God had already placed a call on Pastor Roberts’ heart to preach the Gospel before coming to Jacksonville.  After much counsel, prayer, preparation, the Roberts family retired from service in the Marines (July 2000) and left for Arkansas to attend Bethel Baptist College.

While attending Bible College, God began to work on Pastor Roberts’ heart about pastoring a church.  Shortly thereafter Pastor Rodney Piedot contacted him about coming back to Grace to candidate.  Once again after much prayer and counsel, the Roberts family knew that God had called them back home to Jacksonville and Grace Baptist Church.  After serving as associate pastor for approximately 1 year, Pastor Roberts became the second pastor in the church’s 30-year history when Pastor Piedot retired on March 19, 2005.