Summertime in Hillsboro, Kansas can be busy with sports, recreation, and vacations. In an effort to deepen relationships within the community, Grace Community Fellowship implemented several different initiatives for all ages. Some long-standing events like selling food at a local farmer’s market to raise money for a youth camp in Alaska took place. Other new initiatives happened, like youth gatherings at places like pool parties, Nerf wars, and snow cone outings.
“Outreach is vital for the local church,” says Grace Fellowship’s lead pastor Andy Wesner. “I believe the gospel and Jesus’s active presence through the spirit are the fundamental needs we all have. The enemy is real. We need to be on mission with God in his mission to renew the world.”
There is much to celebrate at Grace over the last year as they’ve witnessed 30 people going public with their faith through believer’s baptism. Ten of those took place this summer at a public pool where testimonies were shared, baptisms took place, then a collective pool party capped the event.
“There is a deeper growing desire and hunger for knowing Jesus, building on what was already there,” says Andy. Putting on events like a community family movie night, biweekly worship nights, and congregants praying and mentoring one another show how relationships are deepening at Grace. To witness it makes Andy feel energized and grateful. The church plans to continue these outreach efforts in the future.
