Grace Baptist Church of Dingess, WV. will host a Bible Conference May 10-12. Scheduled speakers are Bruce Crabtree and Paul Mahan. Service on Friday is at 7:00 pm and on Saturday at 10:00 and Sunday at 10:30. Roland Browning is the Pastor.

Our Aim

Are we trying to win the favor of man or of God? Do we seek to be men-pleasers? If we are seeking the favor and approval of men, we are not the bond-serv­ants of Jesus Christ. Our aim is to be true to the Word of God, and in doing so we will be true to our hearers. This gospel of the free grace of God is glorifying to God and honoring to all of His excel­lent attributes; His love and mercy, His infinite wisdom, His righteous justice, and His immutable holiness. This gospel of the free grace of God in Christ is the only hope that sinful, corrupt men have; for if righteousness comes by any obedience to the law at all, not only did Christ die in vain, but no son of Adam has any hope of being saved. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1993)

A Tribute To Pastor Joe Terrell

Our dear friend, brother and faithful preacher of the gospel of Christ, Pastor Joe Terrell departed this life on April 22. Brother Joe faithfully pastored the Community Grace Church in Rock Valley, Iowa for 37 years. He is now forever in the eternal presence of the Lord beholding His face and worshipping Him forever. Blessed are those who die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13). The Lord gives and the Lord takes away blessed be the name of the Lord (Job. 1:21). We pray for comfort for Joe’s family and the church family there too!

The article below was taken from one of his recent bulletins.

Our Hope Is Beyond The Grave

It is good to live near the grave for it is in the light of the grave that we see this life as it really is – vanity. No matter the kind of life a person lives, it comes to the grave. The grave also teaches us that our hope must lie beyond what is found in this world. If everything here is vanity, then things of value and substance must be found elsewhere. The grave also teaches us how to live this present life. We must live our lives in the pursuit of Christ and the things concerning Him. Even as we enjoy the transient things of this life, let our eyes be fixed on things above, where Christ is.

For the one whose heart is in this world, the grave puts an end to all he hoped for. But for the one whose heart is set on the world beyond the grave, the grave is merely the portal to the realization of all he has hoped for. Pastor Joe Terrell (1955- 2024)

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40.1-2).

In the Law and in our natural conscience we can find no lasting comfort with regard to our sin. So long as law and conscience rule our thoughts about our sin, we will be held in bondage through our fear of death. If God were to leave us in that condition, we could find no fault in Him. The charges against us are true; the guilt is real; the fear of death is legitimate.

But God commands His messengers to bring to His sinful people a word of comfort concerning their sin. How astonishing! The God against whom we have sinned orders a word of comfort be sent to us regarding that sin! But such is the wonder of the gospel - it turns all our natural thinking on its head. When we would naturally expect a word of condemnation, God sends a word of justification. When we would expect a word of rejection, God sends a word of reconciliation. When we would expect a word of banishment, God sends the word to come home.

It is a wonder that God would send such words to us. It is a greater wonder still that we are so reluctant to receive them just as they are given. God sends His word of abounding grace, but we are quick to encompass it with restrictions. We quite naturally think that God is extremely offended and incredibly demanding in His requirements for reconciliation. And on that point we are correct. But that does not put any restriction on His words of comfort, for His words of comfort do not come to us saying, “Your sin is not that bad; I have lowered my standards; I have reduced your required payment.” The word of comfort is, “Your sin is great, and the price is high, but it has been paid in full. There was a very difficult service to complete, but it has been done. It is finished!”