Our History

On January 26, 1993, after hearing the voice of the Lord to organize a branch of Zion, Rev. Cedric DeWayne Stricklin, at the age of 28, with $123.00 and fifteen (15) loyal followers opened the doors of the Graceland Community Baptist Church. The first meeting was held in the Fellowship Hall of the “Exciting” Singing Hills Baptist Church where Dr. Howard E. Anderson, Sr., serves as pastor and Brother Carl Thomas of the Jordan Baptist Church (Lancaster, TX) served as Moderators of the meeting. Rev. Cedric D. Stricklin presented the Church Resolution. The name of the church was agreed upon as Graceland Community Baptist Church, and Rev. Stricklin was received as pastor. The home of Mrs. Lizzie Sumler was the meeting place of the Graceland Church for three months. In April of 1993, the Graceland Church moved to a storefront building at 101 Kenya St. in Cedar Hill, TX. 

The church became a member of the Dallas Baptist Convention Association on January 3, 1993, and obtained its nonprofit status on September 23, 1993. In April of 2000, Pastor Stricklin and some of the members held a ground-breaking forty-five-minute long song and prayer service on the corner of Weaver and Clark Road in Cedar Hill, TX, which would be the new location of the Graceland Community Baptist Church. The church would be the first Black congregation to build a church in the city of Cedar Hill. The church continued to grow, but as in all churches, members came and went, but God remained faithful. On November 7, 2000 Graceland Community Baptist Church members entered the doors of its new building. The new building was dedicated on November 19, 2000 and the cornerstone was laid on April 29, 2001.   

On Sunday, May 5, 2013, the Graceland Church celebrated its 20th Church Anniversary and buried a time capsule to be opened twenty-five years later, but on Tuesday morning, May 14th, Graceland was dealt a devastating blow as we watched our church go up in flames, wondering where we would go from there. Mayor Rob Franke of Cedar Hill, an Elder at the Cedar Hill Church of Christ, watched with us and immediately told Dr. Stricklin the Graceland Church could use their Education Building for Sunday worship as long as we needed it. Beginning Sunday May 19, 2013 – April 26, 2015, we worshipped at Cedar Hill Church of Christ. On May 5, 2015, the GCBC membership again entered the doors at 310 S. Clark Road; the cornerstone was laid September 27, 2015.

Through many ups and downs, the Graceland Church continued to stand. However, the year of 2020 really tested the faith and strength of the membership of the Graceland Church. The first two months of the year were worshiped as usual. However, because of Covid-19, a pandemic that literally shut down the world, we were unable to continue meeting in the church after Sunday, March 8th. 

Thank God that because we were living in the age of technology, we could see worship service via Facebook, and we began having Prayer and Praise service on Wednesday night via conference call. In December, the Graceland Church was dealt another heart-breaking blow; our beloved Founder/Pastor Dr. Cedric D. Stricklin was called home to be with the Lord on December 31, 2020.

On February 23, 2021, Rev. Nathaniel Chaney was appointed by the Deacons to serve as interim pastor of the Graceland Church. Rev. Chaney, along with the other associate ministers served well. The doors of the Graceland Church were opened once again on May 2, 2021, celebrating the church’s 28th church anniversary. 

In February 2022, a Search Committee consisting of nine members was formed, to search for a new Shepherd. The membership began praying, asking God for guidance. The Committee read many resumes and conducted several interviews. Finally on July 12th, God heard our prayers and sent us Dr. Everett R. Pierson for an interview. On September 11, 2022, Dr. Pierson preached his first sermon at the Graceland Church, and again on September 18th after which the church voted and Dr. Everett R. Pierson became the second Pastor of Graceland Community Baptist Church. 

Dr. Pierson is a native of Dallas, TX. In 1994, the Lord called him, his wife, Sandra, and then only child to move to Virginia. He served for almost 30 years in local, state, and national ministry on the east coast. The Lord sent Dr. Pierson and family back home to Dallas in 2020. We believe that the Lord put us together, Pastor and People!

Pastor’s Installation Service was on held on January 15, 2023, with a multitude of preachers, both local and national. Pastor Pierson continues to preach and teach the word of God and during his six months as pastor, 33 new members have been added to the Graceland Church. Seven of the new converts were baptized on Resurrection Sunday, April 9th. 

Since the pandemic, we are more than a one-dimensional location. Graceland CBC ministries meet in-person, conference calls, and/or via zoom. Our worship services are streamed via Facebook and YouTube. 

For years, this church has stood as a sentinel pointing men, women, boys, and girls to the Heavenly way. In the midst of world turmoil, in the face of strife and war, and at times when world ideals are crumbling, this church has held high the banner of Christ who said, “Upon this rock I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Persecution has not crushed the church. Power has not beaten the church. Time has not abated the church’s force. The abuses and treason of enemies have not shaken the church’s stability because “this church is founded on a rock.” 

The Lord continues to bless the members of Graceland. He heard our cry and gave us another Shepherd who would lead us to even higher heights. May this church continue to stand in years to come as it has stood these 30 years, to be a living instrument of a Saviour who died, rose, and is alive today that all men might live.ow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.