Grace Church of Mentor originated as a church plant from Erieside Gospel Church. (Erieside has since been renamed First Baptist Church of Willowick in Willowick, Ohio.) Pastor Paul Cell was the Pastor at Erieside, and it was his desire to reach the growing population in the northern Eastlake, Willoughby, and Mentor area with the Gospel. What started as a bus route grew so large that Erieside knew that they should begin a church. Pastor Cell's evangelistic heart was rewarded with joy when in May of 1948, Grace Baptist Church was incorporated under the laws of the state Ohio.

Over the years, Grace Baptist Church became Grace Church of Mentor to more reflect the New Testament Church model. Our church moved from a little white building on Lakeshore Boulevard to our present location on Reynolds Road. In the early years, several pastors headed this little ministry. In 1972, Pastor Robert Potter heeded the call of the Lord to come from a small work in Parma, Ohio to Grace. Through his ministry and work, the church was renamed and relocated, even before the times of non-denominational ministries! His ministry focused on turning people to the Word of God as their source of direction for life. He led the church with the verse, "For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9). The church continued to grow throughout the years showing the need for a full time youth pastor, hired in the fall of 1991. Two more staff members joined in 1997–one a future church planter and the other a music and children's director. Those men have been called to other ministries, and others have come in their place.

Today our original 1979 building comprises portions of our present Fellowship Hall, some bathrooms, conference room and Pastor Tim's office only! Over the years God blessed GCM allowing us to add a small addition in 1986, our present auditorium in 1995, and an educational and office wing in 2004.

Grace Church still stands for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, but we also exist to evangelize the lost and equip the saints with the goal of Christlikeness. Our present pastor, Tim Potter, was that youth pastor that was hired in 1991. Pastor Robert Potter finished his ministry at Grace in 2005 after 32 years at GCM. We praise the Lord for his faithfulness, his concern about the holy Word of God, and his passion for souls. He now begins church ministries here in Northeast Ohio under GCM.

Under Pastor Tim Potter, GCM continues to advance the gospel, disciple new converts, and start new churches in Northeast Ohio. We have grown and continue to grow through souls being saved, not human effort. We look forward to the future that God has for Grace through our Pastoral and spiritual leadership and our congregation. "We proclaim Him, admonishing every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." (Colossians 1:28-29).