The first meetings were in the Catholic Hall, then the church rented a church building owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. As they grew, they finally purchased this building in 1982. The church was officially chartered as Susanville Foursquare Church that same year. It was located on the corner of 5th and Cedar Streets, and this became the permanent home of the church, until 2007.
In 1986 the pastoral appointment was handed over to Pastor Frank and Dora Clarkson. They set out to build a church where all who came through the church doors would be welcomed and accepted. Through the years the church ministered love, hope and restoration to many people, and supported them through their difficult circumstances.
The church took ministry out of the four walls of the church building, into the local prisons and jail. They partnered with Crossroads Ministries in clothing, feeding and caring for the needy of Susanville, and helped in other community care initiatives, both financially and physically.
After several years the church name was changed to Grace Fellowship Church, in order to more accurately express the focus of the church, in being a people who live by God's grace, and extend that grace in fellowship with others. The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit was embraced as people were encouraged to find and use their spiritual gifts.
The Clarksons served faithfully, with distinction, for 19 years, until they felt led to hand over the pastorship to a new leader in June 2005. Pastor Allen and Debbie Barger were then called to Grace Fellowship to lead the church into a further phase. Under Pastor Allen's tenure the building on 5th and Cedar Streets was sold, and the current building was purchased from the Nazarene Church in 2007, enlarging the church facilities for future growth.
Pastor Gerry and Dianne van der Wende were installed as the current pastors on May 23, 2010, and look forward to a future for the church of consolidation, growth, and of being a continuing source of grace and restoration to the community of Susanville.
