Our History

Grace Seal Beach began during World War II, when two youth Bible studies merged together to begin a new church. We began as a church out of the efforts and sacrifices of students to reach kids and youth in Seal Beach. That desire to reach the next generation is still at the heart of Grace. 

The church began meeting on the second story of the building that is now Walt’s Wharf restaurant on the corner of Main St. and Central Ave. in Seal Beach until they were able to purchase three vacant lots on the corner of 8th and Central (where our church building still is). The cost for three lots a block from the ocean in 1944? $7,500. 

Our founding pastor was George Peek, a 28-year-old former police officer. Under George’s leadership for the next decade, the new church was able to build on the corner lots and establish a well-respected church in the community. 

After George left to lead North Long Beach Brethren Church, we went through a series of short-term pastorates for the next two decades until Roy Roberts came in 1972. Roy was a dynamic preacher and joyful presence in the community, leading to a great amount of growth in the church, as well as the building of the south church building (where we now have our Sanctuary). Roy was followed by a brief pastorate of Mike Ryan. 

Don Shoemaker had served as a pastor of another church in our fellowship (Los Altos Grace) prior to joining the Bible faculty at Biola. He was serving as an elder here when he was called to become the Senior Pastor in 1984, a role he continued until 2012. 

During Don’s leadership, Grace went through a name change (from Grace Brethren Church to Grace Community Church), a reflection of our heart for our Seal Beach neighbors. 

In the late 1990’s, we saw God use some of the young adults from Grace to build amazing ministries. Sharalyn Shaw was just out of college when she started Precious Lamb Preschool, a Christ-centered ministry for families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Long Beach. Cami Sigler went to Sierra Leone to begin Word Made Flesh-Sierra Leone to help kids in the poorest parts of one of the poorest countries in the world.

In 2012, longtime associate pastor Steve Williams succeeded Don in leading Grace and helped us chart a path forward. In 2016, the congregation voted to install Bob Wriedt as the Senior Pastor-Elect, following Steve’s retirement the next year. 

Since then, we’ve planted our first church (Branches Church of Arcata, CA) and seen God bring many to faith in Christ through the church.

We’re praying that our most fruitful and best years are in front of us as a church!