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In January 1992, after a year of consecration and much prayer, following the leading and vision that the Lord provided, our Late Pastor and Founder Pearlene H. Motley announced the beginning of Grace Chapel Apostle Church of Christ in God. On April 5th, 1992 Grace Chapel Apostle Church of Christ in God had its grand opening at 2 pm at its first location, a storefront building on Carver Road in the Fieldale community. The church began with three members, Pastor P. H. Motley, her spouse, then Deacon Carl T. Motley, Sr. and their daughter Karlette Motley. God spoke to the hearts of various individuals and provisions for the church came from all directions. Remodeling of the building and a truckload of supplies were donated. Many came together to bless this new ministry. Dr. J.C. Richardson, presiding prelate of the Apostle Churches of Christ in God, dedicated the sanctuary in March of 1993. Several ministers rushed to the side of Pastor Motley to help push the vision of the ministry. There was work to be done in the vineyard and God provided the ministry with dedicated workers.
The church invested in an important segment of the ministry in the form of vans. Providing transportation was essential to the outreach of the church. Several ministries were added to the church and many came in under the covering of Pastor Motley. The Lord blessed her to reach out to people from all walks of life. She especially had a heart for the young people. Not only was she pastor of the church, but she was also the National Minister of Music as well as the president of the Junior Missionaries of the ACCG for many years. People would come from all over to hear her choirs sing.
The church outgrew its location and the Lord lead Pastor Motley to its current location, 182 Blackberry Road, Bassett. As she drove up on the parking lot the Lord told her, "This is it!" God had given Grace Chapel a beautiful building in which to worship. In December 1998 the members of Grace Chapel ACCG were lead by Pastor P.H. Motley and a Henry County Deputy in a caravan to it's new location. It's amazing that in it's old location, after the congregation made their exit from the sanctuary, the roof caved in under the weight of a heavy rain storm. We had many anointed services in that storefront. We'll never forget where God brought us from.
We used the lower portion of the building to worship while the upper portion was being renovated. After much prayer and fasting, in February 2000 the new sanctuary was dedicated. We lovingly refer to it as "The Upper Room." Dr. J.C. Richardson and the entire ACCG body as well as many pastors and friends from the community witnessed the Lord bless in that service.
Because of how the Lord blessed, Pastor Motley was inspired to change the name of the church to Grace Chapel Ministries. The ministry would never be the same. Pastor Motley was elated to see the work finished that she had begun, for God had showed her the "Promised Land." Later that year in 2000 she became ill and there was a need for an assistant pastor. Pastor Motley then brought her youngest son, Eld. Mandell A. Motley, before the church. The church voted to accept him as assistant pastor.
