© 2009 - Grace Bible Church of Fairhope

On July 18, 1973, Pastor T. W. Smith, with thirty-eight members, established the Eastern Shore Bible Doctrine Church.  For the first year, they met in a small building owned by the Episcopal Church of Mobile, which was located on Old Barnwell Road in Fairhope.

The church moved to a small building on Highway 33 in Fairhope in 1974, and in 1983, the church purchased the property on Fairhope Avenue and began a building fund. Pastor Smith acted as the contractor and did much of the work himself and on August 11, 1985, the new building was dedicated to the Lord’s service.

Tommy Smith pastored the church 25 years, taking a short sabbatical to serve as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Desert Storm. When he returned to the area, he began a counseling ministry.

That fall, a committee began a pastoral search that resulted in calling a young minister, Daniel Lippincott, who was ministering at Beloit, Wisconsin, at that time.  In January, 1996, Grace Bible Church called Lippincott to serve as their minister.

Pastor Dan has ministered to the congregation of Grace Bible Church for the past 12 years.  He and his wife, Cindy, have established a sister ministry through the OATH fund or Orphans Awaiting their Homes encouraging adoptions around the world.