70 Years at Grace Community Church
The history of Grace Community Church is, above all, a testimony to God’s faithful providence. What began in 1956 with a small group of families seeking to meet a simple need became, by the Lord’s gracious hand, a ministry that has touched countless lives around the world. At every stage of its history—from a humble gathering in a Van Nuys park to a nursery school, from a small chapel on a former chicken farm to a campus filled with worshippers and ministries with global impact—the Lord Himself has directed their steps (Prov. 16:9). This timeline traces some of those defining moments, not as a celebration of human accomplishment, but as a testimony to the faithfulness of God, who has built His church (Matt. 16:18).
1955
Families at the Little Country Church of Hollywood express interest in starting a children’s ministry, but the request is declined.
Spring 1956
Families gather in a park in Van Nuys to determine interest in planting a new church. More than 100 people attend.
July 1956
Grace Church begins. The first Sunday services convene in a nursery school in Van Nuys (currently Sherman Oaks), where walls are removed to accommodate the overwhelming attendance. Don Householder begins serving as teaching pastor.
October 1956
Burton Michaelson notices a “For Sale” sign on a chicken farm at 13248 Roscoe Blvd. He meets with the owner, and the charter members purchase the property just days later.
July 1957
The chapel opens, and the first services are held on the Roscoe campus on the church’s first anniversary.
September 1957
The Grace Church Choir begins.
January 1958
The College Ministry begins.
April 1958
Grace Church sends its first missionary family: Ed and Loretta Murphy.
April 1959
The Heritage Building opens.
May 1959
The press refers to Grace Church as “The Miracle Church of the Valley.”
February 1960
Dolores Michaelson starts the church library.
April 1965
Don Householder passes away.
April 1966
Richard Elvee becomes pastor.
Summer 1968
John MacArthur speaks at Grace Church’s high school summer camp.
September 1968
Richard Elvee passes away.
February 1969
John MacArthur becomes pastor.
November 1970
The Children’s Center and Fireside Room are completed.
March 1971
Fundamentals of the Faith begins.
July 1971
The Family Center opens. “Always a Smiling Face at Grace.”
September 1971
Grace Equip (then known as Logos classes) begins.
June 1972
Moody Monthly publishes “The Church of 900 Ministers.”
July 1972
Grace Books (originally the Grace Book Shack) opens.
1973
John MacArthur’s first book, The Church: The Body of Christ, is published.
December 1974
Grace Church sends out its first pastor, Darryl DelHousaye.
September 1975
The Spanish Ministry begins.
March 1976
The Deaf Ministry begins.
May 1977
The Worship Center opens. “The Campus That Never Sleeps.”
May 1977
Grace to You airs its first radio broadcast.
July 1977
Special Ministries begins.
September 1977
The Talbot Seminary extension campus begins.
August 1979
Clayton Erb joins the staff as Minister of Music.
October 1979
Every Woman’s Grace begins.
March 1980
The first Shepherds Conference is held.
September 1980
Grace School opens.
September 1983
The Tower Building opens.
September 1985
Pastor John is inaugurated as president of The Master’s College (now The Master’s University).
August 1986
The Talbot Seminary extension campus becomes independent, and The Master’s Seminary is established.
January 1988
John MacArthur’s The Gospel According to Jesus is published.
February 1991
The first TMAI school is launched in Kyiv, Ukraine.
January 1996
Grace Ministries International is established.
October 1997
The MacArthur Study Bible is published.
2005
Generations of Grace is published.
June 2011
John MacArthur completes preaching through the entire New Testament.
December 2014
Steeple House Coffee opens.
June 2016
The first Vacation Bible School is held.
September 2016
The first Conferencia Expositores is held.
2018
Adventure Club curriculum is published.
September 2021
Grace Church prevails in its court case against the State of California and Los Angeles County, affirming the church’s right to hold indoor worship services.
August 2022
Grace Academy opens.
February 2024
Grace Church celebrates John MacArthur’s 55th anniversary as pastor.
July 2025
John MacArthur enters his heavenly rest.
July 2026
Grace Church celebrates its 70th anniversary.