2001:8003:3E12:3300:C91E:4291:CE02:4F18: Undid revision 1268678270 by Bhairava7 (talk) revert as it part of the summary of the article per WP:LEDE

2025-06-08T06:15:43Z

Undid revision 1268678270 by Bhairava7 (talk) revert as it part of the summary of the article per WP:LEDE

New page

{{Short description|Nondenominational evangelical Christian church in Maryland, US}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name = Greater Grace World Outreach
| image = GGWO Church Service.JPG
| imagewidth = 300px
| caption = View of GGWO Sunday morning church service from the AV/IT/WEB studio.
| main_classification = [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]]
| orientation = [[Nondenominational]]
| founder = [[Carl H. Stevens Jr.]]
| founded_date = "The Bible Speaks" in 1973, reformed as GGWO in 1987
| founded_place = [[Baltimore]]
| leader = [[Thomas Schaller (Chair, Board of Elders)|Thomas Schaller]]
| area = Worldwide
| congregations = 550
| ministers = 1000
}}
'''Greater Grace World Outreach''' ('''GGWO''') is a [[nondenominational]] [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] Christian church located in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]].

GGWO was founded by [[Carl H. Stevens Jr.]] who was succeeded by Pastor Thomas Schaller as Presiding Elder and Overseeing Pastor of Greater Grace World Outreach in Baltimore in April 2005.

GGWO would have a weekly attendance of 1500 in [[Baltimore]] and 550 churches throughout the world in 2024. Most of these churches are located in [[North America]], [[Europe]] and [[Africa]], with larger congregations in [[Hungary]], [[Azerbaijan]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB86943381833191500?mod=googlewsj |title=Religion Is Spread to Ex-Soviets, But Local Clerics Are Inflamed|accessdate=2008-05-27 |last=Pope |first=Hugh |date=2007-07-21 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> and [[Ghana]]. Most of the “pastors” attended the unaccredited affiliated [[Maryland Bible College & Seminary]] in Baltimore, however there are many other affiliated Bible colleges around the world. The offerings of Greater Grace also include the radio program ''Grace Hour'', Greater Grace Christian Academy, Christian Sports Clubs, along with other internal methods of luring people into their community.

The church was condemned for manipulating donors in 1987 and criticized for cult-like practices in 2004, as well as its mishandling of sexual abuse in 2019.

==History==

===Origins===
In the early 1960s, Carl H. Stevens Jr., a bakery truck driver, was praying at Wortheley Pond near [[Peru, Maine]], and developed a vision for a worldwide Christian ministry. Stevens was later ordained by a council of independent ministers at the Montsweag Baptist Church on March 7, 1963. From there Stevens went on to minister at the Woolwich-Wiscasset Baptist Church, and establish the Northeast School of the Bible in 1972. He also began to experiment with radio evangelism, with a program called "Telephone Time."

In 1973, following an arson attack on their church building and a controversial church split, Stevens and his closest followers moved the center of their operations to a former Catholic school facility in [[South Berwick, Maine]]. There "The Bible Speaks" became the name of the church, and "the Northeast School of the Bible" was renamed as "Stevens School of the Bible". Expanded radio and television outreaches continued to draw in new followers and—both through church planting operations by the organization's Bible school students and graduates, and existing churches affiliating themselves with Stevens' organization—a network of "branch ministries" began to develop.

In 1976, the school grew beyond its capacity. As a result, Carl Stevens moved the "home base" of his organization to a former private boarding school facility which they were able to purchase in [[Lenox, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carlstevens.org/subpage1.html |title= Report on "The Bible Speaks"|accessdate=2008-05-27 |last= |date=1981-03-28 |publisher=Gospel Truth Ministries}}</ref>

The cornerstone of Stevens' career in Christian broadcasting was the call-in radio show he hosted, originally known as "Telephone Time", now called "Grace Hour".

In both South Berwick and Lenox, the Bible Speaks developed a considerable local presence, not only through drawing large numbers of young adults into these small communities as Bible school students, but also through operating extensive Sunday School operations, with a private fleet of retired school buses for bringing in children from the surrounding area.

They also established a network of private K-12 schools, beginning with Southern Maine Christian Schools in South Berwick (later moved to [[Scarborough, Maine]]), and then Stevens Christian Schools in Lenox. Church planting missionary teams were also sent out first to [[El Salvador]] and then to [[Finland]] and other European countries {{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}. In the 1980s this expanded to include church planting operations in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Thomas Schaller, the current leader of GGWO, began his pastoral career as the head of their original missionary team to Finland.

In the 1983, the Bible Speaks purchased a Norwegian ferry boat which they renovated to use as a missionary relief vessel in the Caribbean. This boat was named La Gracia, with Baltimore, Maryland as its official home port.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/homefleet/shipst2.html |title=Norwegian Homefleet–WW II|accessdate=2008-05-27 |year=2008 |publisher=Warsailors.com}}</ref>

In 1987, "The Bible Speaks" was forced to declare bankruptcy due to a $6 million dollar court case in which the founding pastor was determined to have manipulated and pressured a donor into secretly donating large sums of money. <ref> BS, [https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/05/15/church-dispute-spills-onto-internet/ Church dispute spills onto Internet], baltimoresun.com, USA, May 15, 2004 </ref>

===Present organization===
In 1987, after going bankrupt, the church moved in [[Baltimore]] and was renamed Greater Grace World Outreach. It established ministries including the Grace Hour, Greater Grace Christian Academy, Maryland Bible College and Seminary, the Christian Athletics Program, as well as international outreach ministries. [[Image:GGWO Auditorium1.JPG|thumb|300px|A section of GGWO'S 1,200 seat church [[auditorium]].]]

In 2003, Carl Stevens became too ill to continue his leadership of GGWO. In 2005, the elders elected Rodger Stenger to become the new chief elder of the church. However, Rodger Stenger chose not to accept the position. In his place the elders elected Thomas Schaller as senior pastor, after a congregational vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carlstevens.org/subpage30.html |title=Timeline |accessdate=2008-05-27 |year=2007|publisher=Carlstevens.org}}</ref> Still, many of the elders and senior pastors were dissatisfied with the choice, citing Schaller's views on the role of the senior pastor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/05/15/church-dispute-spills-onto-internet/ |title=Church dispute spills onto Internet; Web site airs accusations of impropriety by pastor |access-date=2008-05-27 |last=Langfitt |first=Frank |date=2004-05-15 |newspaper=Baltimore Sun}}</ref> In 2004, many church leaders, associated ministry leaders, and affiliate churches elected to disaffiliate. A group of pastors who disaffiliated formed a new organization known as The International Association of Grace Ministries. GGWO would have 550 churches throughout the world in 2024.<ref name="GGWO">{{Cite web|url=https://ggwo.org/about/|title=What is Greater Grace?|website=ggwo.org}}</ref>

==Beliefs and practices==

The beliefs of Greater Grace are outlined in its [[doctrinal statement]] and detailed in booklets written by [[Carl H. Stevens Jr.|Carl H. Stevens]]. Worship is [[Christian liturgy|non-liturgical]] but is generally structured as follows: (singing), announcements, worship (singing), offering, opening prayer, sermon, closing prayer/benediction/altar call (singing), closing announcements. Songs are usually [[contemporary worship music|contemporary]], but [[Classical music|classical]] [[hymn]]s are also sung on account of the wide range of ages among members. An "offering song" is also sung during the taking of the offering, which is often sung by a member of the congregation who is not a regular member of the [[worship team]], or by one of the churches [[choir]]s. [[Evangelism]], ''raps'' (devotionals, or informal Q&A meetings, usually following sermons, but also held at various times throughout the week, most notably during lunch hour), and informal [[Bible study (Christian)|Bible study]] are also considered important acts of worship.

The organization has a 10-point Doctrinal Statement available on its website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ggwo.org/index.php?module=main&action=docstatement |title=Doctrinal Statement |accessdate=2008-06-07 |year=2007 |publisher=Greater Grace Outreach}}</ref> The organization limits the pastorate and/or homiletic role to men due to a literal interpretation of I Tim. 2:12, but allows women to lead in just about any other capacity.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} The church leadership is strongly anti-homosexuality<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ggwo.org/sermons/the-six-stages-of-homosexuality/ | title=The Six Stages of Homosexuality }}</ref> and [[anti-abortion]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}.

==Controversies==
In 2004, Greater Grace World Outreach has been accused of cult-like behavior.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/637903861.html?dids=637903861:637903861&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+15%2C+2004&author=Frank+Langfitt&pub=The+Sun&desc=Church+dispute+spills+onto+Internet+%3B+Web+site+airs+accusations+of+impropriety+by+pastor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025082140/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/637903861.html?dids=637903861:637903861&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+15,+2004&author=Frank+Langfitt&pub=The+Sun&desc=Church+dispute+spills+onto+Internet+%3B+Web+site+airs+accusations+of+impropriety+by+pastor |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |title=Church dispute spills onto Internet; Web site airs accusations of impropriety by pastor |accessdate=2008-05-27 |last=Langfitt |first=Frank |date=2004-05-15 |newspaper=Baltimore Sun}}</ref> In 2007, a letter was written by the [[Christian Research Institute]], which offers a list of suggestions for the church, attempting to correct any of the false teachings that might exist. The main teaching which was considered a concern was that of delegated authority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carlstevens.org/subpage.html |title=Christian Research Institute |accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2007 |publisher=Carlstevens.org}}</ref> However, in this document, Miller concedes that "TBS has, up to the time of this writing, also maintained an orthodox, biblical position on those doctrines most essential to the Christian faith. Thus, we do not consider TBS a non-Christian cult, but rather a Christian ministry." The document concludes with a call to repentance for the egregious sins committed by Stevens and leadership of GGWO. A repentance that has not come in full.

In 2019, 32 people told The Millstones group that they had been sexually assaulted as children by men from the church. 18 other survivors also came forward. Victims and families say church officials have failed to provide satisfactory responses to the complaints.<ref>Leonardo Blair, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/baltimore-megachurch-to-investigate-after-abuse-allegations.html Baltimore megachurch promises investigation after dozens allege childhood sex abuse], christianpost.com, USA, July 11, 2024</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.ggwo.org Greater Grace World Outreach Website]
* [http://www.usachurches.org/church/greater-grace-world-outreach.htm GGWO U.S.A Churches.org Website]
* [http://www.ggwo.org/missions GGWO Missions Website]
* [https://archive.today/20130221215620/http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=5452413 Fisher, Marc (1986-09-04). "Money Talks, Bible Speaks -- How To Spend $7 Million Religiously?" Times Union (Albany, NY). Retrieved 2012-05-15.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVN0c460VaY 60 Minutes, (1987-05-31) Part 1, Reporting by Correspondent Roger Mudd. CBS. Season 20. 15 minutes. Retrieved from YouTube 2012-05-15.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIuqnaDnpsg 60 Minutes, (1987-05-31) Part 2, Interviews with Diane Sawyer. CBS. Season 20. 11 minutes. Retrieved from YouTube 2012-05-15.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100516014431/http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/869/869.F2d.628.88-1254.html In re THE BIBLE SPEAKS, Debtor. Elizabeth DOVYDENAS, Plaintiff, Appellee, v. THE BIBLE SPEAKS, Defendant, Appellant. 869 F.2d 628. United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. Heard Oct. 4, 1988. Decided March 9, 1989. Retrieved 2012-05-15.]
* [http://articles.nydailynews.com/2001-04-17/sports/18181666_1_charlie-ward-senior-pastor-knick Bondy, Flip (2001-04-17). "Church of team pastor has troubled roots" New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-05-15.]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110187,00.html Gleick, Elizabeth and Lambert, Pam (2003-04-19). "The Strangers Among Us-It's Not Just Waco: Cults Ruled by Paranoia Flourish All Over America" People Magazine. Retrieved 2012-05-15.]

{{coord|39|18|54|N|76|32|33|W|region:US-MD|display=title}}
[[Category:Evangelical megachurches in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical churches in Maryland]]
[[Category:Churches in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Christian missions]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1987]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Sexual abuse scandals in Nondenominational Evangelical Christianity]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]

Greater Grace World Outreach - Revision history

2001:8003:3E12:3300:C91E:4291:CE02:4F18: Undid revision 1268678270 by Bhairava7 (talk) revert as it part of the summary of the article per WP:LEDE