Press
Section: News
By PATRICIA A. RUSSELL Valley Breeze Staff Writer
the town for the last decade, it’s not been well known.So the congregation’s hope is to become more visible in the community and let people know that, although small, they are an active congregation and would like to grow.The church recently added a third pastor whose mission is not only to preach the Gospel at Sunday services, but to get the word out about the church’s existence and also to find ways for the congregation to contribute to the community.Shortly after the Pastor Rob Ventura joined the church, he called Mayor Daniel McKee, who put him in touch with the organizers of Cumberlandfest.This year, for the first time, Grace Community Baptist Church will have a
presence at the four-day festival in August.
Church members will set up a table and will be offering information about
the church as well as selling booklets on topical subjects that are
Bible-based. All proceeds from the sale of the literature will go to the town.
“Whatever we collect will go back to benefit the youth of Cumberland,” said Ventura.
Also on tap to promote the church will be radio announcements on WARV-AM
(Providence-New Bedford, Mass.) and WVNE-AM (Worcester-Springfield, Mass.).
Congregation members will also conduct a door-to-door outreach in Cumberland.
Since arriving in Cumberland in 1998, the church has rented space from
Lafayette Lodge on Nate Whipple Highway in Arnold Mills. Sunday church
services are held in the basement and Sunday school classes are held in
rooms on the main floor.
Grace Community Baptist Church was founded in 1984 by Pastor Sherwood
Becker, who was the former pastor of First Baptist Church in Foxboro, Mass.
“A number of people were desirous of forming a Reformed Baptist church, and
for that reason we formed Grace Community Baptist Church,” said Becker.
When referring to a Reformed Baptist church, the congregation is speaking
about a church that in every aspect is committed to doing all that the Bible says.
Becker, 78, has led the congregation for more than two decades. Diagnosed with cancer, his doctors didn’t expect him to live past the spring of last year. While he thanks his doctors for his care and treatment, he
said that “ultimately, the Lord” had a hand in his remarkable recovery.
These days, he preaches from the pulpit about death in a “hopeful way,” he said in a telephone interview.
The church’s beginnings are humble. Back in the early days, Becker said he
preached at various venues, including the Salvation Army facility in Sharon,
Mass., in schools and at a cookie factory, all in Massachusetts.
“One of our members was the president of a cookie company and he allowed us
to use the building to hold church services,” said Becker, who recalled
preaching atop a box of cookies.
“The best part was that, after, the cookies were passed out to the kids at
the service,” he said, chuckling at the memory.
As the congregation wandered from one venue to another, they came across an
old Methodist church building in East Mansfield, which they bought.
Unfortunately, it sat on a small piece of property, and as the congregation
swelled to some 120 families, it was realized the building wouldn’t be
adequate. And there was no room to expand the church building.
When the congregation moved to its Cumberland location, it gained some
members in this area but lost members who chose to go elsewhere, said Becker.
Today, there are some 75 men, women and children who attend Sunday services.
The long-term goal is to buy a building and convert it into a church or buy
land and build a church, said Jack Buckley, who is also a pastor at
the church. For now, though, the congregation is happy they have a stable
place to call home.
“You can feel the Spirit of God in this place,” said Michael Filipe. He and
his wife, Barbara, have been members of the church for 20 years.
“We’re trying to blossom where the Lord has planted us,” said the Attleboro,
Mass., resident.
The church holds a 9:30 a.m. Sunday school, a 11 a.m. Sunday morning
worship, 3 p.m. afternoon worship on the second and fourth Sundays of the
month, and a 6 p.m. evening worship on the first and third Sundays of the
month.
A fellowship dinner is held on the second and fourth Sundays, following the
morning service.
There is also a Wednesday prayer service at 7:30 p.m. and a Thursday prayer
service on Thursdays at 7:30 at Buckley’s home.
Bible studies will be starting soon and the public is invited.
The church’s three pastors encourage folks to join them at a church service
to see what Grace Community Baptist Church is all about.
“We’re here to serve,” said Ventura, adding that he’s getting the word out
to let folks know the church is here to meet the community’s needs.
For more information, call the church at (401) 826-3121 or visit its Web site
at gcbcri.com.
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