Traditions—who we are as God has molded and shaped us over time.

We are:

A family-centered suburban church. Our location in North Raleigh means that one of our prime vocations is ministering to, and being ministered by, members drawn from the immediate suburban area. We believe in strong, nurturing development of our children; in turn, our young people teach us all, no matter our age.

An interdenominational church. We spring from a PCUSA background, but as an interdenominational church, our membership and staff are mixed in backgrounds and churches of origin.

A church with foundational ministries. We recognize that life change happens at every level at Grace. Nonetheless, our youth program, Stephen Ministry, and outreach initiatives are uniquely used by God in our demographics and circumstance as a family-centered suburban church to draw, nurture, and send our members out as ambassadors to Christ.

A church where biblical communication and expository preaching are a priority. We embrace the Kingdom of God and its effect on our lives and decisions in a secular world. As such, we do not have a “political pulpit” where any one ideology or affiliation is preached.

A church where strong lay leadership is key. Our staff has consistently encouraged and equipped members to “step up to the plate” and lead Sunday schools, Bible studies, and mission trips. We believe in, and live out, the “priesthood of all believers.”

Aspirations—who we yearn to become in the midst of refinement and challenges.

We yearn:

To further develop our heart for worship. We long to worship the Living God. Paradoxically, this desire births yet another desire: to clearly articulate and embrace a philosophy of worship—what we do in worship and why.

To be a body of one heart and one mind. We long to love God and one another in such ways that grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation are as natural to us as breathing. We long to be a church and a gathered people where “it’s not about me”: it’s about the Kingdom of God.

To completely embrace the journey of spiritual formation. We long to be a place wherepeople, regardless of where they are on their faith journeys, feel welcomed, challenged, nurtured, strengthened, and encouraged to live their lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

To further develop the priority of prayer. We long to become a church of prayer in spirit, in truth, and in our experience together. To radically depend upon prayer, to cultivate a church lifestyle of prayer, and to attentively watch for God’s movement through prayer are our deep desires.

To strengthen our commitment to be a “sending church.” While we are just beginning to embrace our identity as a sending church of missionaries, we hope to continue to grow into an intentionality of what that looks like both for our long and short term missionaries and those of us who are called to “stay home.”