History of Grace Inspirations Church
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).
God works in ways that are often deemed “mysterious”. That is to say, God’s methods often leave us totally bewildered. None can rationally explain why God would charge Joshua to lead the children of Israel to march around the city of Jericho for a week. Yet, history serves us notice that the will of God was accomplished when the walls of Jericho fell flat (Joshua 6:1–4). Through His sovereignty and the free will we’re granted, God’s ultimate intent is satisfied. He works all things through His providence…though often in the most unexpected, astonishing, and inexplicable way. Paul tells us that God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). It was the propitious hand of almighty God that brought forth the dynamics through which Grace Inspirations Church was born.
In the fall of 2012, it became clear to Pastor Danny R. Hollins that God was preparing him for a new direction in ministry. Over a span of three decades, he had successfully pastored four churches before sensing the hand of God moving him to do ministry on a higher level. Fervently seeking the Lord for clarity, he endeavored to understand the next phase of service he was being called to perform. After twelve years of service at Greater Fairview Church, pastor Danny Hollins and fellow saints stepped out on a God-ordained faith mission.
As Abraham himself would no doubt profess, such journeys are seldom made without provisions. Not knowing where they were going, much less how to get there, Pastor and these committed saints followed their predestined course. But thanks to the assurance of God’s Word, these concerns proved quite trivial. At the behest of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Hollins was moved to contact Pastor Stephen Mason of Pearlie Grove Baptist Church. Having recently relocated to a sanctuary on West County Line Road, arrangements were made for a tour of their old building on Grand Ave., near downtown Jackson. It was during this tour that the Spirit confirmed the new ministry was to begin there. Later that very week, a lease agreement was signed with Pearlie Grove M.B. Church.
At 8:00 am, on the first Sunday, the 7th of July, 2013, Grace Inspirations held its first service. With 125 persons in attendance, Pastor Hollins began a series of messages coined “Morning Inspirations”. Services continued at this location with the expectation that the new ministry would be leaving by year’s end…for another ministry had already submitted a contract prior to the lease agreement. But as God’s will always triumphs, and in much dramatic fashion, December 31, 2013, Pastor Stephen Mason informed Pastor Hollins they could remain in the building until further notice.
In March 2014, the Lord impressed upon Pastor Hollins to propose a purchase of the building. In a meeting later that month with Pastor Mason, his attorneys, and business administrator, a verbal agreement was made on the terms of a lease purchase. Reverend Tyrone Newman, Hubbard Taylor, Tony Hannah, Jerry Bates, Daphne Bates and Preston Carter were also in attendance. The agreement was officially signed the following month. It was certainly a great move of God!
The Lord having provided the building, it was now left to the congregation to officially become a church. “Membership Sunday” was designated to take place the first Sunday of March. After Pastor Hollins’s sermon, and subsequent issuance of the invitation, 157 members were recorded amongst the newly formed body of parishioners.
Several months later, from September 30th through October 5th, with Pastor Stephen Mason and Pearlie Grove recognized as special guests, a Consecration Dedication Service was held to fortify Grace Inspirations’ covenant to the Master’s plan - continuing in the will and work of God’s ministry for the up-building of His kingdom!