Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary
October 15th, 2006
(By Nathan Busenitz)
Some late night reflections on a wonderful day…
Today (Sunday, October 15) Grace Community Church celebrated its 50th anniversary, rejoicing in the goodness of God over the last five decades.
The church began in 1956 with a few families meeting in a house, before moving to its current location in the heart of Sun Valley, California. The land on which the church now sits was originally a farm, complete with chicken coops that were initially used as classrooms. When the church purchased its property, there were only a handful of houses built around it, and Roscoe Boulevard (the main thoroughfare past the church) was not yet finished. Now, less than a lifetime later, Grace Church’s campus is in one of the most urban parts of Southern California. Located near three major freeways, it is surrounded by a mission field of millions in the greater Los Angeles area.
The chapel was the first building constructed at Grace Church, followed by some Sunday school classrooms. Don Householder was the first pastor, and he shepherded the growing flock for a decade before going home to be with the Lord. Richard Elvee was Grace Church’s next pastor; after several years of faithful ministry, he too passed away.
On February 9, 1969, Grace Church called John MacArthur to be its third pastor. John often jokes that, since the other two pastors (both of whom were older) had died while pastoring Grace Church, the only requirement he had to meet (in the minds of the search committee) was being young and healthy. At 29 years of age, John met that requirement. Now, 37 years later, John is still at Grace Church. What a joy it was to have him lead us in our church’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The mood throughout the day was joyous–one of celebration and thankfulness to God for His faithfulness. In the morning services, Clayton Erb called us to worship with glorious anthems of praise. We were even privileged to have Pastor John sing a duet with his son-in-law Kory Welch. It was great.
After a moving video presentation, highlighting what God has done in our church’s history, John preached a powerful sermon from Isaiah 66:1-2. He emphasized that the reason God has blessed our church is not because there is anything special about us. Instead, God has blessed our church because He promises to bless those who humble themselves before Him in penitence and who tremble at His Word. 
It was a powerful reminder that true success (from God’s perspective) is not found in large buildings, cutting-edge techniques, or captivating personalities. Rather true success is found in faithfulness to the Word of God.
In the evening service, we had even more music. For those of you who are familiar with Grace Church, the service was similar to a Shepherds’ Conference or Christmas Concert. It was glorious. After the service (which primarily consisted of celebration through music), we congregated on the patio for a Plaza Fellowship–a time where refreshments are served and our people enjoy spending time with one another.
In every respect, it was a tremendous day–reflecting on God’s goodness in the past, and being challenged in our own hearts to 
remain faithful as we look forward to the future.
In our weekly church bulletin (called Grace Today), John MacArthur wrote a personal letter to our people. In bringing my brief reflections to a close, I would like to include an excerpt from that letter. I think you will find it encouraging.
*****
It is with great joy and thanksgiving that we celebrate our church’s fiftieth anniversary. God has been so good to our church. His grace toward us has certainly been above and beyond all that we could have ever asked or thought possible.
This is a time not only for reflecting on past memories, but for praising God for His hand of blessing on our church. Fifty years ago, our founding members could not have envisioned the many ways in which God would multiply our church’s ministry. Yet they laid the foundations that made this ministry possible. They understood that the key to a successful ministry was not measured by the number of people, but in faithfulness to God’s Word. And because of their commitment to truth and sound doctrine, God has richly blessed.
In God’s providence, the founding members of our church chose the name Grace Community Church. I don’t think a more appropriate name could have been found. Salvation, the Christian life, the hope of glory—it is all possible only by the grace of God. His grace saves us and secures us in His love. And it also transforms us and empowers us in obedience and service. That is where the concept of community fits in. Because we are a group of people saved by grace through faith in Christ, we share a common bond of fellowship that is infinitely deep. Our love for one another flows out of the gospel. …
Fifty years of faithfulness, that is the legacy of God’s grace in our church. But it is not enough to rejoice in the past and then grow complacent. Rather, we must look forward with enthusiasm and eagerness, doing our part to pass this legacy of faithfulness on to the next generation. Anything less not only dishonors those who founded this church, it also dishonors the Lord.
In saying all of this, I have every confidence that you will continue in faithfulness, service, prayer, and love—even excelling still more. The countless hours of service that so many of you have invested in this ministry has not gone unnoticed. For one day, when the Chief Shepherd appears, He will reward you for your faithfulness with that which lasts forever.
My encouragement for our church could perhaps be best summed up in the words of Hebrews 10:23–25: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
My prayer is that an unwavering stand for the truth and an untiring commitment to service will continue to characterize our congregation for the next fifty years.
Note:
We will be taking this week off from the lordship debate, to allow for other articles such as this one today.
But we will return to the lordship topic for one more week, starting Monday, October 23.
Thanks,
NB
Beautiful article. Knowing some of the history of Grace Church made this article even better. I am now serving on a pastor search comittee and this article is a definite boost to my morale in getting this job done.
Nate,
Thanks for the great article on this wonderful celebration. Mt wife and I were wondering how it went. Praise the Lord for how He has used GCC in the lives of so many people.
Hayden
Congratulations on 50 years of dedicated ministry.
Jodie
Though I have never had the pleasure of worshipping at GCC, my Xian life has been (and continues to be) profoundly challenged and changed by the various ministries. I’m grateful for God’s mercy and blessings to and through GCC.
Greetings to Grace Community Church, and praise to God for the faithful service of the pastors, and brethren who are it’s members!
God, through this ministry has profoundly affected many, including myself and my family. We have come to a greater appreciation and understanding of the words of God in scripture, and of the community of believers (called out ones); also we have gained a better understanding of faith and obedience together in serving God and the body of Christ, the church.
God bless His work in you!
God has indeed blessed a ministry that has been unwavering in holding up the Word of Truth. Would that churches across the land would rededicate themselves to this firm foundation.
Nate,
I spent close to 13 years of my life at GCC and will always be thankful for the people that make up GCC. Pastor MacArthur has been a gift to the universal church and has provided a wonderful model for young men (like myself) to imitate.
Is their anyway to keep a copy of the Grace Today? Praise God for 50 years of faithfulness!
Caleb
Seriously,
I echo the words of everyone here! I have feel so blessed that God has let me hear and be taught by GCC and an esp. big Thank You to Dr. MacArthur!
Greetings to all,
I rejoice with you all at GCC and will continue to keep GCC in my prayers that the work which has begun there continue to be faithful and stand firm in doing the will of our Lord. This ministry has truly been a blessing to my family and myself. Dr. MacArthur has been used by the Lord to impact my life to the point that I will be seeking my seminary training at the Master’s Seminary in the near future for the training is taken very serious “We Train Men as if Lives Depended on It!” end quote. So please continue to edify, build, and equip the saints for the work of the Lord.
For His praise and glory,
EJ
As a former member of GCC, I remember the rush of learning something knew from the word each service, and the low of being humbled in my sinful state by a precision exegetical blow.
John MacArthur and the pastors of the Fellowship Groups have been a shining light for the rest of us to emulate. May God grant his work continue to run and that his servants stay faithful! I hope one day to be remembered for a like faithfulness.
Also I love this blog. Although I haven’t commented before it is a daily blessing. Thanks for your work Nate.
I am so thankful that I was able to be part of the celebration! One highlight for me was the MacArthur Family video that was shown in the evening service. Basically, Dr. MacArthur’s kids were standing around, what looked like a kitchen, reminiscing about the spriritual lessons that they they had with their dad over the years. In particularly, how confident and trusting in the Lord John was in the midst of Patricia’s accident several years ago. It is very evident that Pastor John lives what he teaches. Thank you, Pastor John, for your example – not only behind the pulpit, but in how you have raised your family.
While listening to John preach this last Sunday on DirecTV I mention to my wife, “I can’t believe John is using some of the notes I sent him on the sermon he was preaching.” My wife said, “Charles, you are funny, your notes looks like the outline John was preaching.” Oh!
I remember at a Shepherd Conference in 1983 I was sitting beside John and I picked up his bible as we set on the front row in the church, I viewed his outline notes for the message for that day. He was very kind that day to me.
Some one said, “What do your biblical position.” I would always say, “If you want to know what I believe, read or listen to John MacArthur, and you will know.” That statement sure can get you in trouble or can help you.
My style of preaching/teaching: for example, when I was the pastor at FBC, I preached from the book of Matthew from 1983-1989 and some 255 messages.
No man is perfect, no man has all the answers, no person has full revelation of the Word of God. Our focus of course is to be on the Lord. Since 1971 I have listen to John’s messges and read his books. If there are any mistakes, its Phil’s fault of course) I have carefully checkout the messages with careful study.
John has given me a real love for the study of the teaching of the Word. Thanks to all those who are involved with Grace Church, the Elders of the Church and those who help in the working at the Tape Ministry and the Book Division, and for Phil Johnson as well, what a guy!
Hi,
Congratulations on 50 years. I listen to you on KCBI in Dallas.
Dear Dr. MacArthur,
The finest tribute I think could be paid by anyone this side of Heaven is this… my parents’ church was searching for a pastor after their most recent one retired, and they called a young man who is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary. My father has been an elder in said church for 35 years. I heard from him personally that the training from TMS was unquestionably recognized in the candidating process as some of the finest evangelical seminary education the young man could have gotten anywhere. Thanks be to God that your influence in teaching His Word faithfully has reached to this next generation of pastors and evangelists. My family and church love you and your commitment to Christ; thank you for serving us.
Sincerely,
Stephen F. Beisser
Yeah! It was quite a Sunday, though all the Dodger dogs were gone before I got a chance! STINK! But it was pretty amazing to be here for the 50th of GCC; it was an encouragement to a chap who comes from a place where basically all the churches are swirling the bowl on their way into either irrelevance or heresy.
As long as Christ is exalted and the Word is lifted high, being taught with proper homily, humility, hard exegesis and honesty (with a large helping of the Holy Spirit’s illuminating work), I anticipate GCC to leave a large boot print on the buttocks of Christendom.
But now it seems that we’ve only a decade, or maybe two, to start praying for John’s successor. I sure hope that, like in the days of Elijah, God raises up a successor with a double portion of John MacArthur’s flamethrowing commitment to the scriptures. Man! That would be so awesome! To look back 50 years from NOW and say, even above how far Grace Community Church has come, “We never would’ve expected it in a million years, but only God could have possibly pulled THAT off!”