Welcome to Grace Memorial's website! Whether you are new to Grace, new to our city, or just new to church, we would love to have the opportunity to minister to you. At Grace our mission is to equip one another to grow in Christ's example and to show Christ's love to all people. (Matt 28:19,20)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Are We?
Located just north of downtown Gulfport, Grace Memorial is a loving family and community of faith. For more than 110 years GRACE has been sharing the gospel of Jesus to Gulfport and the surrounding communities. No matter what season of life you are in, there is a place for you at Grace.
What does Grace Memorial Baptist Church Believe?
We are a Southern Baptist Church in cooperation with the Gulf Coast Baptist Association. We strive to be obedient to God and follow His Holy Spirit in all that we do. We ground all that we do in His Word, and we profess Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Click here for the most recent edition of the Baptist Faith and Message, which offers a summary and explanation of many distinctive Baptist beliefs. If you have any questions about our church, please do not hesitate to contact us.
How Do I become a christian?
You're not here by accident. God loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus, His Son. There is just one thing that separates you from God. That one thing is sin.
The Bible describes sin in many ways. Most simply, sin is our failure to measure up to God’s holiness and His righteous standards. We sin by things we do, choices we make, attitudes we show, and thoughts we entertain. We also sin when we fail to do right things. The Bible affirms our own experience – “there is none righteous, not even one.” No matter how good we try to be, none of us does right things all the time.
People tend to divide themselves into groups - good people and bad people. But God says that every person who has ever lived is a sinner, and that any sin separates us from God. No matter how we might classify ourselves, this includes you and me. We are all sinners.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."Romans 3:23
Many people are confused about the way to God. Some think they will be punished or rewarded according to how good they are. Some think they should make things right in their lives before they try to come to God. Others find it hard to understand how Jesus could love them when other people don't seem to. But I have great news for you! God DOES love you! More than you can ever imagine! And there's nothing you can do to make Him stop! Yes, our sins demand punishment - the punishment of death and separation from God. But, because of His great love, God sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins.
"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
For you to come to God you have to get rid of your sin problem. But, in our own strength, not one of us can do this! You can't make yourself right with God by being a better person. Only God can rescue us from our sins. He is willing to do this not because of anything you can offer Him, but JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!
"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy."Titus 3:5
It's God's grace that allows you to come to Him - not your efforts to "clean up your life" or work your way to Heaven. You can't earn it. It's a free gift.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
For you to come to God, the penalty for your sin must be paid. God's gift to you is His son, Jesus, who paid the debt for you when He died on the Cross.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine by giving His life on a cross at a place called Calvary, just outside of the city walls of Jerusalem in ancient Israel. God brought Jesus back from the dead. He provided the way for you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus. When we realize how deeply our sin grieves the heart of God and how desperately we need a Savior, we are ready to receive God's offer of salvation. To admit we are sinners means turning away from our sin and selfishness and turning to follow Jesus. The Bible word for this is "repentance" - to change our thinking about how grievous sin is, so our thinking is in line with God's.
All that's left for you to do is to accept the gift that Jesus is holding out for you right now.
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10
God says that if you believe in His son, Jesus, you can live forever with Him in glory. "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."John 3:16
Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? Let's review what this commitment involves: I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God - this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus I receive Jesus as my Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised
If it is your sincere desire to receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart:
Here's a Suggested Prayer: "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."
If you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please let us know. We want to rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you to grow spiritually.
How do I join Grace Memorial?
Membership in our church is a important step towards becoming an active and vibrant part of our fellowship. At the close of each service, we extend an invitation for people to come forward to join our church. At that time, our Pastor can assist you and gather any necessary information. You can unite with GRACE in one of the following ways:
A profession of faith in Jesus Christ, followed by Scriptural baptism
Affirmation of faith in Jesus Christ, followed by Scriptural baptism
Transferring membership from another church of like faith.
What should i wear?
We have members who are comfortable in casual clothes and those who choose business attire. We want to be defined not by our dress but by our relationship to Christ and one another.
is childcare provided?
Yes! Grace offers preschool and children’s programs. We have age-graded Bible study classes for babies through 6th grade during the Sunday School hour.
What are Services Like?
Our times of worship typically last about 1 hour and 15 minutes. We begin by singing songs of praise to God and reading scripture together. Lyrics and scripture are displayed on a central screen in our sanctuary. We sing songs both new and old but all point to Jesus and what He did for us on the cross and the glory of God. Some people clap, some raise their hands, but we encourage all to be engaged. After about 30 minutes the pastor will come and share a message from Gods word about Jesus. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.
We invite you to explore our website and plan a visit to our Church. We would love to meet you and worship with you, as together, we seek to grow and serve through our love for Christ.