Grace First Baptist Church at 2514 Observation Drive in San Antonio, near Lackland Air Force Base, is known for building strong families through the Word of God. Its worship, education, care, music, and outreach express that mission in practical ways.
A Mission Built Around the Word and Family
Grace's mission is “Build Strong Families Through The Word Of God; equipping them for the work of the ministry, and to evangelize the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Its vision is to worship God through prayer, praise, proclamation of the Gospel, and service. That focus joins biblical teaching with practical care for households, students, children, older adults, and people affected by hardship.
The church holds that the Bible is divinely inspired and without error, describes the only true God, and teaches the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It teaches salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the new birth, eternal security, repentance, justification, and sanctification. Baptism is immersion of a believer, and the Lord's Supper commemorates Christ's love with self-examination. Grace also teaches that Christians should give at least ten percent, pray, study the Bible, witness, and attend church regularly. Each local church governs its own membership, policy, discipline, and benevolence without outside hierarchy.
The church covenant asks members to pursue Christian love, keep faith in speech and dealings, educate their children, aid people in sickness and distress, care for the poor, and support the gospel through all nations. It also asks members to abstain from alcohol as a beverage.
From Three Family Members to a Multigenerational Church
Grace was organized on June 6, 1975, by Rev. Linwood F. Russ, his wife Blanche A. Russ, their son Linwood, and daughter Audrey. The first business meeting drew 12 people on June 18. The first worship service followed on June 22 at the Russ home, with 20 visitors including the family. On June 29, the first public worship service was held in the J.B. Passmore Elementary School auditorium, where six visitors united with the church. Membership reached 83 by December.
By May 1976, membership had reached 94. Rev. Russ and seven trustees signed a contract with Berlee Lumber Company on June 22, 1976, for a single-story building at 2510 Observation Drive. On December 15, 118 members moved into it. A July 1977 extension became the Linwood F. Russ Fellowship Hall. Membership reached 257 by 1979, prompting more property and parking. In 1981, two lots across the street were purchased; one building was renovated for Sunday School and a day care center. The church incorporated on March 14, 1985.
Rev. Russ died May 17, 1986, and Associate Minister Eddie McCrary, Sr. served as spiritual leader until Rev. Aaron Brasfield, Jr. was installed in 1987. Groundbreaking for the present edifice began in 1988, and the congregation moved into the sanctuary on February 16, 1992. Rev. Dr. Walter L. Starks became interim pastor in January 1997, was installed that December, and retired in 2008. Rev. Allen M. Ford, who had joined Grace in 1996, was selected as pastor in April 2010 and installed on May 16.
Sunday at 9:45 and Wednesday at 7
Sunday worship begins at 9:45 a.m. Sunday School starts at 8:30, and adult Bible study meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. Intercessory prayer gathers from 6:15 to 7 p.m. before the Wednesday study. The church also provides a live worship stream for those joining from elsewhere.
The Music Department supplies inspirational singing each Sunday morning through four choirs. An invitation to Christian discipleship is offered following the Sunday morning sermon, Sunday School, and Wednesday Bible study.
Four Lots, an Open Welcome, and Children's Church
Grace has four parking lots. The Russ lot sits next to the church; the Brasfield lot is south of Glider Avenue; the Starks lot is across Observation Drive to the west; and the Ford lot is west of the Starks lot. Carts transport visitors from the outside lots to the front entrance. The church is off the West I-410 and U.S. 90 interchange near Lackland Air Force Base.
Worshippers may come as they are. Attendees range from suits and dresses to casual dress.
Children's Church is available on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Sundays at 9:45 in the Multi-Purpose Center. The J.O.Y. Junction serves ages 3 through 12 in groups for ages 3-5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12; children age 3 must be potty-trained. Christ Crusaders serves ages 13-18. Sign-in is available from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
Grace invites people to Christian discipleship after the Sunday morning sermon, Sunday School, or Wednesday Bible study. People join by baptism, letter, or Christian experience. Temporary visitors in the San Antonio area who are members of another church outside the local area may use Watch Care. New members then attend a four-week orientation during Sunday School.
Learning From Infancy Through College
Sunday School provides religious instruction from infancy through adulthood every Sunday morning. Teachers meet for review on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in MPC-114. Its mission is to teach and equip believers and evangelize people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
J.O.Y. Junction is an extension of the sanctuary service and uses age-appropriate Gospel lessons, prayer, Scripture reading, and engaging activities. Its aim is to nurture children as disciples and prepare them to move into the sanctuary. Christ Crusaders and the youth department emphasize Bible study, prayer, relationships with non-believers, and service. Youth also take part in AWANA during Wednesday Bible study.
The Education and Career Readiness Ministry serves students from Pre-K through college. Its REAP program strengthens schoolwork and prepares students for college or the workforce, Career Discovery and Development introduces career options and pathways, and Growing in Grace offers life skills. Pastor Ford also founded Grace Institute. Vacation Bible School serves youth and adults.
Four Choirs for One Sunday Morning
Vanessa Allen leads the Music Department, which provides inspirational singing each Sunday. The Sanctuary Choir is led by Deborah Williams, the Adult Contemporary Choir by LeVreese Davis, the Male Chorus by Duane Mayfield, and the Youth Choir by Courtney Hutchinson. Rehearsal schedules vary, but choirs normally practice the week before they sing. The groups also mark the year with choir days and seasonal ministry events.
Ministry Across Every Stage of Adult Life
- Brotherhood Ministry: Men age 18 and older meet on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. for Bible study, service, and leadership development.
- Grace Embraces: This first-Monthly gathering at 7 p.m. helps new members become active participants and grow toward spiritual maturity.
- Mission I: Women age 30 and older meet on the first Monday at 1 p.m. for fellowship and service.
- Mission II: Women age 18 and older meet on the second Thursday at 7 p.m. Their activities include Adopt-A-Senior, encouragement gatherings, dinners, and a community dinner.
- Ministers and Deacons Wives: This group meets at 7 p.m. on the Tuesday before the first Sunday and supports pastors, ministers, deacons, and the church.
- Singles Ministry: Adults age 18 and older meet on the fourth Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The ministry includes people who have never married, are divorced, are widowed, and are single parents.
- Senior Connection: Seniors meet on the second Thursday at 11 a.m. for activities that address spiritual, physical, emotional, and social needs.
- M.O.S.T.T. Young Adult Ministry: Young adults ages 18-39 meet every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for practical Bible study and community service.
The deacons support the pastor, ministries, staff, and community. They assist with baptism and communion, visit people who are sick, encourage those in distress, comfort the bereaved, and each receive an assigned family for ongoing care.
The Transportation Ministry provides vans for members and visitors who lack transportation to services and Bible study. The vans also support auxiliary outings, funerals, food deliveries, and other church needs.
Local Care and Global Mission
Mission I supports bereavement groups, nursing home visits, area shelters, Thanksgiving food baskets, and school supply distribution. It also supports the Battered Women's Shelter and SAMM Shelter.
Outreach meets on the second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and provides monthly prayer, Bible study, food, clothing, and Bibles to Grace House, the Salvation Army, Haven for Hope, and Harper's Chapel. It also supports campus ministers and missionaries in the United States, missionaries in Moldova, orphan care in Uganda, and ministry in the Dominican Republic.
Grace Cares delivers needed items after natural disasters in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. The Interdisciplinary Health Care Team provides first aid, health education, training, and health fairs. It meets on the first Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Buildings, Leadership, and a Continuing Mission
Under Rev. Ford, Grace completed the Linwood F. Russ Multi-Purpose Center, a healthcare room, another parking lot, a church bus, and two vans. Transportation remains active through the vans, which also serve auxiliary outings, funerals, food deliveries, and other church needs.
Ford is a native of Lake View, South Carolina. He served four years in the United States Air Force, including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Desert Calm of the Gulf War. Before joining Grace in 1996, he earned a business diploma in computer accounting. He was licensed to preach in 2000, ordained in 2003, and graduated from the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in 2008. He is a certified marriage facilitator, a 2017 graduate and fellow of the Stephen Olford Center for Expository Preaching, and founder of Grace Institute and the Transforming Word Preaching Conference. He also holds honorary doctorate degrees in theology and divinity.
The church's associate ministers are Rev. Carl Green, Rev. Albert Turner, Rev. Art Hall, and Rev. Robert Sutherland. Under Ford and its leaders, Grace First Baptist Church remains centered on strong families, biblical worship, education, care, and service in San Antonio and beyond.