Preaching Christ in the East Valley Since 1985

Grace Covenant Church (GCC) was conceived as the result of a church-planting effort by Church of the Redeemer, in Mesa, AZ. In 1985, John Giarrizzo, a former real estate agent and 1984 Redeemer Seminary graduate, was approved by the church and formally commissioned as Organizing Pastor for the new venture. Grace Covenant held its first worship service in a rented banquet hall in west Mesa on September 8, 1985.

A 1689 Reformed Baptist Congregation

The first year of GCC’s existence was exciting yet challenging as it sought to establish both a doctrinal position and identity as a Reformed Baptist congregation. In 1987, GCC established its own constitution, adopted the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/1689), and constituted its church membership with 28 charter members.

The next few years were marked by slow growth and waiting on the Lord to provide a permanent location.

Located in Gilbert, Arizona

By 1992, God led GCC to a property along the two-lane Greenfield Road in what was then a rural farming community. The location had previously been a small farm and private family residence that was already converted to a meeting facility large enough to serve as a school and church. The Lord granted GCC the ability to rent and eventually purchase this property that exists as its current home in Gilbert.

Associations, Conferences, & Church Plants

In 1997 Grace Covenant joined the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America—now Confessional Baptist Association (CBA)—as a charter member. CBA is a national association of confessional baptist church who also subscribe the 1689 London Baptist Confession.

Since June 2002 GCC has continued to expand its facilities little-by-little as God has blessed the congregation with growth.

In 2007, GCC started Building Tomorrow’s Church (BTC) as a nation-wide conference ministry for like-minded young adults which continues to gather annually for the purpose of strengthening local churches by encouraging the next generation of Christians.

In January 2012, GCC called and sent Rob Cosby to plant a church in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson Reformed Baptist Church (TRBC), as the work has come to be called, constituted in November 2013. TRBC continues to shine the light of Christ in a dark place.

Then in 2015, GCC helped lay the foundations of a more regional association of like-minded churches called Confessional Baptists of the Southwest, which includes reformed baptist congregations in other parts of Arizona.

We thank the Lord for His mercy and faithfulness to this body of believers thus far and pray for His gracious guidance in the future.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” Psalm 115:1