Page 161 - Grace150 Devotional

broadcast another church’s services the following month, putting churches on
rotation for air time. One of the first things Dr. Dunn did was find a radio station
that would broadcast Grace’s services every Sunday morning. He negotiated a
sponsorship agreement with Kenneth Koch Motor Company to buy air time on
station WPEO every Sunday.
Church membership had grown to nearly 900
by this time, and the leadership looked at their
options for expansion. They determined there
was not enough room in their current location to
expand any further. They purchased land at the
corner of Forrest Hill and Knoxville avenues in
October 1953, and a new building was designed to
alleviate overcrowding and provide ample parking.
It also offered a new luxury: air-conditioning!
The first service in the new building was held on
Forrest Hill and Knoxville Wednesday, September 8, 1957.
1957-1973
Dr. Dunn was “a man of the
Book.” He was passionate about preaching the Word, and
he brought prophecy conferences, missions conferences,
and guest speakers. God blessed this work, and the
membership increased to more than 1,400 by 1971. Daily
Vacation Bible School was reaching over 1,300 children
as well. Meanwhile, the radio ministry grew to over 80 Grace Worship Hour
stations, taking the gospel message across the nation and Reach in 1973
into other countries.
In 1973, the church building was expanded. A new sanctuary, along with new
offices and Sunday school rooms, was built on the south side of the existing
church building. The old sanctuary was converted into a gym. The new sanctuary
was built to accommodate a new medium: television.
Dr. Dunn recognized the power of media as early as 1944, when the movie “Going
My Way” starring Bing Crosby as a Catholic priest led to a surge in Catholicism.
Dr. Dunn wanted to harness the power of media for the message of the gospel of
salvation through grace by faith alone. Expanding from radio into television was
a natural step.

devotions for the journey A-4