Graceland Baptist Church in New Albany, Indiana
OUR VISION

To transform our neighborhoods, the generations, and the nations through Jesus Christ.

OUR MISSION

Our mission statement can be summed up in 3 words:

GATHER

together in united worship and teaching

GROW

in relationship as we follow Jesus

GO

to unleash compassion and share with others

OUR HISTORY

In 1950, several men began a survey in the Lone Star area of New Albany, and the results of that survey led to renting a former donut shop on Charlestown Road for church services. Beechmont Baptist Church in Louisville assumed sponsorship of Graceland Baptist Church Mission in 1952 and acquired property on Charlestown Road for the mission. In 1953, two portable buildings were erected.

Pastor Elvis Marcum came in 1963 to a mission which was in a state of despair. There was little hope for a dynamic witness because of the heavy debt, struggling leadership, and lack of recognition in the community.

1967 saw Graceland stepping out to attempt great things in the name of the Lord and seeing the impossible happen. The church had a vision for the city and began to reach across New Albany. The pressures of overcrowded services and Charlestown Road traffic jams gave birth to the Abundant Life Community in 1976.

The church purchased 80 acres off of Kamer Miller Road and built a new worship center.

What was once a dream began to expand into a school, prayer chapel, bookstore, swimming pool, bus barn, retreat center, and retreat lodge with motel-like rooms and a counseling center.

The original sanctuary was damaged in 1999 when the roof collapsed due to an ice storm. After 18 months of construction, the new Worship Center was completed. In 2005, a three-year capital stewardship program, called Next Step, was started that allowed for the construction and renovation of a new state of the art children’s and youth facility. The property also includes a sportsplex that was completed in 2013 for the Recreation Ministry’s baseball and soccer programs. Graceland’s heart for outreach continues to grow.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is our first and final authority for beliefs, faith, and practice and is truth without error.

BELIEVER'S BAPTISM BY IMMERSION

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

The New Testament pattern and order is to hear the gospel, believe in Jesus Christ and then to be baptized. The method of New Testament baptism is immersion, symbolizing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Christian has also “died” to the power of sin and has been raised to a new quality of life in Christ – Romans 6:4.

PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Each Christian believer has a direct relationship with God and is responsible for using his or her gifts to serve Him in ministry.  1 Peter 4:10

SYMBOLIC VIEW OF THE ORDINANCES

We practice two ordinances – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Communion. One is not saved by being baptized and one does not receive God’s grace by partaking of the elements of the Lord’s Supper. We are saved by God’s gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. We obey Christ through New Testament baptism and celebrate His presence through the Lord’s Supper. – Acts 16:25-34 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” – Colossians 1:15, Colossians 1:18

His life, teachings, and spirit guide our ministry.

THE AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

See the example of the decision of the church to choose men to help with the distribution of food in Acts 6:1-6 and numerous other such instances throughout the New Testament.

While we are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, no outside governing body dictates how we minister. In this sense, we are completely independent. We do cooperate with other churches locally and nationally for the purposes of missions and evangelism.

In 1950, several men began a survey in the Lone Star area of New Albany, sensing God’s leading to plant a new church. By 1963, Pastor Elvis Marcum was called to take over leadership of Graceland, lending to the church adopting a greater vision for the city as they began reaching across New Albany. This vision has continued for more than 50 years; and, Graceland has had a track record for reaching out to people, building up Christ followers, and impacting the world for Jesus.

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