Two Year
Ministry Plan

Thank you, Grace Church, for providing backpacks full of school supplies through our Back-to-School Drive! They are being delivered to children in need across the Upstate through our DSS partners in Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, and Spartanburg counties. Additionally, we have the joy of providing backpacks for children connected to Front Porch Housing and Neighborhood Focus this year.

By the numbers:

• Over 1,200 backpacks were donated
• 481 elementary backpacks = $11,000+
• 727 middle/high backpacks = $65,000+
• $76,000+ total given towards backpacks and school supplies

We are so thankful for your generosity, and our DSS partners have all expressed their gratitude as well. One of our partners had this to say:

On behalf of our staff at Pickens County DSS, I want to let you know how much we appreciate the generosity of Grace Church and your partners in providing school supplies and backpacks for our children. Our staff has already started giving them to their clients! We are very blessed by your generosity. I would also like to thank you all for your prayers for our children that receive these backpacks. May God Bless each of you as you show what true community partnership looks like.

Please take a moment and ask God to encourage and reveal more of himself to each child who receives a backpack. There are many other ways you can serve vulnerable children through our Foster & Adopt ministry. Click below to see how you can support foster and adoptive families throughout the year.

Navigating circumstances like divorce, the loss of a loved one, or caring for someone with a disability or special needs is challenging for anyone. However, it’s particularly difficult for kids and teens when their families are facing one of these complex issues. That’s why we have Ascend.

This summer, 56 children and teens attended Ascend—a weeklong program designed to give students a safe place and opportunity to process and discuss the common experiences associated with grief, divorce, and caregiving. Each day, students came and participated in fun, outdoor activities; met in groups based on their age, gender, and reason for attending; and were able to learn how they are not alone and that God cares for them in the midst of a difficult circumstance. Leaders were also able to give students practical ways to cope with the emotions that inevitably come along with these complex and challenging situations.

It was a blessing to see these kids come together, have fun, and be able to open up to their leaders and one another. It was also amazing to see how our church community came together to support this program. Community groups and individual members provided lunch daily for the kids, and our Mosaic Inspire community helped get gifts ready for the students to receive when they arrived. All these efforts came together to show the love of Jesus to these children and teens. Will you join us in thanking God for the work he has done and pray for continued growth?

For years, both members of Grace church and individuals from our community have experienced life change through re:generation—a 12-step discipleship process oriented around life change and hope through the application of God’s Word.

In late 2020, we were excited to launch re:gen for Students with a small number of our high school students. Since then, the ministry has grown consistently, and more and more of our students are grappling with the difficult issues in their lives and experiencing positive life change. In this age of social media and constant access to information, teens face many weighty issues—pornography, anger, resistance to authority, substance abuse, anxiety, and more. We’ve been both challenged and encouraged by their willingness to confront their struggles honestly and be vulnerable in community.

While working through these issues has been hard, the rewards are already evident—both in the lives of participants and in their circles of influence. We are so thankful for our students, the leaders walking through this journey with them, and above all, a faithful God who offers hope and freedom through the gospel.

Will you join us in praying for re:gen for Students? New groups will launch this fall. If you are interested in learning more, click below.

Front Porch Housing is not only providing a supportive community for residents, it is also creating many discipleship opportunities—both for our members and our community. Recently, we connected with the coach of the Eastside High School football team, who was looking for ways to get his team involved in community service. This led to over 20 football players and multiple coaches participating in a work day at Front Porch Housing.

These guys showed up ready to work, and they did lots of heavy lifting! They moved large items to storage and delivered other large pieces to Miracle Hill as donations. As they were about to leave, one of our new residents arrived from Colorado, and they all pitched in and got her trailer unloaded in an hour. She and her daughter were so grateful for their help after a long cross-country trip.

And after a day of hard work, the team has already committed to return and continue serving! We are thankful for these students, their coaches, and their willingness to help us create a supportive community for those in need. To learn more about Front Porch Housing and how you can get involved, click below.

Last year, we were excited to launch a newly revised version of our Ezer study, Redeeming Sexuality. This study takes a deep, biblical look at the roots of sexual brokenness, how it is manifested in our lives, and how we can find freedom and hope in the gospel. We are so thankful to have this resource for our women.

Part of the publication process is getting the book translated into Spanish for our Grace en Español campuses. These translations also allow us to share resources with our friends and ministry partners in Spanish speaking countries. Grupo Scribere is a translating service specializing in faith-based works. Founded by Franco and Elena de Medina, Grupo Scribere has translated all our Ezer works in the past, and we have developed a good relationship through working with them.

During the pandemic, Franco and Elena began listening to our Español teachings, and when they translated Redeeming Sexuality, they generously donated the cost of the translation (over $8,000) as an offering to Grace en Español. We were humbled by their generosity and blessed to accept their contribution to aid in our mission of making disciples.

To learn more about Redeeming Sexuality or register for a study, click below.

The number of people with dementia is on the rise, and for each person diagnosed, care is required. Many families are functioning as caregivers without any education or training, which leaves them vulnerable to confusion, fear, frustration, and ultimately, burnout. One way Grace is seeking to support these families is through Understanding Dementia—a Grace Institute equipping class designed to help families and caregivers of those impacted by dementia gain a better understanding of the disease.

We were able to partner with the staff of The Gardens to offer Understanding Dementia this past spring, and over 50 people participated. The class covered basic dementia education, practical coping strategies, local resources, a dementia experience, and the opportunity to ask specific questions about dementia to professionals in the field.

One couple who took the class had this to say about their experience:

Understanding Dementia provided us with explanations about how dementia changes a person’s brain—giving us a better understanding about the changes we saw in my dad’s capabilities and his behaviors. It also gave us an opportunity to ask questions, share our experiences, and receive useful resources and support that we so desperately needed.

I have struggled a lot in my new role as a caregiver for my dad, and this class provided me a safe place to express my emotions, to be open about the challenges we are facing, and to feel accepted and understood. The dementia professionals presented the material with compassion and happily shared their knowledge and experience with everyone in the class.

What a blessing to come alongside families so they can be fully known and loved in a challenging season. If you are interested in learning more about Understanding Dementia or other classes related to caregiving, please email Julia Eldred at [email protected].

We have staff members in both campus staff and support staff roles all over the Upstate! We want you to get to know some of them as you stay updated with what’s happening at Grace Church.

What brought you to Grace Church?

Scofield Foster and I were friends in college together at the University of South Carolina. He and I stayed in touch through the years, and he told me about a job leading 7th and 8th graders for 24Seven in 2016.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Two things: One—seeing people make significant steps towards following Jesus in a more real and authentic way is very encouraging and motivating. Two—helping our church think strategically about how to make mature disciples more effectively is fun work for me.

What is your favorite thing about your campus?

I love how ready members of the Spartanburg campus are to step up and bear one another’s burdens in tangible ways whether that is through providing a meal, supporting someone who has experienced difficult loss, cutting someone’s grass, giving financially in secret, and praying diligently for our body’s needs. They are ready because that is what they have committed their lives to.

What are you most excited about right now?

Opportunities for ministry in hurting places in our community that our members are eager to jump into. Bringing Families Count to our campus in the fall to partner with birth parents who need support and housing ministry needs through Front Porch and Homes of Hope are chances for us to really get in the weeds with people and live out what we believe.

What is one interesting thing about you?

I have some good dance moves that I’ll break out in celebration of my oldest daughter Lily going to the bathroom in the toilet. That is the only way they happen though!

For the first time in over four years, Grace Church was able to send a medical team to Chinadega, Nicaragua this past week. The team of 24 covenant members from across all of our campuses consisted of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, a dental hygienist, and a number of willing servants who filled various roles throughout the different areas of the clinic. The scope of ministry included vision consults and glasses where appropriate, dental cleanings and evaluations, dental education, and a full-scale pharmacy where more than 1,200 prescriptions were filled during the week. More than 500 patients were seen, and many were receptive to the gospel.

The team also participated in children’s ministry and continued the Pastor & Leader Training that has been ongoing in Chinandega since last year with more than 60 participants throughout the week. It was also exciting to share the week with Mary Ezzell, a serving partner based out of our Español campus, who is living in Nicaragua and serving alongside our ministry partners, Christ for the City International.

What a blessing to be back in Nicaragua, working alongside fellow believers and showing Jesus’ love to those in need. Please join us in thanking God for all he has done in and through this team! If you want to learn more about International Missions at Grace and see opportunities for future mission trips, click below.

Grace currently has six serving partners—covenant members who serve full-time in missions and are actively involved at Grace Church.

One of these partners is Rob Allen, a member of the Anderson campus who serves as a chaplain for Army ROTC at Clemson University as part of Frontline Leadership. Frontline Leadership is a ministry that provides leadership development and authentic community for ROTC cadets by fostering heart-level change through the tangible application of the gospel. Rob recently shared an update about the context and mission of Frontline Leadership, how they are working to disciple the next generation of leaders, and how we can pray for them. Click the video below to hear Rob’s story. To learn more about our serving partners at Grace, click below.

One of our core values is being Courageously Generous, and over the past year, Grace has developed Money Matters—a new class designed to equip our members to live out this value. The purpose of Money Matters is to help participants renew their mindset concerning personal finance, become good and faithful stewards of the resources God has given them, and bring him glory through their money as well as their lives. Participants also walk through practical topics like budgeting and debt management.

One couple had this to say about their experience taking the class:

The Money Matters class really helped shift our perspective—we realized that our finances are a direct reflection of our desire to be comfortable. Although we may not have chosen to be in the position we’re in financially, we can choose to work towards financial freedom. Remaining comfortable would mean we are not being good stewards of the resources we have now. Through the class, we’ve been able to create some realistic next steps for us as a family to work towards our goals financially, and ultimately work towards being courageously generous in our giving.

We live in a culture of consumerism that glorifies materialism, so it is challenging to align the way we think about money with God’s Word. And the Bible is clear that how we manage our money is a reflection of our hearts. We are thankful for this resource to direct our hearts and minds in the area of personal finance. If you are interested in taking Money Matters, click below to see our upcoming course offerings. If you have questions or are interested in helping facilitate future classes, email [email protected].

Last fall, Grace Anderson launched NEXT—a ministry designed to engage college students in a way that tethers them to the local church and grows them as followers of Christ during a pivotal season of life. It has been exciting to see how this ministry has grown over its first full year.

Students from Anderson University, Clemson University, and a few other schools have come together for teaching and equipping events, as well as worship nights and times of fellowship. Each student who becomes part of NEXT gets placed into a group, and we currently have three groups of 14-16 students each. Groups are led by leaders who are in the next season of life and ready to pour into these college students.

One team of leaders had this to say about their experience:

Leading a NEXT group has been such a blessing and encouragement. In the first year of our group, we have witnessed students open up to true biblical community, become faithful serving members in the local body, and learn to study the Bible. The students who meet in our home every Tuesday have become our family!

As this school year has wrapped up, it’s been a blessing to see how God has grown this community of college students, both individually and corporately. Many have attended Discovery and are serving, and many are also moving towards membership. Please pray with us for this next generation of leaders in our churches and communities. If you want to learn more about NEXT or get involved, please email Dillon Carpenter at [email protected].

We are committed to serving orphans and vulnerable children in our community. One way our Spartanburg campus has embraced this mission is through a collaboration with other community partners to refurbish Spartanburg County’s DSS visitation rooms. Our local DSS staff work tirelessly to serve children in foster care and their families, and we were excited to be able to support their efforts through this project. These visitation rooms are used for children in foster care to visit with their biological families, and our goal was to make them warm, clean, and welcoming spaces.

Volunteers from our Spartanburg campus worked to remove old furniture, paint, and move in new rugs and furniture. They also provided toys and other items to make the rooms welcoming—one of our members even painted original artwork with a unique theme for each room! The funds for three of the rooms were donated by community partners, and the Spartanburg campus provided funds for the fourth room.

What a blessing to be able to show Jesus’ love in a tangible way! There are lots of opportunities to serve through our Foster & Adopt ministry. If you are interested in getting involved, click below to learn more.

This weekend, we were excited to celebrate Pentecost for the first time as a church body. Pentecost is an important Christian tradition that points us towards the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost means “50,” marking 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, and it was the day that changed everything for the newly born Church. Before then, the believers who made up the body of Christ had faith in the resurrected Jesus and trust in God the Father. But on that day, God poured out the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, granting them the most compelling power available to mankind and changing the landscape of the Church forever.

We celebrate Pentecost because that same Spirit resides within us—binding us together in a unity that transcends any earthly difference. Through the Spirit, we receive power to live transformed lives on mission for Christ.

Click below to check out our webpage dedicated to Pentecost. There, you will find the teaching, study questions, and other helpful resources.

One organization we partner with to provide support for international refugees is World Relief—a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement.

Since last fall, a group of volunteers from Grace has operated as a Good Neighbor Team to support a family of 10 Afghan refugees. A Good Neighbor Team undergoes training through World Relief and works to support refugees as they acclimate and adjust to their new environment. These volunteers have walked with this family through the entire process of arriving in the area, to navigating government paperwork, to understanding the education system. Even more importantly, they offer friendship and community—seeking to show God’s love to those in need.

We are currently in the process of forming a second Good Neighbor Team so we can support additional families in the area. Will you join us in prayer around this effort to serve refugees? If you are interested in learning more about this partnership and how you can get involved, please email us at [email protected].

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? - James 2:14-16 (NLT)

As a church, we want to show the love of Christ in tangible ways, particularly to the vulnerable, marginalized, and under-resourced in our communities. One opportunity God has given us is through the establishment of Front Porch Housing—a two-year supportive housing program designed to help individuals and families in crisis build a firm foundation with the goals of continued sobriety, gainful employment, financial independence, and spiritual maturity.

This past month, we were able to purchase an apartment complex from Greenville Technical College, and both staff and volunteers are hard at work getting these apartments ready for our housing residents.

We believe Front Porch Housing will not only serve those who need affordable housing and community support, but that it will also provide countless discipleship opportunities for our church body. Will you join us in prayer for the future of Front Porch Housing? To hear Teaching Pastor Bill White give an overview of this new endeavor, click the video below. To learn more about Front Porch Housing and how you can get involved, click below.

Kairos interns are here for the summer, and we are excited! These young men and women will spend the summer across all our campuses working alongside Grace staff in various ministries, taking classes, and serving our church body. Be sure you take time to get to know the interns at your campus, and please join us in prayer as we invest in the next generation of leaders. Click the video below to learn a little bit about this year’s Kairos interns!

We are a family of local congregations, and there’s a lot going on across all our campuses right now. Grace Church exists to make mature followers of Jesus, and God has opened pathways for us to pursue this mission in many different ways. Click the video below to hear several of our campus pastors give updates about what’s happening at their campus.

Through our Senior Honor ministry, Grace Church volunteers provide worship services, build one-on-one relationships, and facilitate other opportunities at elder care communities across the Upstate. Our Harrison Bridge campus’ partnership with Fairview Park has been flourishing in recent months, and we’re excited to see Grace members connect with residents in unique ways.

Recently, volunteers and their families hosted a “Teddy Bear Story Hour” for residents, and it was a big hit with all who participated! Each resident received a teddy bear from a child, and then the residents and children read books and colored together. There is always a special connection between children and grandparents, and even though these individuals aren’t biologically related, that special connection was evident in the smiles on their faces.

Along with more special activities, Harrison Bridge volunteers will soon move from hosting services once a month to twice monthly. What a blessing to be able to include those of our church body who cannot physically attend church. We want our Senior Honor members to know they are valuable, loved, and cared for. Will you join us in praying for this ministry? If you’re interested in learning more about Senior Honor or volunteering at your campus, click below.