Significant Dates
1930-1938 was a period during which several teaching pastors were refining their dispensational conceptions. Some of these men were: John C. O’Hair of Chicago, lllinois, Charles F. Baker of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Cornelius R. Stam of Wayne, New Jersey, Harry Bultema of Muskegon, Michigan, Eugene Rueweler of St. Louis, Missouri, Herman Reich of Evansville, Indiana, and Otis Wasson of Riverdale, lllinois.

1939 marked the establishment of a foreign mission board known as Worldwide Grace Testimony. The original field of service was Zaire, then called the Belgian Congo. The missionaries of those early days were: Frederick E. Holland, Otto Deming, Francis P. Pickett and Sam Vinton, Sr.

The original board members included: Charles F. Baker, John C. O’Hair, Christian H. Sonneveldt Sr., Kenneth J. Brouwer (1940) and T. R. Huston (1940).

1939 saw the establishment of an evening Bible Institute at the Fundamental Bible Church by Charles F. Baker.

1943 was the year that most of these men gathered together to form a bonding organization. The Grace Gospel Fellowship was conceived. The ratification and full development of the concept would be done the following year. (Our 1993 convention was the fiftieth anniversary of this original founding convention.) This was the conception of the interaction of the churches here at home.

1944 saw the constitution adopted and the Grace Gospel Fellowship was organized at a convention in Evansville, Indiana as a ministerial association for the furtherance of Pauline truth. The following men were included in that meeting: Otis Wasson, Francis P. Pickett, Cornelius R. Stam, Eugene Rueweler, T. R. Huston, Hal Reed, Herman Reich, Ray Reich, John LaVier, Charles F. Baker and John C. O’Hair.

1945 The pastors of the Fellowship decided that the Milwaukee Bible Institute would become the educational arm of the fellowship, changing it to a full time day school. Charles F. Baker was selected as President. The board members included: Charles F. Baker, John C. O’Hair, Otis Wasson, Cornelius R. Stam and T.R. Huston.

1946 Grace Youth Camp was begun at McCormick State Park near Spencer, Indiana. Jack Sonneveldt was selected as Director.

1946 Grace Gospel News began with John LaVier as editor. Mr. Baker had been publishing The Biblegram since 1934. John O’Hair was also publishing Bible Study for Bereans during that time.

1950 Truth Magazine made its debut. Charles F. Baker and Glen L. Hesselgrave served as its editors. It was a joint publication of Milwaukee Bible Institute and Worldwide Grace Testimony.

1951 Bethesda Mission was founded at Bethesda Free Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Pastor Henry B. Prince and the board of the church. The original missionaries who served in Bolivia were: Fran Hiddema, Dorothy (Perkins) Mattias and Maurice and Trixie Hammond.

1953 Milwaukee Bible Institute became a four year college and its name was changed to Milwaukee Bible College.

1953 Prison Mission Association was founded by Joe Mason.

1955 Things to Come Mission was founded by H. Palmer. Some of its earliest missionaries were: Vernon and Darlene Anderson and Joe and Pauline Watkins

1960 Milwaukee Bible College moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and assumed the name, Grace Bible College.

1965 Dr. Jack Dean was selected as interim president to succeed Mr. Baker, becoming president in 1967.

1967 Was a year of upheaval resulting in the formation of the Berean Bible Fellowship.

1971 Grace Publications was incorporated as an arm of Grace Mission. Grace Line Lessons which had been under the direction of Mrs. Charles Baker was incorporated into the new organization

1971 Charles E. O’Connor was employed as the first president of Grace Gospel Fellowship.

1981 Bible Doctrines to Live By was incorporated in Grand Rapids by Lee Homoki. Its purpose was to conduct evangelistic crusades and promote Bible study through literature and tapes.

1983 Grace Publications became an independent organization under the direction of Tim Conklin. Its purpose: to publish, promote and distribute books, Sunday school and children’s club materials compatible with our doctrinal statement.

1984 Grace Mission and Bethesda Mission merged to form Grace Ministries International. Wayne Schoonover was selected to be executive director.

1985 Dr. Sam Vinton Jr. was elected as the third president of Grace Bible College.

1991 A very important year because so many events were tied together marking the most extensive leadership changes in our history. Dr. Sam Vinton became executive director of Grace Ministries International. Grace Bible College received accreditation from the North Central Association as a professional degree granting institution. Pastor Bruce Kemper of Port Orchard, Washington, was elected as the fourth president of the College. President Kemper brought more than thirty years of pastoral experience to this position. Mr. O’Connor retired and Pastor Roger Anderson of Prunedale, California, became the second president of Grace Gospel Fellowship. A graduate of Grace Bible College and pastor for 32 years he also brought pastoral background to this position. Mr. Tim Conklin resigned from Grace Publications to take a position at Grace Bible College and the Board of Directors of Grace Publications asked GGF to take over its operation.

1992 because of a bequest the GGF was able to construct a new suite of offices in the former print shop of Grace Ministries International. Four organizations: Grace Gospel Fellowship, Grace Ministries International, and Grace Publications were housed under one roof, beginning each day in prayer together.

1993 Truth magazine returned to the subscription base upon which it began. The door of invitation was opened to all organizations sharing our beliefs to contribute to its pages. This led to the financial solvency of the magazine.

1995-1996 A major revision of our constitution and bylaws was undertaken. The reasons were to reestablish voting powers to the annual convention and to define the powers of the Regional and National Councils.

2000 Roger Anderson retired and Pastor Ken Parker of Spokane, Washington, became the third president of Grace Gospel Fellowship. President Parker hired Mike Riemersma as Administrative Director to coordinate operations at the home office in Grand Rapids, MI.

2002 In an effort to promote educational material on dispensationalism, GGF reprinted the book, Understanding Your Bible, along with filming a companion video series.

2003 Ken Parker retired as president of the Grace Gospel Fellowship.  Meanwhile, Pastor Bruce Kemper retired as president of Grace Bible College. Ken Kemper, a missionary to Tanzania, was named fifth president of the College.

2004 After an extensive search, Frosty Hansen was offered the position of GGF president. Frosty accepted and brought years of pastoral and mission experience to the job. We have also been blessed by the ministering abilities of Frosty's wife, Cathy.

2007 Aware of the growing need for pastors in our churches, the Grace Gospel Fellowship partnered with Grace Bible College in formation of the Vernon Schutz Chair of Pastoral Ministries.  Pastor Gary Spykerman joined the staff of the College to lead in this important endeavor.