Our church began in the mid-eighties as a home Bible study in the Maryville area to meet the need for Biblical exposition that is accurate, detailed, comprehensive, and challenging. Over time we have grown in numbers to have need of a building and a more defined structure, but our emphasis has always been on the spiritual growth of each member of the body.
Below is a brief timeline of the history of our church. For a more full telling
of God's work in bringing about our local body, please read
this more detailed history.
| 1899 |
Start of a slow down-grade in Southern Baptist life and doctrine from the “ancient
paths” of Holy Scripture and true knowledge of God.
“Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity
and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to
walk in paths in a way not cast up”
- Jeremiah 18:15
“One of the marks of modern man is a slender sense of history. We will never
understand where we are today without understanding how we arrived there.
This is because the present condition has its roots in the past. It is a product
of the errors of the past.”
- Ernest C. Reisinger, “A Quiet Revolution”, Founders Press, 2000
|
| 1979 |
A turning in Southern Baptist life and doctrine. A flow begins back to “the old
paths” of Scripture. Southern Baptist Convention elects Dr. Adrian Rogers,
President of the SCC.
"Thus saith the Lord, stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths,
where is the good way, and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your
souls" - Jeremiah 6:16a.
|
| 1983 |
First Southern Baptist Founders Conference at Southwestern University (now
Rhodes College) in Memphis, Tennessee, August 1st through 4th.
|
| 1985 |
Wednesday night Bible studies in Taggart’s home on Pleasant Hill Road in
Maryville commence using D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ commentary on Romans
with like-minded brothers and sisters, (Presbyterian and Baptist). Bible study
grows to be Maryville Evangelical Community Church, P. C. A., (now Maryville
Evangelical Presbyterian Chrurch, P.C.A.).
|
| 1988 |
Small group of like-minded brothers and sisters (Baptist) start meeting in the
Taggart’s home on Pleasant Hill Road for Sunday worship under the authority of
Pastor Jerry White and the elders of New Covenant Baptist Church of Denham
Springs, Louisiana.
|
| 1989 |
Incorporated as Grace Community Church of East Tennessee, a Tennessee non-
profit religious corporation.
|
| 1991 |
Fellowship moved to Taggart’s home at Top of the World Community with
greater meeting capacity
|
| 1998 |
Fellowship moved out of homes to a rented church building at the entrance to
Laurel Valley
|
| 1998 |
Purchased 305 Gill Street building in Alcoa. Rennovations to meet assembly
building codes completed in February of 1999.
|
| 1999 |
Called full time pastor, Bryan (and Macon) Fritsch from Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary
|
| 2001 |
Purchased present building at 161 East Harper Avenue in Maryville
|
| 2004 |
Called our new full time pastor, Chris (and Alisa) Riser from Masters
Seminary
|