Grace Bible Baptist Church

Knoxville,  TN

Robert Barnett, Pastor

This past summer my family and along with Faith's family spent some time in Tennessee not far from Knoxville.  Being this close I just had to let Brother Barnett know I was in the area.  He invited us to visit the church.  There were 17 of us in all.  He asked Matt and me to preach Sunday.  The church was so gracious to us.  After the morning service they prepared a wonderful and delicious meal for us to enjoy along with the members and friends that attended.

We then gathered back in the auditorium for the  second service.  Again Matt preached, I preached and Brother Barnett preached.  This church sure

 believes in preaching.  It was not the wishy washy, sermonette type of preaching that build this great work.  Going on 22 years of ministry, the faith and vision has not diminished from the hearts of God's servants or people.

The Lord saved souls, stirred hearts and encouraged all to life up Jesus Christ. 

The music was uplifting, joyful and most of all God honoring.  Both the music and those who presented it were in proper taste and Godly standards.

The Prophet Amos once asked: Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

I am glad to say Brother Barnett and I agree on the old time Biblical landmarks that can not be moved. 

We stand together, we walk together and praise God we preach together! 

This meeting will live in my memory for a very long time.  Brother Barnett and his dear wife Dottie, were both saved under our ministry many years ago through the BUS MINISTRY.  I led them to the Lord, baptized them and married them.  I was there for their graduation from Bible College and at his ordination.  The Lord called them to Knoxville 21 years ago to start the Grace Bible Baptist Church.  I was here to preach along with my Preacher Brother for this historic event!

I like the way Brother Barnett describes the ministry there.  He says  "I don't have a black church, I don't have white church, I don't have Spanish church,  I have a CHURCH!"  On this bases souls are souls.  There is good harmony and a sweet, exciting spirit among the people.  And my do they love coming to church.

Our services started a 10:00 am and ended at 2:30pm.  Lots of preaching, lots of singing, lots of testimony and two baptisms were not enough to satisfy these folks. 

After the morning service a wonderful lunch was prepared and greatly enjoyed.

Shortly after the meal we gathered together for another service.  Now some would say.. lets have an afternoon service in place of the evening service. Well, we kind a did that, BUT the afternoon service lasted to 8:30pm!  And the house was full, the power of God fell and the Lord indeed answer our prayer that "He would be magnified"

During the morning service Sister Barnett gave a very heart stirring testimony of the Lord working in her life.  My heart was moved as I remembered the first time I met her after our bus lost it breaks on what is called "Dead Man's Hill".   What the devil thought to be a defeat turned into a victory in two very powerful lives.  She began riding that same bus to Sunday school and church.  Soon she was saved and was burdened for her friend Robert. He was a Jehovah Witness (falsely so called) and played in bass in a rock band.  Soon he was coming to church and questioning me hours on end about the Word of God.  His eyes were opened from darkness to light and he excitedly received the salvation of the Lord and was soon baptized.

After this time I was called to the platform and presented with a plague of honor.  I was most humbled at the thought of being part in the life of this church and the lives of the pastor and his family.

This is the pulpit I preached from when I was their pastor.  Brother Barnett and his wife have seen this view many times and knelt before the Lord in front of it.  Now it is in his church and still in use. You can still see many nicks and bangs and it has been repaired several times yet it still stands.

Maybe not much to look at but when a man of God stands behind it, when the Word of God is preached and souls are saved and lives changed, it becomes as Moses' rod, an instrument of display to the awesome power of God.