Amidst the splendor of Grace’s magnificent new sanctuary, Elder Glenn McCroskery summed up the feelings of a standing room only crowd when he expressed “what an incredible night it has been,” during the dedication ceremony for Grace’s new sanctuary held December 3.

The evening began with inspiring music led by a composite choir comprised of members of several area churches. Set among a sea of poinsettias, the choir performed such classics as “Amazing Grace”, “All Hail the Power” and a rousing version of “That Good All Amazing Grace”.

An eighty-member Children’s Choir performed “New Generation” accompanied by a dance routine that underscored Grace’s role to bring up the children in the training of the Lord. The youth group’s JAM Band performed “History Maker”, declaring that they “were not just dedicating a building, but dedicating our lives to make history in bringing others to Christ.”

The ceremony next included comments from a number of special guests invited to participate in the dedication. Phil Yntema, Executive Director of the NABC, urged the group to use the building as “a staging area to catapult God’s people in to the world.” Fred Nothdurft, Chairman of the Elders, spoke underneath the new illuminated cross while reminding the crowd that “we must not be fixed on bricks and mortar that do not stand the test of time, but rather, on the cross of Christ which will stand forever.”

Lawrence Glass, Senior Pastor at El Bethel Baptist Church, said he was glad that God had blessed Grace with a new facility and most glad that “it looks like something God would do.” The Rev. Eddie Edwards, President of Joy of Jesus, asked the group to “touch the one” by holding hands as he led the group in prayer. He encouraged the body to “be a house of prayer, not of programs.”

Clyde Jones, Jr. Senior Pastor at Faith Redemption Center, stated that the new facility was the most exciting and beautiful he had seen in recent years. As a monument to God’s goodness, the new facility “gives the devil a black eye,” he said. “I want to encourage you to continue giving the devil a black eye.”

The church elders each read a Bible passage that “were amazing in their beauty and special appropriateness to the occasion,” said Senior Pastor Kevin Butcher. Elder Al Romero then led the congregation in prayer; asking for God’s continued blessing on Grace as it enters a new era.

Pastor of Creative Communications Dave Petty and the Mass Choir then led the audience in praise songs that have become favorites at Grace, such as “Open the Eyes of My Heart” and “Touched by Grace”. With much enthusiasm, the congregation lifted their voices heavenward in praise and thanks to God for his many blessings upon Grace. Trisha Cantrell and the Mass Choir performed an inspiring rendition of “Lean On Me”, whose message she encouraged members to emulate in their personal relationships.

The Creative Communications team of Grace then presented a video produced especially for the occasion entitled “One Story at a Time.” This moving film told the story of a number of Grace members and the how the church, and especially the relationships they had formed there, has dramatically impacted their lives in unexpected ways.

Dr. Charles Ware of the Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis, IN provided the keynote address. Dr. Ware shares Grace’s vision for racial reconciliation and encouraged the congregation to continue working for racial harmony in a spirit of love. “Ultimately, you will not be known for the building, for the signs on it or the beauty of this sanctuary,” he said, “but rather your love for one another.”

Grace’s Pastor of Administration, Keith Crawford, expressed deep appreciation to the building contractors and he was in turn cited by the elders for his special dedication to overseeing the completion of the project. Both he and Pastor Butcher spoke of the relationships that had been established with workers on the project, many of whom returned to participate in the dedication. “Towards the end, this project became personal for the work crews and they demonstrated an amazing commitment to getting it completed in time,” Crawford said. In addition to Petty, Crawford and Butcher, others involved in planning the special evening included Margie Baldwin, pastor of the Children’s Ministry, Bill Spenser, Choir Conductor, and Willie Dandridge, Choir Coordinator.

At the conclusion of the service, Pastor Butcher was joined on the podium by his wife Carla, and together they thanked the staff, elders and members for sharing in the vision of Grace and their commitment to nurturing it to fruition. Pastor Butcher then led a stirring congregational prayer, with members joined hand-in-hand around the perimeter of the auditorium in thanksgiving. An afterglow reception of cake, coffee and punch concluded this most special service.

Their souls fed and armed with a renewed sense of mission, the large crowd departed feeling that like the theme of the building campaign, their lives had been truly touched this evening. In humbleness and thanks, they looked forward to the new era in the church’s history comforted by the hope expressed by Rev. Glass, that “grace has brought Grace this far and it is grace that will lead Grace on in the future.”