Why Grace Alive?
Why Grace Alive? For me it’s pretty simple, Grace Alive stands for everything I believe in. We are a church that stands firm on the Gospel, we are actively pursuing racial reconciliation, and we are truly a family. I witnessed this family mentality first hand when I dealt with personal trauma with my own family where my father was shot and could’ve lost his life in a home invasion. Many people in the church rallied around me and my family to support us at this very difficult time. This was easily one of the most difficult situations to navigate in my lifetime, but having the prayer and support of my extended church family was such an encouragement. People went over and above to be there for me and my family, sending flowers, covering worship services so I could be with my family, and helping out financially. This showed me that what we say at church (“we are not like a family, we are a family”) stands to be true. Being a part of Grace Alive from the very beginning and being the worship director kind of shows that I was on board with the mission and vision of the church but this situation always comes to mind when I hear the phrase “we are not like a family, we are a family” I truly can say that I love my Grace Alive family and I’m honored to serve as worship director in a place where I can raise my children in a multiethnic environment where they will be encouraged, discipled, and urged to discover, deepen, and display a relationship with Christ Jesus our savior.
It’s been a joy to navigate and lead at Grace Alive through so many changes we’ve seen as a family. It hasn’t always been the easiest thing to do because life and our sinful nature can often time get the best of us. But from our very first prelaunch service at Church at the cross to our first service at the Wayne Densch YMCA where we set up and tore down every week. Or maybe it was serving alongside brothers like Alex West and Lookmy Jean Charles at 530am on Sunday mornings, as we prepared trailers to be pulled over to Oak Hill Elementary school where we setup to meet at our second gathering location, or setting up AVL with my brothers and sisters on the worship team week in and week out. Or could have certainly been the way the staff has loved on me and my family. No matter the capacity I’ve served in, one thing I could always tell was that we truly are a family. A family of imperfect multiethnic sinners saved by Grace, and honestly there’s no other church family I’d want to be a part of more than this one. I pray that as we continue to walk out Gods will in reconciliation, that we would truly be a light to the world in a time where it’s seems everyone is for themselves. Would we be the example that the watching world sees for what heaven looks like when all nations, tribes and tongues are gathered around the throne to worship the one true king of kings, Jesus Christ. Grace Alive, thank you for embracing me and truly being my family! I love you all dearly!