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Galilee Baptist Church
A Brief History

What God has accomplished at Galilee Baptist Church in the past has a significant impact upon our present goals and purpose. Galilee is a church body with descendents of several families of our early leaders still serving God at our church today.

How Did Galilee Begin?
• 1887—Rev. and Mrs. C.H. Walker came to Denver and recognized the need to establish a gospel preaching church. In May 1887, at the first Sunday meeting of the new church, 34 students and teachers met for Sunday School in a tent pitched on a vacant lot at 34th and Lawrence Street. The Walkers then raised the funds to construct Galilee's first building.
• June 7, 1888—Galilee Baptist Church was organized with twenty-three members.
• May 7, 1891— Joshua Gravett became the first full-time pastor at Galilee. The great evangelist , D.L. Moody, recommended Brother Gravett to this growing congregation. After discipling Joshua Gravett, Moody wrote, “Gravett is good, none better that I know.”

• _____--A second church building was purchased at 34th Avenue and Humboldt Street. Pastor Gravett, a carpenter by trade, played a major role in remodeling this new meeting place.
• July 1956—after more than 60 years with the church, Dr. Gravett went home to be with the Lord. When Pastor Gravett passed away at the age of 93, he had served the Lord faithfully and diligently as pastor, pastor emeritus, prayer warrior, and as a faithful communicator with the missionary family to the very end.
• 1952—a third site at 32nd Avenue and Adams Street became the location where Galileans worshipped.
• 1956—Dr. Lester Thompson became the next senior pastor and served until 1964.
• 1963 Galilee moved to it's current location in southeast Denver at 1091 South Parker Road, Galilee was able to broaden it’s ministry to include not only the city, but the burgeoning southeast suburbs as well.
• 1965—Galilee’s fourth pastor in 100 years was the Rev. Robert C. Frederich. Pastor Frederich led this congregation into a new generation of ministry by utilizing the multiple staff concept. Dr. Frederich left in early 1989.
• 1990—after a year of searching Dr. E. Glenn Wagner accepted the call to lead ministry at Galilee. Dr. Glenn Wagner served at Galilee until 1993.
• 1994—Rev. Andrew Meverden (an Army National Guard Chaplain) began his ministry as Galilee’s sixth senior pastor. Pastor Andy’s multi-cultural experience helped to bring the growth of ethnic ministries at Galilee. Pastor Meverden served at Galilee until he was called to active military service in 2002.
• 2006—God called Pastor Roman Sanchez to lead Galilee. His vast experience with youth and diverse groups gives Galilee a fresh outlook to ministry in the Mile High City.

By communicating Biblical truth in the context of supportive personal relationships, we ultimately seek to honor God by bringing lives into harmony with Him and with one another.