After several Monday night meetings as an informal Bible study and time of prayer, the decision was made to start meeting on Sunday morning. The first meeting of the group was held on Sunday, January 24, 1999 with 12 people in attendance. For nine weeks, worship services were held in the home of Owen and Barbara Walter at in Lawtey.
On March 28th, we started meeting at the “Lions Den” at 111 W. Call Street in Starke. At this time, a mid-week Bible study was added on Wednesday nights. Easter was celebrated on April 4th, with 34 people attending. The church continued to grow as we searched for a more permanent location.
In November of 1999, Grace Community Fellowship moved to a new location at 204 North Water Street in Starke. The first Sunday service was celebrated with 45 in attendance. Within one month attendance was averaging 60. As the vision continued to develop, God continued to add to the church. Since January 2000, we have added a nursery, children’s ministry, a full praise and worship team, youth ministry, men’s and women’s discipleship groups, young adults ministry, and a world missions outreach.
In June of 2000, ten acres of land was purchased on Highway 16 east of Starke. Future plans are to develop this site for a ministry center which will include a church sanctuary, Bible school, counseling center, and world missions headquarters.
In order to find a larger meeting facility, we moved into the Bradford Country School Board offices on December 2nd, 2001. Plans are to continue meeting there until a permanent building can be constructed on the church property.
Starting November 19, 2006 we are meeting in our new building on 2446 N.E. State Road 16, the World Faith Center.
