Our History

In the 1970's, Frank Susler and his family joined Abbott Loop Christian Center in Anchorage, Alaska.  From 1975 to early 1981, Frank led a successful home fellowship where new believers grew in the Lord.   Following his salvation in Anchorage, Frank attended the Abbott Loop Christian Center Bible College and graduated in 1978.  In March of 1981, he was ordained as a pastor.  Having grown up in Milwaukee, Frank was impassioned to return and start a church.  So, a team of nine adults and their children, made up primarily of Frank's home group members, were commissioned by Abbott Loop to start a local church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Grace Christian Fellowship (originally dubbed "North Milwaukee Christian Center), patterned after the New Testament, was established in June, 1981, by Pastor Frank Susler and his team, which included his son - a teenager at the time -  Jim Susler. 


Jim always knew he would follow in his father's footsteps.  Ordained as a pastor in 1992, Jim has ministered to the congregation in many ways over the years, including acting as principal of our private school, founding a dynamic youth ministry, all while playing a key role on the GCF leadership team.  We are thrilled that in 2015, Jim assumed responsibility as lead pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship.  Frank continues to serve our congregation through apostolic teaching and is a key player in the messianic ministry of Tikkun International.

Click here for a list of all current leaders.


Over the past few decades, Grace has taken shape, sharpened its vision, and became what it is today - a cross-generational, community-focused congregation with a passion for knowing God.

Our Values

  • Community Outreach

    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

    Matthew 28:9-20a


    We recognize that the Great Commission (above) includes outreach to our neighbors and friends.  At Grace, we align our ministries to reach out to our local community.  Whether involved in Home Groups, teens/children's meetings or general congregational services, we are all actively involved in sharing the good news of the scriptures in the Bible.  Our vision is built on the principle of reaching targeted areas in our city.  Come in and learn more about the specific things we do to connect our congregation with the needs of the community.

  • Body Ministry

    Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

    I Corinthians 12:12, 24-27


    Grace is a congregation that both believes and functions in body ministry.  Body ministry is simply when the congregation ministers to the church body.  Each member within the church has a special place and a special function.  The Holy Spirit equips each believer to function within the local church to the glory of God.  It is God's will that each Christian minister his or her particular gifts.

  • Cross-generational approach

    For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
    Psalm 100:5

    We believe that you don't have to wait until you're 18 years old to be used by God, and that conversely, there is no "retirement" from serving the Lord.  The Christian faith is relevant for all generations, and we work hard for our teachings and programs to reflect this belief.  We have specialty groups for all ages.

    Contact us with questions.

Our Beliefs

GCF is an evangelical, conservative charismatic local church that believes the entire Bible is the infallible Word of God (II Timothy 3:16). Therefore, GCF believes and teaches the following:

  • That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
  • That Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and in His personal return to this earth in power and glory.
  • That all have sinned and the only means of being cleansed from sin is through the blood of Christ.
  • That in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling presence, the believer is enabled to live a Godly life which manifests the fruit of the Spirit.
  • In water baptism by immersion.
  • In the reality and personality of our enemy, Satan.
  • In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The saved to everlasting life and the lost to eternal judgment.