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How and when did this church start?
Grace opened for public ministry in the fall of 1992, after several years of prayer and a year of preparation and training by a small group of visionary people. We officially organized as a church in the summer of 1993. Community surveys and studies provided us with a sense of the needs, and the PCA and Calvary Church (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) provided generous start-up funding. Through much prayer and fasting, we set out to . . .
Attempt things for God that are so great that only He can get the credit!
How big do you hope or plan to get?
We really are not interested in size, but we are interested in people. So, although we have not intended and are not planning to be bigger, and do not “market” the church, we want to welcome and pursue anyone God may lead to our path. We do believe in several principles that we hope will keep us flexible and open to whatever God may do.
1. That as the church gets bigger, it must get smaller -- we must emphasize smaller groups and communities where relationships can grow.
2. We must remain open to spinning off daughter churches.
3. We must continually seek repentant hearts that will keep us from self-glory and kingdom building on the one hand, and apathy toward new and interested people on the other. We don’t want to be proud or materialistic, but neither do we want to be cold, uncaring, and cliquish.
Are you part of a denomination?
Grace Church is made up of a wide diversity of church backgrounds, united by our central focus on the gospel. We have a relationship of mutual accountability and support and are connected to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). This is a fast-growing denomination that emphasizes biblical faithfulness and outreach. Becoming a member at Grace does not require becoming Presbyterian, only that you have a personal relationship with Christ.
How is your leadership set up?
We follow what we believe is a biblical and representative form of church government. The congregation elects elders based on their spiritual qualifications to serve. These elders (together called “the Session”) are responsible to guide and oversee the church. The pastor(s) and staff are accountable to the elders. The congregation also elects deacons and deaconesses, whose sole function is the ministry of mercy to the needy. And the elders appoint an administrative board, whose function is to advise and assist with finances, property and management. See our staff page for a list of these individuals.
What sort of financial controls do you have?
Our treasurer serves as an elder. We also have established a set of financial guidelines and internal controls that are strictly followed. Further, our leadership reviews financial statements monthly, and a line-item budget is adhered to for accountability. Periodic independent audits are also part of our stewardship plan.
How do you become a member?
We see membership as a serious commitment to our church family and
to being a partner in ministry. As such, we view it as far more
than a mere formality. To pursue membership, simply sign up here for
the next New Members' Class.
Do you plan to have Sunday evening or Wednesday evening services?
Not in the traditional sense. Since we want to encourage home meetings
and small groups, we plan to avoid anything that might compete.
If we do offer other services at other times, it will be either
due to overcrowding or in order to pursue our vision (such as our
Saturday night service). We do have a Wednesday Night
Grace Growth that includes classes
for adults, students and children.
What about missions?
We are very active in missions.
Our approach, though, has been to seek close personal ties with
the missionaries we support. Therefore, instead of supporting many
people with little amounts, we support a few with large amounts.
This allows us to be much more involved. See the mission display
in the north hallway for information on the great folks we are connected
to. We also have many people from our body serving on short-term
mission teams each year.
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