Jim and Stephanie Whitley started hosting a group at Grace more than three years ago. A core group has stuck together each week, studying the Bible through various topics and books. RIght now they are working through The Gospel-Centered Life. They also have a monthly dinner to welcome new members and deepen community.

“The group has been something I know I can count on every week for my growth in the Lord but also the people in the group are real and care,” says group member Beth Buchanan.

Bill Barnett agrees. “I originally did not want to join, but my wife, Noel, prevailed on me to do it. Now I love going. It is such a wonderful place to enjoy fellowship and to come closer to Christ.”

One of our goals as guest in our rental space at Edgewater High School is to reach out to the school community and invite them to meet Christ at Grace. Because small gestures open doors to big things, group members Donna Hartsaw and Judi Mann had an idea to take a step toward this goal, supporting the teachers whose classrooms we use each week in our children’s each ministry. The Maitland community gathered pens, paper, cards, notebooks and more and assembled them in baskets, including a note of thanks and encouragement for their school year. They’ll distribute them this week before the start of classes, just to say that we thank them and we’re praying for them as they begin to teach.

Encourage one another and build each other up. I Thessalonians 5:14