GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
Ph (727) 863-2747
About GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
GRACE BIBLE CHURCH is a non-denominational Bible Church that seeks to help the whole family know Christ better and to apply the Scriptures to everyday life. Grace was started in 1976 by Pastor Don Austin (a graduate of Florida Bible College) and others looking to provide an evangelistic oriented church to families in the Hudson area that would teach the Scriptures accurately and preach the Gospel clearly. It was the conviction of the founding pastor and members that the message of salvation needed to be presented consistently, clearly, accurately and in an easy to understand presentation. The church has a fellowship of about 200 believers in Jesus Christ. Its doctrinal beliefs are very similar to those of many Baptist churches. Its leadership consists of a plurality of spiritually qualified men who serve in the Biblical capacity as "Elders" along side the senior pastor (Pastor Dean Pratt).
Interested in learning more?
Yes, You can Know!!
The most important question you can ask yourself is "Am I going to heaven?" You might wonder if anyone can really know the answer to that question? The Bible teaches you can! 1John 5:13 states "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life!" You have probably heard that God loves us, but did you know He wants us to have a relationship with Him now and wants us to live forever with Him in Heaven after we die? (John 3:16-17, John 6:35-40).
It's true, yet, there is a problem that prevents us from having a relationship with God and from going to heaven. God is perfectly holy and without sin, but we are not (Romans 3:23). We are all sinners, that is, we have disobeyed God in some form or fashion at one time or another (if we are honest probably many times).
The Bible says the penalty for our sin is death (separation from God). Separation in this life and in the life to come in a place of punishment called Hell (Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:14).
Many people think that if they do enough good things they can somehow merit or earn heaven and escape Hell. But, we can not buy or earn God's forgiveness. We can not erase our sins by doing good deeds. We are thus in a dilemma and unable to save ourselves from the penalty of our sins (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:20).
However, since God loves us he has provided a substitute who paid the penalty for our sins. That substitute is God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the sinless God-man. He took on flesh, was born into this world, died on the cross, was buried and then proved his deity by resurrecting from the dead! After His resurrection He was seen, heard and touched by numerous people, in fact, by over 500 people on one occassion (Titus 3:4-5; 1Corinthians 15:3-7).
His divine birth, amazing and numerous miracles, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and resurrection from the dead prove that Jesus was the Son of God and that He had paid for our sin. He now offers forgivness of sins and salvation to all who put their trust in Him and what He did on the cross as a payment for their sins (John 1:12; 1John 5:10-12).
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 NIV)
Would you like to be forgiven? Would you like to have a relationship with God and know you have a home in heaven? If so transfer your trust from your own efforts to get to heaven to trusting what Jesus did to get you to heaven! You may want to bow your head right now and ask the living Christ to forgive your sins and save you, trusting in what He did for you on the cross not in what you can do.
Contact us from the box on our "HOME" page if you made this decision and we will rejoice with you and send you some information that will help you grow in your new relationship with Christ.
Dean Pratt has been our senior pastor/teacher since 1996. Prior to that he served as associate pastor from 1990 - 1996. He also taught science at GCS from 1982 - 1990. He has been married to Barbara for over 43 years. They have 3 adult children. Pastor Dean did his undergraduate work at Florida Bible College and Bryan College. He did graduate work at Tampa Bay Theological Seminary and earned his Master's degree from Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Pastor Dean loves to study and teach the Word of God. He is also an avid motorcycle rider and formerly raced dirt bikes in his older teen years. He loves to travel and teach the Scriptures in over seas situations and has done so for many years now in several different countries Eastern and Western European countries, he even speaks a little Russian (very little)!
................ .................. Meet the Staff ................ .................
Sean Maniscalco has been our pastor of youth and children since 2011. He has been married to Joanna for over 29 years. They have 2 adult children. They are originally from Colorado. Sean earned his BA degree from Clearwater Christian College.
Sean and his wife have been volunteering and working with teens even while employed in the business world for many years. Sean loves to make disciples. He enjoys various sports especially football and is a former mountain biker.
Glen Pratt has been a teacher and Principal of Grace Christian School for over 20 years. He retired last year but is back. We are very thankful for his compassion for students, expertise and attention to details. Glen has a BS degree from Florida State University with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry and Math. He also holds a MA degree from Tampa Bay Theological Seminary.
Glen served as a police officer for over 20 years and during that same time taught with the Public School Adult Ed program, subbed in public schools and taught at the Police Academy. He has been married to Maria for over 44 years and has 5 grown daughters and numerous grandchildren.
