The Rev. Gary Edward Franklin has been announced as the new pastor of Grace Evangelical Church on Flat Creek Trail. He had previously served here from 1990 to 1997.

Franklin was born and reared in Detroit, and was led to Christ on a camping trip for junior high boys. It was led by a man who had a heart for boys whose fathers were not believers.

He attended Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. and met his wife Verna, here. She has a degree in English and currently serves on the Small Group Ministries staff at Fellowship Bible Church. They married in 1977 and have three children, Timothy, 22, who works for Honey Baked Ham, Jonathan, 20, who is a student at Spring Arbor University, and Elizabeth, 15, who will transfer to McIntosh High School in the fall.

Franklin says his personal mission statement is to experience the presence of God moving through every detail of his life, pleasant and unpleasant, carrying him into a richer encounter with God, a closer experience of community with others, a deeper experience of transformation that shapes him more into Christ’s likeness, and a meaningful kingdom influence in a changing world.

Franklin is founder and president of The Leader’s Heart, an organization devoted to leaders and pastors to help them through troubling times, whether it be in their lives, their marriages or their jobs.

Grace Evangelical Church has not changed its core values since its inception in 1973. It began in humble homes with five families, devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship and to prayer.

As with many congregations it met at various locations including the Gresham Chapel at Woodward Academy, Hood Elementary School, the Tri-City Bank Building, and in 1987 purchased land at its present location across from Flat Creek Baptist Church. At the present time, the church enjoys a Sunday morning worship of about 350 persons.

Services begin Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., with fellowship and refreshments to follow. At 11:25 a.m. educational classes are held for adults and children.

Grace Evangelical Church is located at 164 Flat Creek Trail between Tyrone Road and Ga. Highway 54 and can be reached at 770-487-0791.

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