Celebrating 62 Years of Grace

by Marshall Walter on June 30, 2025

Sunday mornings are always a refreshment for the soul, but we’re especially excited for this upcoming Sunday at Grace! Come hear Jordan’s message as we continue our Parables summer series, and stay for fellowship and burgers! The In-n-Out truck will be serving us after service, so come and celebrate with us over free lunch.

Speaking of celebrating, it’s our anniversary! Grace Simi is 62 years young and still going strong. It’s all because of the Lord! We look back on the past and see His faithfulness through every step that has brought us here today.

It all began in December 1960, with a Bible study of 19 people. They met in the home of Ed & Eileen Shimmel on First Street, and felt called to establish a church. The Shimmel, Osborne, and Weimer families chose Elmer Fricke, a retired missionary, as their first pastor, sowing the seeds for Grace Church of Simi Valley. A year later, the young church had nineteen members and was renting a building on Church Street (of all places!). Pastor Fricke’s wife, Gloria, taught Sunday School to the kids in the garage.

On July 5, 1963 the church was officially established by the state. We bought property off of Sycamore Drive and began to build. In 1965, John Gillis was called to replace Elmer Fricke, who was retiring. Gillis pastored for 17 years, and under his leadership, the church (86 members in 1970) quickly outgrew the new building. Plans for another sanctuary were drawn up, and the chapel was added in 1974.

By 1983, nearly 500 were regularly attending Grace, and John McIntosh was called to pastor our church. The Lord continued to provide, and in 1999 the Sycamore Center was completed. In 2003, Jordan Bakker was hired to oversee college ministry, and in 2012 he took on the mantle of Lead Pastor. Under his leadership, Grace commissioned Eric Durso to revitalize Grace Rancho (CA) in 2019, and commissioned Peter LeDuc to plant Grace Dover (NH) in 2022.

The mission of Grace Simi has not changed from what it was 62 years ago. We exist to make much of Jesus Christ by faithfully teaching God’s Word and caring for His people. No matter how long you have been with us, we hope you are encouraged by this glimpse into the past as we reflect on our history. To God be the glory! We hope to celebrate with you on Sunday.

Simi Community Brethren Church (before we became Grace Church), 1970s

Framing the Sycamore Center, 1998

About the Author

Marshall Walter

Marshall Walter is the Executive Pastor at Grace Church of Simi Valley. Marshall first visited Grace Church in December of 2000, but didn’t start attending regularly until he and his wife, Beka, started dating in the fall of 2001. After completing his degree from The Master’s College in 2004, Marshall spent a number of years as a teacher at Grace Brethren School, before joining the Pastoral Staff of Grace Church in the summer of 2009.

As Executive Pastor, Marshall aspires to serve the elders and staff as they strive to implement the mission of the church and become more effective at shepherding, equipping, and sending. Marshall and Beka have two children: Kay and Ben. The Walter Family is excited to continue ministering at Grace Church for the foreseeable future and can’t wait to see what God does here next!