OUR MISSION
To grow believers to maturity in Christ and
expand the Church locally and around the world
A TIME OF TRANSITION
In early October, our beloved pastor, Greg Barrier completed his earthly journey and is now in the presence of God, whom he loved and faithfully served for so many years. Grace Church and the broader community have been blessed and profoundly influenced by Pastor Greg’s ministry. We are thankful.
During this time of transition, the elders of Grace Church maintain its vital ministries and practical operations. Until the senior pastor position is filled, teachers from Grace Church share Sunday morning sermon responsibilities with Champ Thorton, an acquisitions editor at Crossway Publishers and author of numbers of children and family books. Champ has also served on staff at churches in South Carolina, Ohio, and Delaware.
THE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of churches united around a common Statement of Faith. Evangelical refers to an emphasis on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Free refers to a church government model in which every local church governs itself. 1500 churches across the United States belong to the EFCA. The EFCA also has 59 worldwide ministry partners.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
We value partnerships with individuals and organizations that are on a mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and offer practical help to their communities. We partner with local groups who minister on the University of Delaware campus and to the homeless and needy in Wilmington and Newark. Our support also extends to national and international groups with wide-ranging ministries, some of which are led by people who once called Grace Church home.
OUR HISTORY
Grace Church held its first worship service on January 5, 1986, at a private residence in Landenburg, Pennsylvania. Later that year, Grace called its first pastor and joined The Evangelical Free Church of America—an association of churches united around the same Statement of Faith. In the years that followed, two full-time and two interim pastors led the congregation, until Pastor Greg Barrier assumed leadership in 2004.
From the beginning, finding a permanent home for Grace Church proved to be a significant challenge. For nearly 30 years, faithful members met in various places near Newark, Delaware—a Grange Hall, schools, and church buildings belonging to others. God always provided a place, but the longing for a place to call home was strong. God provided that in November 2016, when Grace purchased the upper Nazarene Church property at 355 Paper Mill Road, in Newark.
Three decades later and counting, Grace Church is more committed than ever to its mission of pointing others to Jesus and encouraging believers on to mature, vibrant faith in our local community and around the world.