Abundant Grace and Gospel Partnership

A little over 10 years ago, we at Abundant Grace found ourselves at a crossroad. The movement of churches we were in partnership began to implode. We loved the leadership and the relationship with other churches but could not come to a place of faith to be a part of the movement any longer.

We, as a leadership team and church, walked through a time of reflection as we sought what the Lord would want to do with AGCC. We asked tough questions. ‘Do we want to be a part of another movement of churches? Do we want to be alone and do the work of ministry and mission ourselves? What would it look like for us to journey down this new path? Can we survive alone? What are the benefits of joining another movement of churches? We covered many more questions and below is our answer.

Here is the short answer for us: Abundant Grace chose to join Grace Partnership because we saw from Scripture that churches accomplish far more for Jesus together than any single congregation can do alone. Partnership multiplies gospel reach, deepens discipleship, sustains pastors and leaders, accelerates outreach and mission and displays the unity of Christ’s Body (the Church) to a lost and dying world. 

Ed Stetzer says, ‘The church is sent on mission by Jesus. It’s not that the church has a mission, but rather that the mission has a church.” Joining together with Grace Partnership has enable us to pursue our Jesus mission as a church. We have accomplished over the last 8 years more than we would have ever done alone. We have participated in mission outreaches, supported pastors retreats for those who need rest and support, equipped pastors and leaders through phone calls, conferences and a host of other events.

Abundant Grace has seen greater discipleship take place because people have gone on mission trips, visited other GP churches and attended conferences and youth gatherings. It is great to be among like-minded people and like-minded churches with a shared vision on Mission, Equipping and Care, the 3 priorities of Grace Partnership.

What we have found at Abundant Grace is that Partnership is not a modern managerial fad; but it’s the New Testament instinct of the one body of Christ expressing itself across many local churches. Partnership with other local churches converge on the same point: churches that lock arms for the gospel will out-pray, out-love, out-last, and out-multiply churches that try to go it alone.

This is why Abundant Grace Community Church joined Grace Partnership, and we are reaping the benefits from it. Abundant Grace is grateful to God and His leadership that He did not allow us to go it alone! Neither should you!