Ministry on the Margins at Grace Fellowship

Grace Fellowship had its first Sunday morning worship service on October 2, 2005. After 18 months of planning & preparing, that Sunday morning was a historical and momentous day for our church plant.

Since then, our church has grown. Not just in the number of people, but in power. Not just in size, but in strength. Not just physically, but spiritually. We have seen souls saved, lives restored, and miracles performed.

We recently moved into our new 11,000 square foot facility. It was a four-year project, from purchasing the land to opening the doors. I am not sure which was more challenging, planting a church or building a church. We have always been on the margin of ministry including meeting in a daycare, remodeling an old garage for a sanctuary, and renting a house for our youth program and fellowship hall.Through it all, we have learned the powerful principle of the Three P’s: Persistence, Patience, and Prayer. These principles are not just for planting or building a church, but for any congregation that has a purpose, mission, vision, or has set any sort of goals and objectives.

3 P’s = Persistence, Patience, Prayer

Persistence. Be resolved. Be constant. Stay at it. Set it and stick with it. Plan your work, then work your plan. Do not stray off the path or become distracted. As Proverbs 24:16 teaches, a righteous man may fall seven times, but rise up again. Whatever God has called you to do, do it and keep doing it until further instructions are given. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened to you.” Please understand that some things will require a resolved asking, a determined seeking, and a committed knocking. Don’t give up. Be persistent.

Patience. If you know your calling, and have set your goal; then work it with patience. The Psalmist said, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.” Over the years, we’ve heard of other churches starting building projects after we did; and finishing before us. We have seen others appear to prosper and thrive, while we were still working. We have witnessed others reaping, while we were still sowing. It can try your patience. But we have also been encouraged by Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” God calls. We work. We sow. He gives the increase. We reap. Be patient.

Prayer. Before we had our first Sunday morning service, we recruited 31 prayer partners. People that would pray for us every day. We assigned each person a certain day of the month to pray. Some still pray on their day of the month. It has been over 13 years, and God is still answering prayers. Do not underestimate the power of prayer. It is the least you can do. It does not cost anything. It does not take much planning. It does not have to be too time consuming or effort driven. It is the least that you can do, but it is also the most that you can do. There is nothing more powerful and more meaningful than taking one’s needs before the throne room of God. We are constantly reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

We have learned that if ministry is going to have a public demonstration, it starts with private discipline. Discipline in the closet (where no one sees) will be rewarded on the porch (where everyone sees). Grace Fellowship has always been a praying church. From our times of fasting and 24-hour prayer chains, to our monthly prayer night; God is blessing because we are praying.

At Grace Fellowship, we are excited to see what God is going to continue to do in us and through us. Our vision has not changed. Grace Fellowship wants to Know Him & Make Him Known…as we continue to minister on the margin.

Pastor Yul Miller Grace Fellowship