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In March of 1950, a handful of people felt called by God to begin a fellowship that would make God's Word its foremost authority and outreach into the community its key priority.

God blessed their efforts in evangelism and soon homes were no longer adequate. In June of 1950, property was purchased on North Park Street. About the same time, the congregation invited Rev. John Bajema, his wife Nell and son Tom to come as their first pastor and family.

In those early days, reaching out and sharing the Gospel were commonplace, and the church grew rapidly. Special attention was given to young people, and Grace became one of the first churches in the area to conduct a Vacation Bible School. God was faithful, and ten years later the chapel would no longer hold everyone. Construction began on a larger basement auditorium which was completed in 1961. God continued to send new members, and in 1972, the present auditorium (which seats approximately 325 people) was finished. In 1993, a second service was added to accommodate the growing congregation.

In June of 1995 the members of Grace decided that an education wing would best suit our needs. The wing was completed in May 1997 and provided 8,500 more square feet of ministry area for classrooms, library, high school lounge, and nursery, and is a treasured addition to our facilities.

For over 60 years, Grace has been blessed with faithful members and friends who have stepped forward to carry the vision of reaching out to a lost world and grounding believers in the Word. Even today we feel the encouragement which comes from having such a special heritage. We are anxious to carry on in the tradition of those who have gone before us.

Delaine Bailey, Senior Pastor

Although Delaine was born in Chicago, he grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was raised in a Christian home where God's Word was taught and honored. At the age of five, in a family quiet time, he asked Jesus to come into his heart and life. Even in those early years he felt called to a full-time ministry.  Delaine met Emily Rathbun in their sophomore year of high school and continued to date until they both graduated from Los Angeles Baptist College in 1975. A few weeks later they were married and in 1980 Delaine graduated with a MDiv from Talbot Seminary. With a new son, Emily and Delaine began their first ministry in Port Angeles, Washington.  In 1987, the Baileys felt called to come and minister at Grace Baptist. By then they had added a daughter and a few years later, another son came along. Since then, the Baileys have watched the emergence of another generation which includes seven grandchildren. Delaine is committed to sharing the Word in a clear, practical way.

David Dunkin, Associate Pastor of Worship and Media

Dave was born into a circuit-riding preacher's home in Knox Ridge, Maine. During his childhood he heard the gospel many times and at the age of seven he personally invited Jesus Christ to come into his life. Dave attended Los Angeles Baptist College (now The Master's College) where he majored in Bible with an emphasis in music. Following graduation, he married Linda Wood, the pianist for the college gospel team on which they toured together. The ensuing years found them ministering with youth and music in Zeeland, Michigan, continuing their education at Talbot Seminary in southern California, pastoring in rural Ohio and serving as a lay elder in a church in Fallon, Nevada. Along the way they added places at the table for a son, a daughter, and two more sons. In December of 1993 Dave and Linda accepted the call from Grace to join the staff with a focus in the areas of music and Christian education. Since then Dave has added the oversight of the media ministries and publications to his responsibilities. (Dave would also like to acknowledge the influence of his two older sisters who had a profound effect on his character development - for better or worse, you decide...)

Brian Stuart, Associate Pastor of Student Ministries

Born in Florida and attending his first mission trip at the age of 9 months, Brian was involved in ministry at a young age. At the age of three Brian gave his life to the Lord and has grown up around the church and missions his whole life. After Brian’s family moved to Lynden, WA when he was nine, he eventually met Jessica Verbree in the 8th grade at Lynden Middle School in band class. He had a crush on her from the first time she spoke to him. Brian and Jessica both attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL and were married in the summer of 2004. Their first daughter was born one day before Brian officially graduated from Moody Bible Institute, July 28th, 2005. Brian graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry and a minor in Bible.  Brian began serving as the intern at Grace Baptist in June of 2005 and in October of the same year the church voted him in as new youth pastor. Brian and Jessica were so delighted because they had always wanted to minister in a church where they grew up and desired to be close to their family. Speaking of family, the Stuarts have five daughters. Brian and Jessica love it at Grace and are excited with what God is doing.

Bill Cummins, Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries

When in high school, Bill sensed that the Lord was directing him into full-time Christian ministry. After he graduated, he got his Bachelor of Arts in Theology at Multnomah School of the Bible in May of 1987. On June 1, 1987, Bill began his ministry at Grace Baptist Fellowship as a youth intern. That October, having just hired a senior pastor, the church voted to make his position a full-time, permanent position. He served at Grace for over twelve years. In 1992, the chairman of the elder board at the time, contacted Bill and told him about a young lady who was starting a business in one of his rental buildings. At the same time, he contacted her suggesting she meet Bill. Not wanting to let him down, Adria agreed to meet Bill. They were married on July 25, 1992. Bill and Adria’s family began growing the next year with the birth of their first daughter, later followed by another daughter and a son. Starting in 1993, Bill began pursuing his Master of Theological Studies degree and graduated with that degree in 1998. At the turn of the millennium, Bill and Adria accepted a position as the Senior Pastor in Brownsville, Oregon. God graciously answered their request to be near family and allowed them to return to Whatcom County and minister in Bellingham for over four years. In December of 2006, Bill accepted the position of Pastor of Adult Ministries at Grace for "Grace Baptist Fellowship: Round Two". Both Bill and Adria are excited about the possibility of the church making a significant impact in this community and desire to do everything they can to make it happen. Bill loves teaching, leading, discipleship and the opportunity to be a part of the lives of men in the church.

Board Members:

Chris Bargen, deacon
Dave Bright, elder (chairman) 
Keith Gilmore, elder 
Gary Hall, deacon 
Ron Honcoop, deacon
Paul Kohrs, elder
Tim Tabert, deacon 
Dennis Tjoelker, deacon 
Don Vanden Berg, elder