This Sunday, October 8th is the 20th anniversary of Grace Community Church, and as you know, we are inviting friends and hoping to include them in our time together. I want to take this chance to reflect on these twenty years.
Twenty years ago, I still had hair, I hadn’t reached forty, and had two children at home. When we moved to Charlottesville in the fall of 1997 Emily was just moving from elementary to sixth grade, and Anna was starting second grade.
In May of that year a momentous day occurred. We were living in Dayton and I was pastoring the church I started in 1988. It had weathered the storms of a rough building project, and on that particular day in May, Caron had accepted a preschool job in Dayton and we had planned our lives for the coming few years. Her job would fund Christian school for Emily. The house had been upgraded to be fully maintenance free on the outside. We were good to go!
Then the phone rang. It was a lady named Jennifer Deal calling from Charlottesville about a church plant from Trinity Presbyterian Church. I tried to talk her out of my candidacy, and my wife was waving her hands and saying “No! No!” Trinity was a well-known church so I felt I should have a second conversation. I grew up in Virginia and my mom was a widow of 2 years. Caron’s parents would be closer and her dad was ill. I really didn’t think anything would come of it. By early September we had moved into our house of now 20 years and started working to continue the church planting efforts that had begun. I want to say three things about Grace Community Church’s twenty-year history.
God is faithful
First, I’ve re-learned repeatedly about God’s faithfulness. The first two years here were two of the hardest years of my life. It’s tough being a “from scratch” church planter and trying to lead a group which had already moved down the road. I made my share of mistakes, and the early years presented many opportunities for suffering and humility. But God proved Himself faithful to the church and to me over time - time and time again.
I remember the time I received a letter from Sutherland Middle School letting us know that we needed to find another place to meet. They had some interesting reasons, but they wanted us to move on. We panicked a bit, prayed a lot, and considered all our options. There weren’t any that were attractive. A couple of members took it on themselves to meet with some key people in Albemarle County Schools, and in a short while we were allowed to continue meeting at the school. We met there for the first nine of our years.
There have been the good times of adult baptisms, baby baptisms, and many joyous and fun experiences together. There have been the low times of deep tragedy and intense relationship challenges. God has carried us along. Sometimes we were down on our knees because we had exhausted all other options and we were exhausted. He has given us “beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning.” He is good, and His steadfast love endures forever!
Faithful people make a difference
Scores of you have been faithful members and have continued to serve the Lord here through those many years. There are a good number of people attending Grace now who were at that first service and are still with us. I give thanks to God for you and what you have taught me, and what you mean in my life. We have laughed and cried and fussed and forgiven, and we are still together. We will continue following Jesus and loving one another through the next seasons of life.
Some of you are newer members of our church and I give thanks to God for you. You have come with your experiences, your pain and your joys, and you’ve made Grace more of what God has always wanted this church to be. Thanks for joining us and forbearing with our stories about setting up chairs every week in the school.
When the staff adds up all the people at Grace who are serving in nursery, foundations, children’s church, youth group, worship, and elder and deacon ministries of one kind or another- it is staggering. Frankly you serve with very few complaints and with great faithfulness. It is an honor and privilege to be the pastor of Grace Community Church. You have all made a difference.
I’m optimistic
I’m optimistic about the future. I’m optimistic because God is faithful. I’m optimistic because I think your faithfulness is bearing great fruit. Your prayers are being answered. I’m thankful because the Lord has assembled a great team of coworkers who love Christ, love one another, and work heartily as unto the Lord. It is a joy to come in the office and get to sit in the pastor’s office. They are passionate people who care about what they do, but carry on in humility and patience.
I’m optimistic because our officer teams are dedicated and faithful brothers. The last four or so session meetings have been deeply unified and we have enjoyed one another and encouraged one another. The deacons continue on in quiet faithfulness with their tasks. These are good, godly men who love Christ and love this local church.
I think our 2016 efforts to refocus our purpose is bearing fruit. There are some clear and measurable things we are working on as a staff and as a church. Slowly and surely changes are happening and we are getting realigned with our main objectives and values. I’m excited to live every day of that continuing process, but also looking forward to see the harvest of those efforts.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Don Ward