. 1974.

The church had its beginning in several Bible classes in Oconomowoc, Watertown, and Dousman which merged into the Dousman Bible Class, meeting in the home of Donald & Ella Gronning. These classes were sponsored and taught by Rev. Clyde Brogan, Director of Wisconsin Church Extension, the church-planting agency of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America.

The first Vacation Bible School was held July 16-20,1973.  Rev. Paul Thyren was called to become the first full time Pastor on July 1st,1974. The church was incorporated on Nov.15,1974. Two days later it moved to the Oconomowoc Community Center. A building fund started in Jan 26,1975 with $230.00. The present five-acre site was purchased on April 30,1977. Awana Youth program started on November 13, 1980. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held in 1984.

The first service in the new church was a special Christmas program, “Reason To Celebrate”, on Dec. 14, 1984.The church building was dedicated May 6,1985. After 13 years of fruitful service Pastor Thyren resigned to become the Director of Wisconsin Church Extension.

A year later, in October 1988, Rev. Michael Hendricks accepted a call to become pastor of Grace. 2013 marks the 40th Anniversary of Grace Bible Church and the 25th Anniversary of Rev. Hendricks as the pastor.

In June 2016 Rev. Michael Hendricks retired and Ron West was voted in by the congregation to be Interim Pastor. In February 2017 Ron West accepted the congregation’s vote and became full-time Pastor of Grace.

February 28, 2021, marks the day that Pastor Ron West was called home to be with the Lord.

On July 18, 2021, the congregation voted for Pastor Alan Davis D.Min. to be the new full- time Pastor.
August 15, 2021, marks the first Sunday that Pastor Alan spoke to the congregation in this role.