Grace Advance (GA) exists to support developing churches in areas where biblical churches are needed.
Presently, there are 28 GA churches in North America (18 states and 3 in Canada), and two applications for churches in Washington and Missouri. However, this only scratches the surface of the need for more biblical churches that will act as places of worship and equipping for the saints, so that they might fulfill the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-17). In the present state of the church, this need becomes more significant each year, if not each month. The spiritual landscape is an ever-increasing desert for healthy local assemblies. GA seeks to offset this by providing the following means of support:
The GA Academy trains men in the finer points of church planting and revitalization. It is a two-week intensive on the campus of Grace Community Church.
GA consults churches who seek wisdom in navigating the biblical principles for developing a healthy church so that they can reach their community with the gospel. The churches in the GA network have access to the Grace Advance Council (ECHA) for mentoring and consultation. All new churches are assigned two ECHA members who counsel them through the early stages of church planting and revitalization.
The ECHA team (mainly the director) makes strategic visits to GA churches to provide personal counsel, help with leadership development, and nurture strategic planning.
Grace Advance Initiatives
GA seeks to expand its initiative by supporting churches in the international fields of harvest. In the past, GA has responded to core groups who asked for GA’s help in planting a church or church leaders requesting our assistance to revitalize their church in North America. However, with the increasing reach of the ministries associated with Grace Community Church, there are developing opportunities to support local assemblies and church plants abroad. GA is presently consulting churches in South Africa as they seek to plant a church in a suburb of Johannesburg. There are unique opportunities for supporting churches in Kitwe, Zambia, Nairobi, Kenya, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Invest in a strategy to gain a more visible presence for those who need our services. We cannot help if they don’t know that we exist.
GA is developing a team to oversee the writing and publishing of a manual on church planting and revitalization. The basis of the manual is the material taught in the GA academy. The manual will be another biblical resource for developing churches.
Develop a strategy for church planting in developing southeastern cities. Despite the number of congregations in the southeast, opportunities for those seeking congregations with a biblical approach to ministry and a robust theology are scarce. Cities such as Charleston (gaining 45 people per day), Raleigh-Durham, Greenville, and Savanah may afford opportunities for strategic church plants.
Provide classes through The Master’s Seminary on Church Planting and Revitalization and recruit TMS students to participate in the GA initiatives. The growth of GA will naturally act as a recruiting tool for prospective students who have a desire to return to their communities to church plant or revitalize.
Provide financial assistance to uniquely qualified church planters or revitalizers. If the resources were available, a two-year commitment would be awarded to select men.
Expand the staff of Grace Advance to accommodate the increased potential for gospel influence. Presently, a director and student intern work with the laymen of the GA Council.