History of GCBC

Grace Covenant Baptist Church began in 2003 when Pastor Sammy Burns was led by the Lord to create a simple in worship, pure in doctrine, and totally Bible-based New Testament church with the vision to exalt God as sovereign in salvation as in all things (Jonah 2:9). Initially the church consisted of only about 20 people who met regularly at one of the families’ homes for Bible reading, prayer and singing. That was the birth of Grace Covenant Baptist Church.

This continued for about four months. During this time, the name “Golden Triangle Christian Fellowship” was chosen. Plans were made to seek a centrally located meeting place and the first became the Longview Community Center outside of Starkville, MS. The church met in this building for approximately three months, but as other needs arose they began to seek the Lord about another location. Holiday Inn Express would be the location – it had a nice banquet room that the church could rent for well within its budget. For the next three years, Grace Covenant Baptist Church became known as “the hotel church” in Starkville. This was a blessed period of spiritual growth as well as a time for transition.

The church began to attract students from nearby Mississippi State University and at times had a room full of visitors. A particular blessing during this time was the opportunity for several weeks to minister to displaced families who had fled from Hurricane Katrina – feeding them, loving them, and ministering God’s Word to them. The Lord added many to the church during this time.

The end of 2007 brought the church to another turning point as plans were made to seek a location closer to Columbus, home of many church residents as well as the pastor. The Shell Conference Center, adjoining a Truck Plaza, became the next meeting place for the church in January 2008. Though this presented some challenges, it afforded many more opportunities such as ministering to truck drivers and other travelers and being in a highly visible location. It also helped to “split the difference” between the Starkville and Columbus residents who are part of the church.

The Lord has continued to bless Grace Covenant Baptist Church as they hold true to the promise of Jonah 2:9 and the true nature of the Gospel: God saves totally and man has nothing to do with his salvation. The church chooses to hold fast to the Word of God.