In July 2019 we had the privilege to ordain and commission Pastor Dung Dang as the first pastor of Grace Baptist Vietnamese Church launched in July 2018 from the Halsted Road Baptist church building.  

In 2016 God brought Pastor Jeremiah and his wife Tancy Griffin to our church by way of the Church plant Living Stones.  After Pastor Newland left, the church called Pastor Griffin to pastor both churches.

Pastor Jeremiah accepted the interim position and began to preach regularly in the church.   In January 2017, Pastor Jeremiah accepted the call to be Pastor of Halsted Road Baptist church and continues to be it's pastor to this day.

Pastor Jeremiah and his wife Tancy have nine children.  Four that are natural born and five that are adopted from the local community.  Pastor Griffin has a heart for the people of the Coty of Rockford and continues to lead the church to personal discipleship and evengelism/outreach.

Pastor Jerry and Pat DeMond were called to be pastor in October 2002.  Splitting from a Church of God background, Pastor Jerry held the Baptist belief of Eternal Security of the Believer.   Pastor Jerry's exodus from the Church of God brought other members to be baptized and receive membership at the church.

Pastor Jerry left in 2014 after....

Almost immediately from within the church, God raised up Tom Yandell to the ministry.   Pastor Tom was a computer expert and found a way to contact everyone near the church. Not only and address but also a phone number.  Pastor Tom called every person on that list!

Emphasis switched from Sunday School to Vacation Bible School and until May 1999 when he retired.   Pastor Tom called everyone that he could in the city of Rockford to make sure they were invited to church.  No one would have an excuse.

the 9th pastor of Halsted Road Baptist church, Mike King and his wife Jill  came from Baltimore and with the blessing of Brother Clyde began again the ministry of the Word.

Jill was an accomplished pianist and filled the church with melodies praising God at every opportunity.  

Missions became a primary emphasis for the church and Pastor King led the church to pray for missionaries around the world.

in June 1988 Gordon Logan became director of missions for Blackhawk Association (now North Central Baptist Association).

In January 1984, pastor Elmore Clyde and his wife came out of retirement to help the work at Halsted Road. Gentle in nature and excellent preaching brought many to Christ and to join with the mission of the church.

In 1986 it was apparent that Pastor Clyde would have to retire again.  Mary Clyde stayed at the church and nursed Pastor Clyde until he went home to be with the Lord.

Pastor "Bob" came to the church in the fall of 1977 from a church in Kansas City, Missouri.  Pastor Bob was musically inclined and lead the association's choir.  Pastor Garris also was employed as an X Ray Technician by Rockford Memorial Hospital (now Mercy Health).  Pastor Garris resigned in the summer of 1979.

Pastor Paul Dann became the third pastor of the church, he served the church until early spring 1975.

On may 24th, 1970 the sanctuary was completed.  The auditorium was dedicated that Sunday.

in June of 1964 the church called Pastor Crowley Bridges and his wife Dorothy to the church.  Evangelist Sammy Tippet came and preached to the congregation and revival broke out among the church.  The youth were moved by the Holy Spirit and in groups turned from their sin, professed Christ and stopped drinking, drugs and other addictions without hesitation.

Fire struck an on a cold Saturday morning in January, 1963  the house caught fire and burned to the ground.

A ranch style house on Searles Street was purchased and found to be suitable for both worship and Sunday school programs.  In a search for space the church rented the small house next door.

The mission work started with Brother Daniel Preston and two summer missionaries from the Home Mission Board (NAMB).  The first Sunday meeting had 20 for Sunday School and 27 in worship.