Church Plants

Pastor Derek Melton

Grace Life Church of Pryor, Oklahoma, was planted in 1999 (under a different name) by Pastor Derek Melton. The church plant came out of their work with at-risk teens that had been ongoing for several years. In 2013, they became a church plant of Anchored In Truth. Their passionate desire is to be a Gospel outpost in their community. The outreach to at-risk teens continues three days per week as the state brings the teens to them from a program in their town. There can be as many as 150 teens per service.

Derek and his wife, Stacey, have two grown children, Lindey and Cody, and four grandchildren, Luke, Hunter, Micah, and Halle. Grace Life Pryor is continuing to grow by the Lord's blessing. Their passion is to bring glory to the Lord Jesus by loving and obeying Him.

For more information visit: http://www.gracelifepryor.org/Home

Pastor Mike Kleinsasser

In 2007, five families left a Mennonite church. They had no idea where to go or even what they were looking for, but they knew there was more to living for Christ and impacting their families, communities, and the world for his glory.

The doctrines of grace had never been preached to them before. In 2009, they attended the True Church Conference at Grace Life Church of the Shoals. It was during this time they knew this was what they were hungry for–THE TRUTH!! They have been on an incredible journey with a lot of pain and a lot more joys. After returning in 2010 to the True Church Conference, Mike Kleinsasser was introduced to the staff at Grace Life Church and the mentoring process began.

Now as a church plant, they are a growing congregation and thankful that God led them to Muscle Shoals. 

Mike and his wife, Rita, have four sons.

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/gracelifechurchofrichlandcenter/

Pastor Chris Twilley

Chris Twilley and his wife, Amy, have four children, Joshua, Scarlet, Kaylee, and Alli. Grace Life Church of Senatobia, Mississippi, started as a Bible study with 8 people in the fall of 2016. Since that time, the group has grown. They have been blessed to see ten people profess their faith in Christ through believers baptism. In October of 2019, nineteen people committed to serve the Lord together as the membership was formed. Their first meetings were in the local library. Since July 2020, the church is meeting in a building that the owner has made available rent free for them now.

Chris is excited about the future and all that God is doing in the church and their community.

For more information visit: https://gracelifesenatobia.org/

Pastor Blake Kenaum

Grace Baptist Church, in Selkirk, Manitoba, is a town in central Canada approximately 20 miles north of Winnipeg. The church has been a part of the Anchored in Truth network of churches for a number of years. In 2018, after an internship at Grace Life Church of the Shoals, Blake was ordained and sent out to serve as pastor. So, he and his family moved from Alabama to Selkirk. Since that time, the church has seen a steady number of baptisms. They have experienced a growing appreciation of expository preaching, plus a renewed emphasis on the importance of the local church. Blake, a native of Mississippi, has been preaching since he was 16 years old.

Blake is married to Destiny, and they have four children, Josiah, Daniel, Jane, and Sadie. 

For more information visit: http://www.selkirkgbc.org/

Pastor Josh Tancordo

After hearing Senior Pastor-Teacher Jeff Noblit's preaching online, Josh decided to move to Grace Life Church of the Shoals to serve as a summer intern. During that time, he met his future wife, Becky. After being mentored in Muscle Shoals for four years, the congregation commissioned Josh and Becky to plant Redeeming Grace Church in the summer of 2014. 

Once they arrived, Josh and Becky began to build relationships. As a part of their outreach, they hosted a Bible study in Pittsburgh for two years. In October of 2016, Redeeming Grace Church officially covenanted together as a church. As a gospel-centered church, Redeeming Grace values rich biblical preaching and authentic Christian community. They are passionate about Jesus and Him being worshiped, treasured, and exalted.

Josh and Becky have four children.

For more information visit: https://www.redeeminggracepittsburgh.com/

Steve Missios

"As a 19-year-old Greek young man, I was dreaming about riches, fame, and money. So one day, I packed my things and left for a journey. Little did I know that God would direct my steps to come to Vienna, Austria, where I heard the gospel for the first time and accepted Christ in my life. After going through three years of Bible school (Bible Institute of Vienna), it was soon evident to me that to be a Christian is more than accepting Christ in your life as it also became obvious in my own personal walk. Not wanting to waste my life, and by the providence of God, I came to read a book entitled Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. This is where I came to know for the first time the doctrines of grace and reformed theology. 

"Learning more about the reformed faith made me feel like I was 'reborn again' and wanting to serve God with all my heart and all my life. Today, I serve as a bivocational church planter together with my wife Kathrin, and our two daughters, Marina and Anastasia (also our labrador dog, Romy) in our beautiful city, Vienna. With the support of Anchored in Truth and Grace Life Church of the Shoals, we have Sunday services where I preach and teach God’s Word and also Wednesday Bible studies where I have the privilege to disciple and teach a group of people.

By the grace of God, many have come to know a new life in Christ. Grace Life Vienna is dedicated and striving daily by God's grace and for His glory to be a true church who will proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light."

For more information visit: https://www.gracelifevienna.at/

Pastor David Brown

"Christ Baptist Church began meeting in March 2018, but the prayers about starting a new church in Rutherford County began as far back as 2000. It wasn’t until 2010 that David Brown began to think a church plant was something the Lord might be moving them toward, but he wasn’t sure if he was to be the one to lead it or help the one who did. After attending a training conference with the North American Mission Board, David was convinced they needed to plant a new church, but he did not see himself fitting the mold of planting with NAMB. He felt like a square peg in a round hole. Not knowing what to do, David continued to pray and waited on the Lord. 

"The first church plant was started in March 2015. At the time it looked as though the Lord had raised up another man to lead this church, and David was fully supportive of him. After one year of meeting and many challenges that seemed impossible to overcome, it was decided that the church plant would need to be temporarily suspended. Though this was a temporary setback, the Lord was still moving David to start a new church in the fastest growing county in Tennessee, but it appeared the timing was not right.

"The desire to start a new church never left his heart and mind. He did not go one day without thinking and praying about it, and David finally came to the conclusion that the Lord wanted him to start the church. This was a hard decision. He had been on staff at Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church for more than 18 years. He loved his church, and he loved serving with his pastor, but no matter how much David tried to walk away from planting a church, he always walked back to it. Upon returning from a mission trip to Africa, David knew it was time to move, and they (his family and leadership at SMBC) began making preparations for this replant. With the help of SMBC and Anchored in Truth Ministries, they had their first service on March 4, 2018, with about 25 people under the name Christ Baptist Church.

"As with any new church, the first year was one of transition and excitement, but the second year proved to be their testing in unity. Many of those who started with them did not stay, but as they left, others came with a heart to serve the Lord and see a new church come to life. March 2020 marked the beginning of the third year. David strongly felt from the beginning that the third year would be the year of growth, and it has been, even with the challenge of COVID-19. Almost every week, they are seeing new people come with one thing on their hearts - truth."

For more information visit: https://christ-baptist-church.com/

Pastor Chris Sheppard

"In September of 2011, the Lord led me to be the pastor of a rural church in Sontag, Mississippi, called Nola Baptist Church. It was a small, country church that over the years had dwindled in numbers until few were left. Over the course of time, the Lord began to draw people to our church from all over the area. Some were searching, some came because they were dissatisfied with past church experiences, but I believe many were drawn because of the emphasis on the teaching of the Word. The Lord grew our fellowship; we called it a “rebirth” of the church itself. And as the church grew, it became apparent to us that in order to serve the members of the church, and also in order to make ourselves available to the people of our community, the church needed to relocate.

"After years of praying, the Lord opened a door for this fellowship to move to the city of Brookhaven, to a new location centralized for the members of the church and positioned in the city of Brookhaven to do even greater ministry where it’s needed the most.

"Part of our relocation is also our reconstitution as Grace Life Church of Brookhaven. Because of our partnership over the years with Anchored in Truth and Grace Life Church of the Shoals, the elders of Nola Baptist Church felt led by the Lord to join their network as an official church “replant.” Anchored In Truth and Grace Life Church of the Shoals have been a guiding and supporting force for our church over the years, and we believe with our relocation comes the next chapter of our church as Grace Life Church of Brookhaven."

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/gracelifebrookhaven

Pastor Kevin Godin

• Southgate is a city in Michigan with a population of 30,000
• Redeeming Grace Church is more of a revitalization work, and Pastor Kevin has a demanding job in business in addition to his pastoral responsibilities
• This church is the first "grandchild" church plant of Grace Life Church of the Shoals. It was planted by Redeeming Grace Church, Pittsburgh, Pa, where Josh Tancordo is the pastor.

Pastor Francisco Vieira

Francisco José de Abreu Vieira is the pastor of Alliance Community Baptist Church. He is married to Claudia Neilane, and they have five children, João Lucas, Tamara, Inácio, Stela, and Felicina. The church began as a church plant in the city of Maputo, Mozambique in 2015.  They are a reformed confessional church with about 70 members, and they have around 100 in attendance most Sundays. Their goal is to plant reformed churches through the local leadership that they are discipling and training.  They presently offer a seminary degree in Reformed Theology with as many as fifty students taking classes, all through their local church. 

Grace Life Church of Battam, Indonesia 
Pastor Andar Napitupulu 

Grace Life Church of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija 
Pastors Joshua Tan & Jeremy Ogatis 

Grace Life Church of Calamba, Laguna 
Pastor Tony Buena-obra 
 
Grace Life Church of Payatas, Quezon City 
Pastors Timotheus Ira Ogatis & Michael Rivera 

Grace Life Church of Quezon City, Philippines 
Pastor Ira Ogatis 

Grace Life Church of Mondragon, Samar
Pastor Dioy Balleta 

Grace Life Church of Semarang, Indonesia 
Pastor Peter Placa Ayon 

Grace Life Church, Missionary to Yagon, Myanmar 
Ruth Ogatis 

Amazing Grace Bible Baptist Church, San Pedro, Laguna 
Pastor Felix Agustin, Jr. 

Amazing Grace Bible Baptist Church, Noveleta, Cavite 
Pastor Laudiner Balasta 

Berean Baptist Church, Lucena City, Quezon 
Pastor Pedro Munda 

Christian Baptist Church, Moriones Tondo, Manila 
Pastor Agustin Icban 

Exodus Baptist Church, Bocaue, Bulacan 
Pastor Wifredo Jimenez 

God’s Providence Baptist Church, Silang, Cavite 
Pastor Philip Nacino 

Good Shepherd’s Love Baptist Church, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija 
Pastor Roberto Pascual 

Grace Sanctuary Baptist Church, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija 
Pastor Alfred Eugenio 

Greentown Fundamental Baptist Church, Lopez, Quezon 
Pastor Arman Diamante 

His Majesty Baptist Church, Antipolo, Rizal 
Pastor Noel Agorilla 

Light and Grace Baptist Church, Cabanatuan City 
Pastor Vic Mangcao 

Maranatha Baptist Church, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija 
Pastor Joe Bolival  

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (Filipino ministry) Singapore 
Pastor Sherwin Tebelin

Anchored in Truth Bible College, Quezon City