How and when did our fellowship begin?
GRACE (as it is commonly known) was started in May of 2001 in the family room of our pastor and his wife, Jim and Becky Bryars. Things quickly became cramped and the Lord supplied space for us at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Cottage Hill Rd. With small beginnings in the fellowship hall, Grace grew to an average attendance of 175 by the spring of 2006. God graciously provided a permanent home for our body in October 2006 with the purchase of a building near the corner of Airport Blvd. and Cody Rd.
To what denomination does Grace belong?
GRACE actually belongs to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). We appear to be a non-denominational church because our focus is reaching the unchurched. The PCA is a relatively young denomination, having been formed in 1973. The PCA is committed to the infallibility and authority of the Bible and the primacy of the Great Commission, with our roots in the truths of the Reformation.
What is our worship like?
We embrace a contemporary style of music that brings the historic themes of the Christian faith in to the world of modern culture. Through our time of worship we aim to engage believers and unbelievers with the truth of the gospel, both stimulating their minds and appealing to their hearts. Our preaching is expositional, meaning we see great value in learning the word of God together as it was written. We believe these powerful avenues of worship draw us together as a community and lead us nearer to the throne of God.
When do you take the Lord’s Supper?
The center of Jesus’ celebration with his disciples was the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Because of its spiritual significance, we aim to celebrate communion every month, if not more often. Our desire is to make this corporate experience unique and special, helping us to grow in our desire for Christ.
How should I dress?
We believe God is more interested in the state of our hearts than what we wear. (Scripture never outlines a dress code.) Therefore, we emphasize freedom, whether formal or very casual, as long as we all remain respectful to the Lord and caring toward others. Most importantly, we look forward to seeing you, not what you’re wearing.
How can I become a member?
We welcome into our local body, without reservation or bias, anyone who trusts in Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. With membership comes great privilege and blessing as well as great responsibility. As such, we view it as far more than a mere formality. If you desire to pursue membership, you can sign up for the next Discovering GRACE class. These classes are offered several times a year and guide you in your understanding of the vision, beliefs and ministries of Grace, knowledge that will better equip you to serve the body. After sharing your testimony of faith in Christ with an elder, we will publicly celebrate your membership during one of our Sunday Morning Worship services.
How can my child become a member of GRACE?
Not only do we desire to grow the children of GRACE in their knowledge of the Lord and the truth of His word, we also seek to bring children who have placed their faith in Christ into full fellowship of God’s covenant community. Children who profess faith in Jesus can go through our “Children’s Discovering Grace” course designed to equip them with the knowledge necessary to enjoy church membership. This course, taught by the child’s parents with the oversight of the elders, would enable those children who complete it to become communicant members (members who receive the Lord’s Supper). This is one of the aims of our children’s ministry, to grow young people into spiritual maturity within a thriving body of believers.
What about the offering?
At GRACE we have chosen not to pass an offering plate. While some may find that strange, we strongly encourage all believers to participate in growing God’s kingdom by giving of your time and resources. We receive contributions to the ministry of Grace via an offering box set up in the foyer of the sanctuary.
How is your leadership set up?
We believe the local body of Christ is best governed by a fellowship of elders. This group of men, known as the Session, both oversee the congregation’s corporate spiritual growth and guide the direction of church ministry. Serving also with the elders are deacons, whose responsibilities include caring for the property and ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of those inside and outside the church. Both our elders and deacons are elected by congregational vote on the basis of the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Together, the service of the elders and the deacons furthers the gospel ministry in word and deed.
How do I get connected?
There are a number of ways to be connected inside GRACE. One of the quickest ways to get connected is through Community Groups. These groups meet bi-weekly for fellowship, prayer, bible study, and outreach. The purpose of these gatherings is to be an open door for any who wish to know more about Jesus and experience spiritual friendships. You can also join us on Sunday mornings for Bible Study at 9am and Worship at 10:30am. Other opportunities, such as Men’s and Women’s bible studies, college gatherings, retreats and local outreach projects, are also ways for you to be involved at GRACE.
Are you involved in the community?
At GRACE we see ourselves inescapably tied to our community. We are blessed to be planted in a richly diverse area of Mobile, which allows us to connect with many different types of people. Jesus teaches us that we are not to live for ourselves, but for others. With this in mind, we continually strive to bring the gospel in word and in deed to the people of our community. Through neighborhood projects, like tutoring, sports camps, bible clubs, and others, we strive to make ourselves available to those around us so that they might see the love of Christ in us.
What about world missions?
From our early days, GRACE has been committed to the cause of global missions? We are actively involved in missions activities, financially supporting missionaries in a number of different countries. We are presently developing a partnership with a ministry in Honduras, enabling us to support them through short term missions projects. Our short term mission projects are a way for the members of GRACE to expand their desire to spread the gospel throughout the world. It is our hope that God would call many from GRACE to the mission field. For more information on World Missions, visit the ministries page of our website.