In April, 1996, a group of approximately 14 people, disappointed with the unavailability of a Baptist church conducting services in the traditional manner and holding to certain doctrinal distinctives, met to consider forming a new church in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Believing the rapid growth of the city would support another church, the group organized and called Rev. Charles Phillips, to be its pastor. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and bylaws. A suitable meeting room was obtained in the Holiday Inn for Sunday morning Bible study and worship services. Advertisements were placed in two local newspapers. During the period from April to December, 10 individuals joined the group.
The congregation formally constituted itself as an Independent Baptist Church with the adoption of Articles of Faith and Bylaws on November 17th, 1996. There are 22 charter members. Deacons were also elected on November 17th, 1996. The church was incorporated as the Grace Fellowship Baptist Church of St. Lucie County, Florida in articles of incorporation approved on December 9, 1996. The church received IRS tax exemption approval April 3, 1997.
Pastor Phillips moved to New Jersey on September 1, 1997. Pastor George Heiland was called and began his pastorate in the fall of 1998. He retired in August of 2008. During his ministry the church found Sunday morning meeting space in a vacant church building, a city recreation center, and a donated chapel. Effective February 2009 the church is meeting in the new Port Saint Lucie Civic center while it completes construction of a building on 3.2 acres of land at 2000 Leafy Road.
Our Beliefs-
We hold a high view of God and seek to worship Him and obey Him as He reveals Himself in His Word. We do not believe the purpose of the local church is to entertain or to imitate the world, but is a place to worship our Lord and to provide instruction, fellowship, and encouragement for the members for their ministry in their families and community (Eph. 4:11-15; Acts 2:40-42). This is a summary of our beliefs and our reason for organizing. A detailed doctrinal statement can be downloaded or e-mailed upon request.
We believe in:
The plenary, verbal inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy and authority of the Bible, which is the Word of God.
The miraculous conception and virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, His deity, pre-existence and externality;
His vicarious substitutionary atoning death for His elect, and His bodily resurrection.
Salvation by grace alone through faith alone, in Christ alone; the absolute necessity of the New Birth; repentance and faith evidencing the new life; justification by faith alone without works; sanctification: positional, progressive, and complete; the perseverance and eternal preservation of the saints; the eternal purpose of God in election; the freeness of salvation.
The Biblical command to separate entirely from worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations; from all forms of religious and ecclesiastical apostasy; from charismatics, neo-evangelicals, and all who compromise with them.
The resurrection; the personal, premillennial, pretribulational return of Christ for the church; His revelation with the church at the end of the Great Tribulation; and His Thousand Year Reign on the earth.
Our Pastor- George Heiland retired in August 2008. We are presently in the process of searching for a pastor. We welcome inquiries and suggestions of possible candidates. We are looking for an individual in agreement with our doctrinal position, with a heart for reaching the lost and building a church in a city such as Port Saint Lucie. Send suggestions to pastor@gfbc.net
