Grace Around the World

God is At Work in the World
Throughout time, God has brought people from every people group and nation to worship Him, and is still doing that today. And He has called us, as followers of Jesus Christ, to be a part of that wonderful, life-changing process to reach others. The Great Commission calls for us to follow Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all nations" by reaching to the very ends of the earth...what a privilege we have to play a part in God's plan!

God is at Work in Grace Church
...But how do we reach the nations? In many, many ways. Right now, Grace Church at Willow Valley is partnering with church planters in France, Central Asia, Africa, Argentina, Canada, Philadelphia, and elsewhere, helping to bear God's fruit - churches of indigenous people who can worship, learn, serve, and touch the lives of those around them in their own country. We are excited that God has called one of our young adult couples to serve on an Encompass World Partner church-planting team in Germany - they are in the process of raising their financial and prayer support. 

We support the Children's Fellowship of India, Hope International, and Water Street Ministries. These ministries show the love of Jesus in person by caring for people's practical and physical needs. They provide training, financing, encouragement and support so that those in need can live with dignity and learn to care for themselves. 

Grace Church is also a partner in Bible Translation, helping to bring the Scripture to two unreached language groups in Africa. In 2007, two representatives from Grace Church were privileged to attend a dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of the Digo New Testament. In July, 2011 we were privileged to commission a member of the Grace Church family to begin translation work in the Mara language cluster in Tanzania. In September 2013 we plan to send a couple to the Northern Territory of Australia in support of Bible Translation and Scripture Use.

Another important aspect of Grace Church's global outreach is partnership with the ministries and agencies that make front-line missions ministry possible. Ministries such as the Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia, CE National, and Missionary Maintenance Service in Ohio train missionaries and support workers. Computer technicians, orphanage workers, aircraft mechanics, Bible translators, business people and many others with special gifts and skills are used by God to take His Word to the world.

God is at Work in You

The Great Commission urges us to go out into the world ... whether our mission field is on the other side of the globe or right outside the door, God has called us to make disciples as we go.

At Grace Church, we are committed to helping each person answer the question, "How do you want me to be a part of reaching the nations?" We provide many opportunities to be involved in missions by:

Praying

Each week the prayer needs of one missionary family are highlighted in the Sunday worship guide.  At our annual missions conference, we set aside 24 hours to "pray around the world" as a church family.

Giving

As a church family, we have committed ourselves to support almost thirty missionaries and ministries each month.

In addition to these budgeted commitments, we support a monthly Dollar Day project. On the second Sunday of each month, we give all loose dollar bills and designated gifts to this specially designated project. Past Dollar Day projects have included: house church radio kits for China, canoes for a missionary's camp program and The Jesus Film for children.

Going

Grace Church offers a variety of short-term missions experiences for both students and adults. Over the past few years these have included:

• day trips to The Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia
• a week-long family ministry trip to a church in rural Kentucky. Participants served the church by doing some building projects and also provided an outreach-focused Vacation Bible School program for the community.
• two clean-up teams helping out in the Hurricane Katrina zone
• a two-week trip to the Children's Fellowship of India boys' home in Naya Akola, India. Team members served meals, encouraged the staff with devotions, and spent time playing games with the boys.
• a trip for high school students to Mexico

God is at work in you.
Ask the Lord to increase your vision for the world.
Ask Him how He wants you to pray, to give, and to go.
He will answer...He will reveal your part in His plan to reach the nations.