Robert "Bob" Henley

A Little History

Under the teaching and organization of lay leaders Bob and Theresa Lovins, Grace Baptist Church began as a Bible study in the home of Jack and Sandy Burkholder. In November 1979 we moved to our first rented facility in the lower level of the Knights of Columbus. Six months later, with the help of Rev. Michael McCain in Rutland, and Director of Missions Rev. Merwin Borders of Randolph, contact was made with Robert Henley in Hornsby, Tennessee.

After several months of letter writing and a visit from the Henleys, a call was issued for Robert Henley to become our first Pastor. Robert and his wife Linda arrived on the Church field in September 1980 with two children and a dog.

In the fall of 1984, Middlebury Baptist Fellowship officially changed our name to Grace Baptist Church when we constituted as a church and moved into our own building. Because of the generosity of businessman Bill Shafer and the help of many friends and coworkers, we acquired the previous Grange Hall and returned it to its former use as a Baptist Church. Originally built in 1887 as the first home for Memorial Baptist Church, we were happy that once again Baptists are utilizing the building.

Pastor Henley was a graduate of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.