VISION 2016: Update on 5 Initiatives

In September 2011 – our Elders laid out a 5 year vision for Grace Church that includes 5 initiatives that we will chase together through the year 2016.  I've written a series of blog posts to update you on where things stand.  Here is a list of the posts all in one place.

#1 - 3 More Multi-site Locations

#2 - 50 Local Churches Serving the Erie Community

#3 – 2 Global Church to Church Partnerships

#4 – 936 Weeks of Partnering with Parents

#5 - 212 – Raise the Discipleship Temperature

VISION 2016: 212-Raise Discipleship Temperature

In September 2011 – our Elders laid out a 5 year vision for Grace Church that includes 5 initiatives that we will chase together through the year 2016.  Here's a quick update:

INITIATIVE #5 - 212 – we will raise the temperature for life-on-life discipleship to the boiling point so it is normal for people to become reproducing followers of Jesus by owning their personal growth.

• Our most recent commitment to discipleship at Grace is the church-wide experience we’re in together called E100.  This effort to encourage our entire church to engage daily with the scriptures is proving to be life-changing for many. Individuals and families are finding their chair and owning their personal growth by regularly connecting with God through his Word. This practice, over the course of five months, will fundamentally change the spiritual temperature at Grace.

• Also, we have recently recruited over 40 small group leaders to begin new groups at Grace. Many of those leaders are currently leading groups who are engaged in E100. Our desire is that as people connect in groups – that they will build spiritually-charged relationships with other believers that will lead to vitality and accountability.

• We have made it very easy to find and get in a group with our new group finder feature at our website. 
• Celebrate Recovery launched this fall at Grace and has had a healing effect on the nearly 60 people who attend each week. The CR groups provide an important discipleship component for those who attend. 

Read Derek's other posts about Vision 2016:

#1 - 3 More Multi-site Locations

#2 - 50 Local Churches Serving the Erie Community

#3 – 2 Global Church to Church Partnerships

#4 – 936 Weeks of Partnering with Parents

#5 - 212 – Raise the Discipleship Temperature

VISION 2016: 936 Weeks Partnering With Parents

In September 2011 – our Elders laid out a 5 year vision for Grace Church that includes 5 initiatives that we will chase together through the year 2016.  Here's a quick update:

INITIATIVE #4 – 936 weeks of partnering with parents in shaping Christ-centered families

• Stories are rolling in about the impact E100 is having on families as parents and children partner in reading the Bible together.  One family is even opening up their home and their child is leading a small group of other children to discuss the E100 readings.  
• Plans are in the works for our second Parenting Summit on Saturday, April 26. I’ll be kicking off the event with a special message for parents and we will provide some very helpful and practical workshops for real-life issues parents are facing.  It’s going to be a great day.

• GraceKids has an average weekly attendance of 209 kids! The GFX ministry has been a great innovation that provides events that connect families with each other and offer an opportunity to invite new families to Grace. 
• GraceYouth leaders are meeting with students at their practices, over ice cream and school tutoring. They are currently partnering with 11 families for in-depth one-on-one Biblical training of their teens. And several GraceYouth leaders are having coffee with parents to “dream and pray” for their teens.

• You can find more information about all things ‘family’ at our website. 

Read Derek's other posts about Vision 2016:

#1 - 3 More Multi-site Locations

#2 - 50 Local Churches Serving the Erie Community

#3 – 2 Global Church to Church Partnerships

#4 – 936 Weeks of Partnering with Parents

#5 - 212 – Raise the Discipleship Temperature

VISION 2016: 2 Global Church Partnerships

In September 2011 – our Elders laid out a 5 year vision for Grace Church that includes 5 initiatives that we will chase together through the year 2016.  Here's a quick update:

INITIATIVE #3 – 2 global church to church partnerships

• Our 3-part strategy for our partnership with Grace en Sion is progressing. From the start we said that this partnership would move forward in 3 stages: school, church, business.

• We started with a concentration on the school because we believe that it gives Grace en Sion the best chance to be financially self-sustaining. The school has increased from 7 students to 142 students in the last 2 years. For many of these children, it is the only chance they have for food during the day, for a shower during the week, and to hear about Jesus during the year. You can get involved in sponsoring a student through our Facebook page.

• A team of 17 people from Grace Church recently returned from Haiti. During their 10 trip they were able to; throw a Valentine’s Day banquet for the parents of the children at Cowman School, host a parenting conference for those same parents, lead worship at Grace en Sion Church, teach and share love with the kids at the school, paint the Dennington’s home, volunteer whenever needed at the clinic and orphanage, encourage the pastors and leaders at Grace en Sion. It was a fruitful trip. 

• Currently we are exploring additional church partnership options. 

Read Derek's other posts about Vision 2016:

#1 - 3 More Multi-site Locations

#2 - 50 Local Churches Serving the Erie Community

#3 – 2 Global Church to Church Partnerships

#4 – 936 Weeks of Partnering with Parents

#5 - 212 – Raise the Discipleship Temperature

VISION 2016: 50 Local Churches Serving Erie

In September 2011 – our Elders laid out a 5 year vision for Grace Church that includes 5 initiatives that we will chase together through the year 2016.  Here's a quick update:

INITIATIVE #2 - 50 local churches serving the Erie community

• We had over 400 people at our last ServErie Saturday representing 24 churches and organizations.  We’re expecting to see over 1000 participants during the month of July as ServErie partners with Billy Graham Evangelical Association and “Rock the Lakes” for two community service events. We believe that this partnership will allow us to surpass and expand our goal of 50 ServErie partner churches.

• We are currently exploring ServErie partnerships with inner city schools through the Erie School District. We believe that this can expand our capacity to serve the families of our city.
• You can follow the latest happenings at our Facebook page. 

Derek's other posts about Vision 2016:

#1 - 3 More Multi-site Locations

#2 - 50 Local Churches Serving the Erie Community

#3 – 2 Global Church to Church Partnerships

#4 – 936 Weeks of Partnering with Parents

#5 - 212 – Raise the Discipleship Temperature

VISION 2016: 3 New Multi-Site Locations

In September 2011 – our Elders laid out a 5 year vision for Grace Church that includes 5 initiatives that we will chase together through the year 2016.  Here's a quick update:

INITIATIVE #1 - 3 more multi-site locations

• Things are heating up in preparation to launch our next location in West County. Malcolm Beall has signed on to be our Campus Lead. He brings a rich family ministry history and a great familiarity with the area, as well as a passion for Christ and great leadership ability. He, his wife Angie, and 'baby Mal' will be leading the charge in West County. 

Malcolm and Angie Beall on their wedding day

• March 16 we’ll be having our first gathering for those interested in the West County location. Come out to our Multi-Site Ministry fair that evening at 6:00 to hear all the details.
• We also shared the exciting news that our own Pastor Brian Lusky will be personally investing time at our West County location during the initial start-up phase until a great worship team is built. Chrissy Cole came to us from Australia where she spent time learning and leading worship at Hillsong Church, and will be leading musical worship at Grace McKean. 

• We also just launched an improved website and Grace Online that will prove to be a powerful ministry tool as we launch additional sites.

Please pray for God's direction as it relates to a specific location in the West County. We are certain that He's leading us there and now need a place to gather in His name!

Coming posts about Vision 2016:

#1 - 3 More Multi-site Locations

#2 - 50 Local Churches Serving the Erie Community

#3 – 2 Global Church to Church Partnerships

#4 – 936 Weeks of Partnering with Parents

#5 - 212 – Raise the Discipleship Temperature