A Family Church on the Edge of Cowarts
Grandview Baptist Church sits at 2400 Forrester Road, just east of Dothan in the small town of Cowarts, Alabama. The church describes itself as a place that wants to welcome your entire family, and the way the week is built makes that plain: at almost any hour from Sunday morning through Wednesday evening, there is something on the calendar for a different generation. Pastor Mike Grimes, the senior pastor since 2006, often refers to the congregation simply as family, and members speak the same way back.
Sunday: Sunday School and Worship
The Sunday rhythm begins at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School for every age, followed by the gathered worship service at 10:45 a.m. Children in kindergarten through third grade are dismissed after the song portion of worship to their own Kids Worship in Room 105, while older children remain with their families for the rest of the service. Nursery care is offered so parents of the youngest children can worship without distraction. Small-group Bible study is described by the church as an essential element of spiritual growth, and the Sunday-morning hour is built around that conviction.
Wednesday Nights: Three Tracks Under One Roof
Wednesday is the busiest night of the week at Grandview, and the church has learned to run three things at once without stepping on any of them. At 6:00 p.m., the youth ministry gathers for its own time of worship and teaching. At 6:30 p.m., adults move into Small Groups that meet all over the church for Bible study, encouragement and prayer. At the same hour, the Awana Club runs from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for children from age three through sixth grade, complete with game time, handbook time and a quarterly awards night. The Celebration Choir rehearses at 6:45 p.m., weaving music ministry into the middle of the evening. (The choir takes the month of July off; Awana takes the summer off and resumes in mid-August with a Game Night Kickoff.)
Grandview Kids and the Awana Club
Children's ministry is organized by age-level small groups and is described by the church as providing Bible study, Mission Education and plenty of room to grow. The weekly Awana Club is the largest piece of that work. Children earn Awana Bucks for bringing a friend, for bringing their fifty-cent missions offering, and for participating in Theme Nights. Tennis shoes are required for the game time, and online registration is open before each fall kickoff.
Student Ministry for 7th through 12th Grade
The Student Ministry meets both on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for Small Groups and on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Youth Pastor John Vaughn, who serves in a bivocational role while also working at Wayne Farms, leads the ministry. Small groups are organized by age and gender so that seventh through twelfth graders have a comfortable environment to study Scripture together and grow in faith. The church's framing is simple: God created us for community, and students need a group of peers around them to share with, encourage and be encouraged.
The Brotherhood and the Parking-Lot Serve
Two regular rhythms round out the month. On the third Sunday of each month, the men of the church gather for the Brotherhood Breakfast, a time of fellowship and an encouraging word. On the third Saturday of each month, the Mission Team sets up in the church parking lot from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. for Saturday Serve, a community outreach that needs twelve to fifteen volunteers each month to operate. Together these gatherings give the men and the wider congregation a steady cadence for serving beyond the church walls.
Talladega Twice a Year
One of the more distinctive ministries at Grandview is Alabama Raceway Ministries. Twice a year, a team from the church travels to Talladega to minister at Champion Corner, the chapel outreach associated with the track. It is the kind of mission trip that does not require a passport, only a willingness to drive a few hours north and share the gospel with race fans who might never walk through the doors at 2400 Forrester Road.
What the Church Believes and How It Lives
The stated purpose of Grandview Baptist Church is to praise and honor the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to fulfill the Great Commission by sharing the gospel in the community and around the world, to nurture a fellowship of believers, and to serve others. The congregation describes itself as following the biblical teachings of the Bible and striving to live that out day to day. The vision statement is short: take Christ into the neighborhood, support the children and youth in all aspects of their lives, and love others always. The church is open about welcoming people just as they are and about wanting to be the hands and feet of Christ in Cowarts and beyond.
Pastoral Leadership
Senior Pastor Mike Grimes grew up in Phenix City, Alabama, and previously served churches in Geneva and Russell County. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Florida Baptist Theological College. He and his wife Lynn have two adult children and two grandchildren. John Vaughn, the Youth Pastor, is a University of Alabama graduate and works at Wayne Farms while serving Grandview's Student Ministry in a bivocational capacity. Connie Freeman serves as Financial Secretary, having joined the staff in 2020, and Lois Wilhoit, a church member since 1984, serves as Ministry Assistant and Pastor's Secretary.
Worshipping In Person and Online
For those who cannot attend in person, Grandview streams its Sunday worship online each week. Giving is also available online through the church's Shelby Giving page. Visitors who want to stop by will find the church at 2400 Forrester Road in Dothan, with the office open during the week at 334-792-1515. The church's Facebook page carries frequent updates about schedule changes, weather cancellations, and opportunities to serve.