What We Believe
About God
There is one living and true God. He exists eternally in three persons…God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who are equal in power and glory. God created everything from nothing by speaking creation into existence in six literal days. (Isaiah 40:28, Genesis 1, Matthew 3:16-17)
About Jesus
Jesus is eternally God, equally God, and essentially God. Like God the Father and God the Spirit, Jesus is an equal third of the triune Godhead. He exists eternally, having no beginning and no end. All things were created through Him, for Him, and by Him. He was born to a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died a sinner’s death for all of mankind. After willingly giving up His life, He rose from the dead, overcoming sin and death. He then ascended into Heaven, preparing a place for believers to live forever. He will return, first to get His church and then seven years later to judge the world and defeat Satan once and for all. (Colossians 1:16, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a person who is an equal third of the triune Godhead. He is present on earth right now, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer in salvation and empowers the believer for service. He also gives spiritual gifts to whom He wills, when He wills. We believe that initial, physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is one’s love for others. We believe that the spiritual gifts are all active in the body of Christ today but must be used according to God’s word, in balance and order. (John 14:16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s inspired word to mankind, His specific revelation. It is the greatest love story ever told and the most extraordinary rescue mission in human history. The Word of God (the Bible) is perfect and infallible. It is the foundation upon which we operate and is the basis for which GBC is governed. We also believe that the word of God supersedes any earthly law contrary to the scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:16, Ephesians 2:20)
About Salvation
The Bible tells us that the first man and woman ever created, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey God and His Word. Because of that sinful decision, they were separated from God and His holiness. This decision affected not only them but also every human born after them. The Bible says their sin was passed down by birth. This means that at birth, each of us is guilty of sin before God. That fact alone makes it impossible for any of us to have a relationship with God unless our sins are paid for and taken away. This is where Jesus comes in. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God, rich in mercy and love, sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us on the cross. By His death and blood, our sins are covered, and we are no longer required to pay for them. It is by faith and grace alone that we receive His gift that was paid for by the blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus, God in man form. All we have to do is believe He died for our sins, confess we are sinners, ask Jesus to forgive us, and then receive Him as the Lord, Master, and Savior of our life. The Bible says if we do that, we will not only be forgiven but also be born again in the spirit and have access to Heaven and more importantly a relationship with God, the creator of all. (Romans 1:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9, John 3:16, John 5:13, John 11:25, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9) The first step of obedience after salvation is baptism for the purpose of outwardly showing our commitment to God. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:36-38)
About the Church
There is only one church, led by Jesus. It is His church. The church exists to know, love, glorify God, and make Him known to the world. In the church, Jesus appoints prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers (elders) to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. The church, or body of Christ, is commanded to meet weekly for Bible study, fellowship, communion, and prayers. The church is also commanded to make disciples worldwide, baptizing them and teaching them to obey the entire counsel of God. (Matthew 16:18, Hebrews 10:25, Matthew 28:18-20)
About Human Life
All human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of immeasurable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Genesis 1:27, Psalms 139:13-14, Proverbs 24:11-12, Proverbs 31:8-9)
About Mankind
All of mankind is sinful, and all have fallen short of God’s standard of perfection. Despite hard work, charitable deeds, or morality, we cannot save ourselves. All have sinned, but we are made new creations in Christ. (Romans 3:10-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
About Marriage
God created mankind uniquely and individually as either male or female, God instituted monogamous marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Marriage is exclusively the legal union of one genetic male and one genetic female sanctioned by the state and evidenced by a marriage ceremony. Accordingly, this ministry will not perform or allow to be performed upon its property, ceremonies between same-sex individuals, or any other that falls outside of the previously stated definition of marriage. This ministry will not condone or recognize such same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. Nor will it condone or acknowledge any other union that falls outside the marriage above definition. This will remain true even if the state or federal legislators pass laws that provide for recognition of such unions. (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:22-28)
Pastor Travis Lee
It is a privilege to serve as the pastor of Graveston Baptist Church. I would love to share a little about myself and the path that led my family and me to this wonderful group of people at GBC.
I was born in Sandusky, Michigan, in 1975. When I was 12, I trusted Christ as my Savior, and shortly after, my family moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico, where my dad became the pastor of a local church — a ministry he continues to this day. Growing up, I had the privilege of serving alongside and learning from my dad. He not only taught me theology and the doctrines of Scripture, but also showed me how to love God’s Word and rely on His Spirit.
While in New Mexico, I met the love of my life, and we married in 1999. After five years of praying for children, God graciously blessed us with five amazing kids over the next decade.
I first sensed God’s call to be a pastor in my 30s. For years, I ran from that calling until, while preaching my brother-in-law’s funeral, I finally surrendered to the Lord’s will. Shortly after, I began teaching and preaching at the church my wife and I thought would be our “forever home.” Yet once again, God called us out of our comfort zone — this time to the Knoxville area.
In 2020, after much prayer, fasting, and seeking godly counsel, we stepped out in faith and left our home, jobs, ministries, family, and friends to move to Knoxville, Tennessee. Through a process of trials, growth, and relationships, God led us to Graveston Baptist Church, where I had the privilege of serving as youth and associate pastor for three and a half years.
By God’s continued faithfulness, He has now allowed me to serve as the lead pastor. As pastor, my desire is to help you fall in love with God’s Word. I’m a strong believer in expository teaching because it helps us understand the full context of Scripture. When I approach God’s Word, I do so with the goal of knowing Him better — because the more we know Him, the more we love Him.
Sundays at Graveston
We meet every Sunday at 9:30 AM for Sunday School. Our service
starts at 10:30 AM with worship and we then lead into teaching from our Pastor, Travis Lee.
At GBC, we provide care for every child at all ages. From our Nursery to our Kids and Youth programming, our volunteers are ready to facilitate your child's relationship with Jesus.
At Graveston Baptist Church, you can come just as you are. We want you to feel comfortable and welcome as you worship with us. God cares far more about our hearts than our clothes, and we’re thankful to have you join us in worship.
Our community has a variety of groups that will best fit your age and stage of life. Join us every Sunday to get plugged in!
We offer a mix of traditional and contemporary music.
Travis Lee
PASTOR
Travis Lee
PASTOR
Travis Lee
PASTOR
Travis Lee
PASTOR
Travis Lee
PASTOR
Travis Lee
PASTOR
About Us
Founded in 1869, Graveston Baptist Church is the second oldest church in Corryton, Tennessee, a small and close-knit community located about 15 miles northeast of Knoxville.
For more than 150 years, Graveston has served as a place of worship, fellowship, and community.
In 2005, God blessed our congregation with a new, larger building to continue the work He began generations ago.
Today, our church is experiencing a renewed season of growth as we seek to build our lives and ministry firmly upon the truth of God’s Word. Our desire is that every person who attends Graveston Baptist Church will grow in three key ways — Learning, Loving, and Living.
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Learning God’s Word so that we may know Him more deeply.
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Loving the people around us with the heart of Christ.
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Living each day in a way that brings glory to Him.
We welcome everyone to come as they are and join us on this journey. In every service, ministry, and outreach, our aim is to please the Lord and follow Him faithfully through the study and application of His Word.