Sunday Mornings on Pearl Acres Road
Grace Memorial Baptist Church sits along Pearl Acres Road on the north side of Slidell, Louisiana, where a Southern Baptist congregation gathers each week around Sunday School, blended worship, free biblical counseling, and ministries for every age from preschool through senior adults. The church's vision is to help every family discover God's purpose and impact the community of Slidell and beyond for Christ.
Sunday School begins at 9:15 AM, with classes for every age organized by life stage so that every member of a household can find a room that fits. At 10:30 AM the congregation moves into the sanctuary for the main worship service, a gathering centered on praising God, studying His Word, and growing together as a community of believers, that runs until noon. The service is livestreamed through the church's Vimeo channel, so members who are traveling, homebound, or simply away can follow along from home.
Grace University on Sunday Evenings
At 5 PM on Sundays the building fills again for Grace University, a rotation of ministries that runs concurrently across the campus. Preschool Choir and Children's Choir meet for young singers. Students in grades 7 through 12 gather in the Youth Room for Student Discipleship, a time of fellowship and intentional growth. Adults meet in women's groups, men's groups, and a variety of Bible studies. The church describes Grace U as a place where all ages thrive and deepen their faith together.
During the summer months Grace University takes a break, but Man Church, a year-round men's Bible study in the sanctuary at 5 PM, continues. Described as a no-pressure gathering for men of any background, Man Church offers practical teaching, honest conversation, and a call to live out faith at home, at work, and in everyday life.
Bible Drill for students in grades 4 through 12 also meets on Sundays at 4 PM, teaching Scripture memory and application.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
Wednesday is the church's midweek hub. A Fellowship Dinner opens the evening at 5:45 PM in the fellowship hall, with reservations required by the Monday before. After the meal, the night branches out: Children's Mission Organizations (Royal Ambassadors and Girls in Action), the Youth Huddle, and Adult Discipleship Studies all begin at 6:30 PM. Choir Rehearsal follows at 6:45 PM and Orchestra Rehearsal at 7:45 PM, giving singers and instrumentalists of every age a place to serve.
A Blended Style of Worship
Music is a defining mark of life at Grace Memorial. The Worship Ministry describes the Sunday services as a blended style drawn from the natural expressions of the congregation, with choir, orchestra, band, and a praise team serving together. Recent selections include "Come, Thou Almighty King," "God Is for Us," "My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)," "In Christ Alone, My Hope Is Found," and contemporary songs like "Holy Forever" and "He Will Hold Me Fast." Weekly music resources, including listening mixes, click tracks, lead sheets, and piano accompaniment charts, are posted so musicians can prepare during the week.
Children's music is part of the same story. The Children's Choir rehearses as part of Grace University on Sunday evenings and produces seasonal programs such as "A Quizzical Christmas" and "Glorious Light of Christmas." Singers and instrumentalists of any age are invited to join; rehearsals take place on Wednesday nights at 6:45 PM for choir and 7:45 PM for orchestra and band.
What Grace Believes
Grace Memorial confesses one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three distinct Persons in unity. Jesus Christ is God's Son, born of a virgin, fully God and fully man, who lived a sinless life, died to atone for human sin, was buried, rose again, ascended into heaven, and will return literally to earth. The Holy Spirit is the divine helper who reveals Christ, convicts of sin, leads to repentance, guides believers, and sanctifies the soul.
The Bible is held as God's Holy Word, without error, and the sole authority for life. Human beings are made in God's image but fell through Adam's sin, leaving every person a sinner in need of salvation. Salvation is a gift received by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, with every true believer eternally secure in the Lord. Baptism is by immersion and follows salvation, in obedience to Christ's command.
Alongside Scripture, Grace affirms the 2000 edition of the Baptist Faith and Message as a representative summary of its convictions. The church teaches that tithing, returning ten percent of income to the local church, is the biblical pattern for Christian giving, with offerings above and beyond the tithe supporting other mission and para-church work. Communion and baptism are observed as ordinances of the church.
Southern Baptist Cooperation
Grace is part of the Southern Baptist denomination and cooperates with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and the Northshore Baptist Association. The church explains that Southern Baptist churches are independent but choose to cooperate to fund missions and theological education. Through the Cooperative Program, Grace supports the six Southern Baptist seminaries, the North American Mission Board, the International Mission Board, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Annuity Board, and the Southern Baptist Foundation.
Grace describes its own organization in four words: pastor led, deacon served, team organized, and church approved. The Senior Pastor sets the vision and leads the staff. The deacons serve as a sounding board, minister to widows, and provide extra security during worship services. Standing and special teams advise the pastor and staff, with major financial and personnel decisions made in consultation with teams and deacons and with the approval of the congregation.
Children, Preschool, and Students
Children are described as "very special" at Grace Memorial, and a wide range of ministries serves them from preschool through high school.
The Preschool Ministry designs programs for the youngest children. The Children's Ministry offers Sunday morning programming, Children's Choir, Bible Drill (grades 4 through 12 on Sundays at 4 PM), and Royal Ambassadors for boys in grades 1 through 6 and Girls in Action for girls in grades 1 through 6. RA is a missions discipleship brotherhood with hands-on activities, games, sports, and mentoring; GA teaches girls to learn about, pray for, give to, and do missions work while having lots of fun. Kids' Camp is offered in the summer, and the parents' ministry shares resources including a twice-monthly email class on parenting teens.
The Student Ministry reaches grades 7 through 12 and challenges students to grow as devoted followers of Jesus and not just fans. Through worship, Bible study, ministry, missions, camps, retreats, fellowships, outreach activities, and music, the ministry offers multiple ways for students to belong and serve. Student Discipleship meets in the Youth Room each Sunday at 5 PM, and youth can stay in the loop by texting @gmbcst to 81010.
Women, Men, and Senior Adults
Grace Memorial offers three adult fellowship tracks in addition to Sunday School.
Women of Grace (WOG's) provides Bible studies, prayer groups, mission groups, book studies, and special events. A recent study walked through Kristi McLelland's seven-session video series on Jesus in His first-century world, tracing His footsteps through Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Gethsemane, Jerusalem, and the road to Emmaus.
Women on Mission is the church's missions-focused women's group. The ladies support the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home Fall Food Round-Up, World Hunger Month, and World Craft Parties, and partner in missions both near and far.
Sewing with GRACE meets the second Monday of each month from 10 AM to 2 PM, bringing fifteen to twenty ladies together to cut, assemble, and sew. Items go to the Slidell Pregnancy Help Center, Family Promise, and several foreign and local missions, and include washable feminine pads, dresses, shorts, t-shirts, baby blankets, baby caps, washcloths, pillowcases, and jump ropes.
Men's Ministry encourages men to be involved in missions and evangelism. Bible studies meet on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 AM in the fellowship hall, led by Pastor Jerry Smith with breakfast served, and on Thursdays at 6:30 AM at LA Pines, led by Pastor Bob Heustess.
B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) is the Mature Adult Ministry for those age 55 and over. The B.A.S.I.C. Bunch hosts monthly fellowship dinners with speakers and entertainment on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 PM, and organizes trips to restaurants and places of interest in the surrounding area, occasionally with overnight travel and mission opportunities. The Homebound ministry delivers weekly DVD recordings of the morning worship service to those unable to attend in person because of health, transportation, or other reasons.
Pastoral Leadership
Jerry Smith serves as Senior Pastor, holding to 2 Chronicles 16:9a: "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." His welcome to visitors expresses the church's vision of helping every family experience a personal, growing relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Mike Mohler is the Associate Pastor, with Ephesians 4:1 as his guiding verse. Bob Heustess serves as Pastor Emeritus and continues to lead the Thursday morning men's Bible study at LA Pines.
Dr. Walker Marsh is the Director of Counseling. Chad Palao is the Director of Children's Ministry, with James 1:4 on perseverance as his verse. Logan Arnold is the Youth Minister, holding to Romans 10:9.
The Counseling Ministry
Grace Memorial's Counseling Ministry offers free services to individuals, couples, and families, with sessions conducted in the counseling offices in the church office building. Clients can expect a caring, experienced counselor who shares their Christian values, who listens compassionately and applies Biblical principles, clinical expertise, and faith to life's crises. Conversations are confidential and never shared without consent, and there is never a fee for any service.
Services include help with relationship issues, pre-marital preparation, anxiety and depression, spiritual development concerns, parenting skills, communication skills, blended family issues, divorce recovery, grief and separation problems, and Christian lifestyle choices. Targeted seminars and groups are offered periodically, including pre-marital preparation, parenting skills development, marriage enrichment, blended family issues, DivorceCare, GriefShare, Celebrate Recovery, managing anxiety and depression, abundant Christian living, and Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). Appointments are arranged through the church office.
Missions and Outreach
Missions at Grace Memorial reaches both near and far. Local efforts include ministry to several nursing homes in the area, a prayer blanket crocheting ministry, the Mt. Olive soup kitchen, Family Promise homeless ministry, Youth summer Mission Mondays, a Blessing Box ministry, and ongoing prayer ministry.
Internationally, the church partners with Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse, packing shoeboxes of toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children in need around the world. Each box includes "The Greatest Gift" booklet, sharing the story of Jesus in the child's language. Grace Memorial has packed shoeboxes that have been sent to Peru and Panama, with prayer covering each box as it travels to its recipient.
Women on Mission adds the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home Fall Food Round-Up, World Hunger Month, and World Craft Parties to the church's missions calendar, while Sewing with GRACE creates items for the Slidell Pregnancy Help Center, Family Promise, and several foreign and local missions.
A Week on the Calendar
Sunday begins with Sunday School at 9:15 AM, followed by worship at 10:30 AM and Grace University at 5 PM. Wednesday features the Fellowship Dinner at 5:45 PM, followed by Children's Mission Organizations, Youth Huddle, and Adult Discipleship Studies at 6:30 PM, with Choir Rehearsal at 6:45 PM and Orchestra Rehearsal at 7:45 PM. Sewing with GRACE gathers on the second Monday of each month from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the B.A.S.I.C. monthly dinner is held on the third Tuesday at 6 PM. Bible Drill meets on Sundays at 4 PM for students in grades 4 through 12. Services are livestreamed through the church's Vimeo channel, and the weekly newsletter Spirit of Grace, sermon notes, and an up-to-date calendar keep the church family connected between Sundays.