Just a small piece of 2013

Words will never be able to describe all that has happened at Grace Community in 2013. But a giant thanks go to all the individuals that lead, serve and volunteer to make it happen. 

This past Sunday, we shook things up a little in our business celebration and took the time to tell a small story behind each photo on this video. As the 7 of us sat on stools to tried to squash 52 weeks into 20 minutes we quickly realized that we could never fully disclose all the details... 

I will attempt to once again give a small wrap-up of this year.

* The year started with a prayer retreat where your elders and pastors sought God for direction and vision for the year
* A middle-of-the-winter Luau for persons with disabilities- 85 volunteers, over 500 special guests and caregivers
* 480 men graduated from 2 chapters of Fight Club in Goshen
* so far this year, 975 $30 food vouchers have been given to individuals and families in need*The new women's ministry of reMARKable Women was launched February of this year. 
* 360 kids came to our Hi FIve Camp / 62 decisions for Jesus made
* Judgment House: 680 people walked through; 92 first time decisions and 80 rededications
* 4H Fair parade had over 250 volunteers
* We shared Communion together two times as a church this year (mention family aspect, SPLAT)
* 183 men and sons at Beast Feast
* GUTS conference (60 in Feb here/ 25 in Sept in PA road trip East Coast
* 5000 Hershey bars handed out in our Hershey handout mini-blitz 
* We crowned a new queen at Mama mania and honored moms
* 1st ever Kid City Summer Camp- 75 students and staff 
* 7 teens and adults on a mission trip to Haiti CPR-3

* A full year of some great sermon series visuals 

*  Jim and Lauri Rogers have been driving a busload of Grace Students up, and we are looking for someone to shuttle Goshen students
* 55 Teenagers and adults at Momentum. While there, they served in (b) homeless shelters (c) building a habitat for humanity home (packing washpacks for haiti, and in a cancer center)
* 3 great First Wednesdays events during the summer months that brought the church together to get to know each other and just hang out
* A mission trip to Asia’s Hope to visit our kids Plus in Thailand we added 5 new kids to our home  in Cambodia one of our kids got married, Vetkana
* Biker breakfast Blitz
* Our Memorial day parade got rained out, but that didn't stop Gracies from gathering to pray, passing out our handouts downtown, and showing love to our community 

* The New to You Children's Clothing Exchange this fall had over 12,000 items donated that impacted over 300 shoppers from our community. Many of the almost 100 volunteers do not even attend Grace and this event becomes a great way to put church people shoulder to shoulder with non-churched people. It's also important to note that every single year according to the shoppers, what is donated what the people need.

* 26 kids 5th grade misssion trip to Urban Hope In Philly

* Spontaneous prayer times happening, initiated by young adults

* There's a lot of life in axis, and they spread the LIFE around this year as they Dan passed out over 1,000  LifeBooks in schools

* 60 men at Wild at heart in Western Maryland  100 at Wild at Heart Remix

* Dominican Republic Mission trip

* Hundreds of women participated in the first two "On your MARK, get SET, GO! 40-   Day challenges". Testimonies coming out of these challenges are evidencing

* 5,000 lbs of food collected for needy families in the Bumper crop blitz

* Space issues in the LINK- remodeling and adding 70 more seats

* 103 Boxes packed for Operation Christmas Child

* Made new pastoral hire of Dan Cosentino

* served 100's of local people with our  Open Gym

* Prayer encounter exploding

* Jail ministry witnessing salvations and baptisms

* We had a large group of women take a road trip this year to the Women of Faith conference for a  MARKed      Moment. God worked through the many hours of conversations in the cars, the late night  talks in hotel rooms,

* First ever Dad Dynasty for Dadfest this year

*  40 children dedications

* We've invested a lot of time and energy helping other churches

* Connections being made in PURSUIT (

* Office renovations

* We hired 2 Interns- Josh Brown -Josh Leonhardt

*  Hired staff members- Shali, Melody, Kelli

* Hero adventure outreach for moms and sons

* 2000 goody bags packed and delivered to Teachers, police, firemen and EMS

* Fight Club chapters kicking off in 76 other churches (photo of Wooster Group)

* Chicago Mission Trip

* Brand new ministry to local boys and girls club

* MY HOPE- Grace Community on mission, attending training, praying for lost friends, initiating contacts and sharing the good news of Jesus

* 30,000 Easter eggs were devoured by a crowd of over 3,000 children with their families in our Community Easter Egg Hunt

* FC Brother MC Campout Blitz: 25 Grace biker ministry team members camped out  for 3 days with 2,000 unchurched bikers from across N.

* 109 baptisms

* 566 salvations TO God be the glory!