About Us

About Our Church - The Newest & Oldest Church in Town

For about 100 years the building was a landmark as the home of First Baptist Church. All the other church buildings in town were built in the mid-20th century but this is the sole survivor of the 19th century. When the congregation dwindled the Baptist conference wanted to pass the building along to another congregation of Christians in order for its original purpose as a house of worship to continue.

In 2006 the new congregation, known as Grace Christian Church, began holding services in the historic edifice purchased from the Baptists.  Graciously, nearly all of its furnishings and equipment were left for us new folks. This has greatly assisted Grace Christian get started and a hearty thanks goes to the fine Baptist Christians whose century of stewardship continues to serve the community.

In January 2009 the church called Brian Thiel to be the pastor, succeeding Dick Burlingame.  Both men graduated from MN Bible College (now called Crossroads College in Rochester) as young men and then had careers in business. Brian and his wife, Sharon moved to LeRoy from Austin where they were very active with the  Austin Church of Christ and in a variety of community activities.  When you see either of them around town, just say, "Hi Brian" or "Hi Sharon."  (They don't go much for titles.)

The Leroy Independent and Austin Daily Herald have both run feature stories about the church's beginnings, providing lots of details about how it came about, the people who were involved, and what kind of church this is.

Please look at the two articles below that describe this church in much greater detail. As you can clearly see from reading these essays, we have one central purpose... to follow all clear teachings of the Bible because there is no better way to understand God or to come into a fellowship with Jesus Christ! Creeds, catechisms and commentaries are all helpful, but none compares with the Bible itself.  Putting the highest priority on the Bible is, of course, at the very core of what most Christians have always done, regardless of whatever church affiliations they now have or previously had.  There is a lot of freedom in that and a lot of personal responsibility, too.

Everyone who wants to have fellowship with others who believe in God and Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible is welcome at Grace Christian. Stay a bit longer and join in the Coffee Fellowship that follows every Sunday service. And there is a potluck dinner following morning services every 3rd Sunday of most months.

What Do We Stand For?

James A. Garfield, the first (only?) US president who was a regular "lay preacher" was from this type of church. He answers a common question in his day... one that is still being asked.

What Kind of Church Is This?

Our goal is to be a  community of believers who have a heart of service because that is what Jesus Christ intended his followers to be.  This essay says it elegantly.