Great Trees from Little Acorns Grow: A History of Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, Tennessee 1927-2022

Description

Humble beginnings and perseverance describe the history of Grace Baptist Church. Church history is valuable. Think of Peter; bold, prone to error, yet never giving up, and faithful in his calling. He is a pillar of the Church. Without the history of the Gospels and Acts, we would know none of this. Bible history teaches us the application of faith to equip us in our walk with God. The fascinating aspect of this is that the history of God’s mighty acts continues to this very day, and this includes Grace Baptist Church. The beginning of our Church is inspirational. Pastor Floyd Carroll, the founder, and the pastor was the very image of godliness and self-sacrificing love. Not only did he look after the spiritual needs of the newly formed congregation, but he also worked with his own hands to build the physical structure. He shepherded the Church through the great depression and the second world war. Because of his initiative, many young soldiers went to war confident of their salvation. The same was true of Elmer Mason, a model pulpiteer, administrator, and shepherd, who surrendered to the Lord’s call after much spiritual struggle. Pastor Mason took over the Church at its lowest point to rebuild it as a spiritual body and to complete the physical structure. Though we recognize people for these achievements, we must never lose sight of the fact that it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to achieve. To God be the glory!The following pages are a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness in our Church. Our hope is that it will be an encouragement to you. God has raised up pastors and missionaries in our Church. He has stirred His people to respond to significant needs. Moreover, the Lord has taken care of every need and because He was faithful in the past, we know He will continue to be faithful in the days ahead. This is a history of real people connecting real faith with real life. As you read the history of our Church, may it inspire you to greater involvement in the Kingdom of God.

About John Orndorff

John C. (Chris) Orndorff is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He began his military career serving four years during the Vietnam era as a Navy Hospital Corpsman working in neuro-psychiatry. In the Air Force he served in a number of positions ranging from administrative officer, commander, special agent academic instructor and acquisition officer. As a faculty member at Air Command and Staff College he was broadly published in the military community, and taught futurist techniques. Chris has also done future related research for the Air Force and emergency planners. He has consulted for industry and worked with the US State Department providing antiterrorism support for US Embassies in over 30 countries. Based on his antiterrorism experience, he has designed and presented training on techniques to prevent high school violence. Chris is now retired after teaching Air Force Junior ROTC for twelve years. He and his wife Debi have been married 40 years and have three children and five grandchildren. His website is http://johncorndorff.com. His books are:Prince Michael and the DragonPrince John’s QuestPrincess Mary and the ProphetHow Have the Mighty FallenTerrorists, Tornados and Tsunamis: How to Prepare for Life’s Danger ZonesThe Gilgamesh EpicWatching for the futureThe Enduring Art of War: A Paraphrase and Commentary on Sun TzuFrom the Mouths of Babes: Growing Closer to God Through Children