Grace Bible Church | Killeen, TX

• Dave McMurry
• Apr 7, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

I felt the call to pastor long before I felt the call to plant a church. During my years at Covenant Seminary, I interned with the professor of church-planting, attended an E-Free church that actively planted churches, and was friends with several men who were preparing to plant churches. This time helped me to see that church planting is God's plan to expand his kingdom. After becoming convinced of this, I still thought my role would be as an assistant pastor who encouraged others to plant. I worked as a Children & Family Pastor at a large church for four years. During my four years as an assistant pastor, two big things happened. 1) I became convinced that I was better at preaching than administrating. 2) The elders of my church became convinced that they were ready to plant a daughter church. My executive pastor rebuked me for recommending other men to plant. I prayed. I talked to my wife. We stepped out in faith. It has been been beautiful and horrible... but mostly beautiful.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)? 

We planted by the largest army base in the free world. Most of our families are military, and they move in and out every 2-3 years, with 1 year deployments mixed in. This makes it hard to have multiplying community groups because leaders often leave before they have had time to multiply the group. It has also been hard on my kids to lose several best friends in four years of planting.

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant? 

Most church-planters have the personality of Paul, but some of us are Timothy's... my message to you is "Join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of GOD!" 2 Timothy 1:8

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network? 

I discovered A29 after our public launch. One of my elders and one of my members started recommending Matt Chandler's podcast to me. Then another leader gave me Driscoll's "Confessions" book. I slowly realized that Chandler & Driscoll were connected and that they were pushing Keller and Piper's stuff in their network. I had a chance to have lunch with Chandler when he was in town for a speaking engagement and it confirmed that he was "for real". This was very exciting because I had been searching for a "tribe" of like-minded men for years. I grew up at a Bible church, married a Baptist girl, and attended a PCA seminary... so I LOVE the gospel-centered diversity we share within Acts 29.

How do you pastor your family? 

I pray for them. We focus on both discipline and delight with our kids. We train them to obey, and we have lots of fun together. As a family we read the Bible and talk about it every morning at breakfast. We pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be manifest in our life, and memorize key verses for different character traits we are working on each semester. My wife and I pray together at bedtime, date monthly, and practice small-group community together. We also get away as a couple twice a year.

Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?

Keller's Church Planting Manual.

How can we pray for you?

We are trying to make the transition from relational leadership to organizational leadership. Our growth is demanding greater systemization. Pray that we would do this in a Gospel promoting way.

Church Profile: Grace Bible Church
Launch Date: August 2006
Location: Killeen, TX 

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

To glorify God by multiplying followers of Christ among every people group.

What is your biblical perspective on authentic community, and evangelism? How is this practically seen in your church? 

Acts 2 says that the first believers were devoted to Christ & each other. Non-believers are drawn to Christ as they see his unconditional love in action in the lives of authentic Christians, and hear his Word clearly proclaimed in a community that has credibility.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church? 

I'm still amazed when I see people embrace Christ for the first time. We have been blessed to see this happen more often over the last year.

Please add any additional information that you would like to communicate to those that would be reading this on the Acts 29 website.