Our people are excited about sharing Jesus Christ with others and enjoy serving the Lord in many ways.”

Loyed Arnold, Pastor of Grace Community Bible Church

Grace Community Bible Church is located in the heart of Stanley next to Hansen’s IGA at 219 South Broadway Street. Beginning in 2021, Grace Community Bible Church is a non-denominational Church that believes in the Trinity, Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone, sanctification through the Holy Spirit, and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. They are focused to share God’s Love, serve those around them and teach God’s Word. 

Loyed Arnold, who lives in Stanley with his wife, Michelle, has two sons and is the current Pastor of Grace Community Bible Church. Born in Long Beach, California, Pastor Arnold served in the United States Army for three years before earning his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from San Jose State University, and then his Master of Divinity from American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California. He served as a pastoral intern during seminary and then served in American Baptist Churches in northern California, southern Indiana and Eau Claire, Wisconsin from 1982 until 2018, when he retired from pastoral ministry. His retirement was short lived when he was asked to serve part time as Pastor of Grace Community Bible Church in May 2021 and then became their Pastor full time. Pastor Arnold didn’t originally set out to work in ministry. “I was planning on being a journalist,” he begins. It was when three separate people told him within a few months that he was being called to ministry, that the seed of his call was planted. “So, that’s when I figured that God must be calling me to ministry,” he says. Pastor Arnold enjoys the Stanley community he pastors in. “Having lived in large metropolitan areas for much of my adult life, I have found living in Stanley the past seven years a great experience. The people here are friendly, welcoming, and gracious,” he remarks.

Pastor Arnold’s favorite Book of the Bible is the Book of Job, which is not a popular choice. Having experienced loss, he explains, “I’ve been through it a couple of times in life. It just is a reminder to me that you will make it through, and God will be there when you do.” Pastor Arnold enjoys pastoring his Grace Community congregation. “Our people are excited about sharing Jesus Christ with others and enjoy serving the Lord in many ways,” he says before continuing. “They are a joyful congregation that loves to spend time together, many getting to the Church building early on Sunday morning to fellowship, and many staying long after the end of the worship service to fellowship even more.” Pastor Loyed’s wife Michelle discusses how God always provides the right person to help in the Church when specific needs arise. “All the areas we need someone to have some knowledge or expertise or ability we have. It’s just God when you look at it,” she comments. As their congregation is quickly increasing, Grace Community Bible Church is currently raising funds to build a new Church north of Stanley to accommodate that growth. “We have a lot of families with kids,” Michelle mentions. “It’s just been incredible.”

Grace Community Bible Church hosts Devotions and Dominoes once a month for those in the community who like Dominoes. They host a Men’s Breakfast at 8 am on the first Saturday of the month at Cadott Family Restaurant that all men are welcome to attend. Grace Community Bible Church hosts a Life Recovery Group that meets at the Church on Saturdays at 9 am starting on April 29th. Pastor Arnold sees a need for this service in Stanley and explains, “We have some people who are struggling with addictions and there are few resources in our community where they can receive assistance. They have to go out of town for help.” The Church also has a Knitting and Crocheting Group that meets to make blankets for area nursing homes.

Sunday Services at Grace Community Bible Church begin at 10 AM. Childcare is provided during the service and Children’s Church is provided during the message. On Wednesday evenings, Grace Kids and Youth Group begins at 6pm. Various Bible studies are also held on Wednesdays, including a Bible study for Women at 1 PM and an All-Church Bible study beginning at  3 PM. The worship band, consisting of a bass guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, and singers, plays mainly contemporary Christian music during the services.

For more information on Grace Community Bible Church and their services and events call 715-306-0748 or follow them on Facebook at Grace Community Bible Church.