In the Beginning
Great Commission Baptist Church started right here in this spot back in 1985. The Jewish Center it changed somewhat now, it's a new building here. But in those days, we parked around on this side. And when we came in, we went through the front doors and there was a center there that we assembled in approximately 25 to 30 members with some children.
Reverend Armstrong was the pastor at that time, and this was our meeting place, and it was a wonderful place. The people were motivated, and pastor Armstrong really was helping us and extremely going after men to be a part of Great Commission church.
Getting Started
On February 7, 1988, we moved from the Jewish Center to the Park Ridge Baptist Church Pastor Armstrong had talked to the people here and they allowed us to use their Chapel on the inside. Later, Pastor Armstrong was called to Syracuse, NY and at that time he left. Reverend Jesse Rutledge became the pastor. We started looking for another building for worship, we were able to have Bible Study and Sunday Worship but no Sunday School. So, we set up some teams looking at high schools, building and storefronts.
At Park Ridge we helped in the cleaning and mowing the grass that's how kind the people where we didn't have to pay, but before we left, we made a $1000 dollar donations because we were just happy to have been in this place to worship and praise God for a couple of years.
Expanding The Vision
Once we set up the teams, the church found a storefront on 6809 McCart Ave. we moved here and began to have our services, Jesse Rutledge was the pastor during the transition, and it was nice place we could have Sunday school, Sunday Worship and Bible study. We were able to do some things we hadn't done.
About three years in Pastor Rutledge decided that it was time for him to move on and he resigned and from that point we went into a pastor search committee.
Growing Pains
We realized that we weren't in charge of that, but it was God, and he was pointing and showing us that Douglas E Brown would be the new pastor of Great Commission Baptist Church.
When Reverend Brown came to the church, it was small in numbers, but once he became the pastor on March 28, 1993, and start preaching people begin to come. Not only that, it double.
Immeasurably More
In December 1993, God so graciously blessed GCBC to acquire a 7.1-acre tract of land located at 7700 McCart Street. Along with this purchase the church applied for and become a fully incorporated entity. God blessed us to pay for this 7.1-acre tract of land in January 1995. Hallelujah!
On November 2, 1997, over 800 members, friends, and guests attended the inaugural worship service at our permanent church home located at 7700 McCart Avenue. The first day we were overcrowded with people, the church began to grow and outgrow this building, we ended up with two services and it was amazing time, we had to set chairs out and so forth because we didn't have enough seats for the people. It's a wonderful thing that you got a leader that preach and teach the word of God and God, of course, gives the increase that people would come as often in the numbers that they came.
Into The Future…
After several years, though, we realized we had outgrown the first church, So, on June 13, 2004, under the leadership of Pastor Brown, the church held a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction of a new 2300 seat sanctuary, Family Life and Education Center, and Administration wing.
On March 12, 2006, the church held its first worship service in our new sanctuary.
Just The Beginning
On July 1, 2021 Great Commission Baptist Church has experienced and continues to experience phenomenal growth during Pastor Brown’s tenure. At the time of Pastor Brown’s installation there were officially 53 members and there are currently more than 2,600. Under Pastor Brown’s leadership more than 50 ministries have been established within the church.
We are just thankful to be a part of Great Commission under the tutelage of Reverend Douglas E. Brown.
In July 2021, Pastor Brown, expanded the Ministry of Great Commission Baptist Church by adding an Español Worship Service, under the leadership of Pastor Ruben Garcia. Great Commission is now ONE CHURCH with two services, an Español and English Worship Service.
