GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

MADISON, WISCONSIN

1970-2006

Grace Baptist Church was started as a missionary project of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches, beginning with a Bible study led by Pastor Robert Dow in June, 1971. 

After much prayer and waiting on the Lord, the congregation felt that God would have them to go forward, and so the first Sunday services were held on December 12, 1971 in a suite of rooms on Gordon Avenue, which we named “The Upper Room.”  There were approximately 65 in attendance. 

In April 1972 Pastor Conrad Jorgenson (Mary Ann), was called to be the first full time pastor.  By June of 1972 the congregation had moved into a building which they had bought and refurbished, on the corner of Pflaum Road and Stoughton Road.  This was to be the location of Grace Baptist Church until 1986.

In May, 1974 Pastor Jorgenson resigned, and the church asked Pastor Dow (Mary) to serve as interim pastor.  Six months later they extended him a call (at $10.00 per week) to become full-time pastor.  Little did they know in 1971 and again 1977 that one of the bus kids, named Dean Howell, would play a prominent role at Grace Baptist in years to come.

Missionaries Duane and Geraldine Ott were commissioned to mission work in India in 1979 under Baptist World Mission.  When Otts left Baptist World Mission, Grace Baptist became their sending agent to the field of Singapore. Another of the members, Miss Sherry Segal, became missionary first to Liberia, then to Ghana.

In 1986 the congregation voted to sell the building and prepare to build a new facility at its present location, 1801 S. Thompson Drive.  After completion of the building, the first service was held on January 11, 1987.  Four years later, an addition to the church provided much-needed space.

Two youth pastors served the church:  Pastor Don Diehl (Sandi), followed by Pastor  Dale Dow (Janet).  Pastor Robert Dow and Pastor Dale Dow served until March 1, 1998, and shortly thereafter Dean Howell was called to minister.

A verse often heard in the early days of struggle was Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not,”    and one of the church mottoes was, “Keep on keeping on.”