Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
1 Peter 4:9-10
What is varied grace?
A clear vision of focus for the next 3-5 years that helps Grace Church, by God’s grace, hospitably and faithfully steward what God has given us.
Our pastors believe our church is being called to enter a time of stewardship in order to faithfully step into sending and church planting in the future. How we prepare, give, save, and build now will effect our ability to respond later.
To become stewards of God’s varied grace to our church means we must: 1) Identify our unique calling and opportunities for the kingdom as a unique church; and 2) take steps that will help us continue to follow God faithfully into that identity and mature in stewarding that identity.
What has God given us to steward?
What makes Grace Church unique in God’s mission? What has he given us that we can look to faithfully steward with intentionality in the next 3-5 years? Here are some examples:
A church growing both in size and maturity, particularly in children and youth.
A calling to see more healthy, gospel-centered churches planted or revitalized in the greater Waco area.
A unique culture of convictional intentionality and devotional/relational warmth.
A calling to see more men and women equipped in theology and devotion in a way that is both mature and accessible.
A desire to see more long-term missionaries trained and equipped for church planting among unreached people groups and underserved areas.
A thoughtful culture that presents a unique opportunity to reach intellectually minded students and graduate students, and a proximity to Baylor and other institutions.
A central location to the greater Waco area, and a strong long-term home on Bosque.
A new expansion to our property at 4621 Colonial.
Healthy members on mission and church planting in hard-to-reach areas of the world, and an opportunity to continue to train more men and women for long-term missions.
A congregation of generous and mature believers.
A relationally healthy elder-team with diversity in age, experience, and gifting.
A large group of committed and high-character deacons to help meet the needs of the church.
A local network of relationally tight churches and leaders who share common vision, values, and convictions and are committed to working together in a clear, strategic way.
How do we steward this moment?
The strategy of Varied Grace can be summarized in three commitments:
STRUCTURAL
We commit to the growing stewardship of our physical property and resources.
CULTURAL
We commit to the renewed cultivation of our unique culture and spiritual vibrancy, particularly to the next generation (Kids/Youth/College).
MISSIONAL
We commit to preparing for more fruit in our unique missional callings of church planting/revitalization and sending long-term missions workers.
Our 3 Key Initiatives
Represent the three primary ways we plan to fulfill our commitments. By focusing extra time, leadership, thoughtfulness, prayer and resources into these ministry areas and strategies, our pastors believe we will be better equipped for future faithfulness.
Newton House and 4610 Bosque
Complete renovation of property at 4621 Colonial into Newton House, a unique space for hospitality, prayer, fellowship, celebration, conversation, and discipleship (see more info below).
Clear strategy for use of new space at 4621 Colonial, including leadership of space from a staff/pastoral level.
Partial renovation of current building including kids spaces, new nursing mother/cry room, updated classroom space, updated office space, and any other needs.
Developed plan for greater facility stewardship/upkeep of physical property, including more deacon-level leadership.
Youth, Family, College and Equipping
A clear leadership development pipeline for youth and college leaders at deacon or pastoral level.
An improved pathway for transitioning children to youth ministry.
Higher level of committment to resources for kids and youth ministry.
A recommitment and refocus to college ministry, with clearer strategy and increased level of leadership.
Continued commitment to Grace Institute.
Expansion of Equipping Hour.
Further development of ministry residency, summer internship, and other ministry training programs.
Missional Development
Development of international missions strategy to prioritize long-term workers church-planting amongst unreached and underserved areas.
Development of clear pipeline for missionary identification, training, development and sending of international missionaries.
More and better structured leadership in international missions, including development of missions team and deacons/pastors overseeing.
Greater consistency and commitment to missionary care and serving our current missionaries.
Higher level of commitment to resources for both international and local church planting.
Continued development of Grace Network, including saving and planning for future church planting residency.
Special Focus:
Newton House
In November 2025, Grace Church purchased the property at 4621 Colonial Ave, directly behind the current church building. This provides our congregation with over 2,300 sq. ft of usable space, which we plan to slowly renovate as funding is available. The biggest project of Varied Grace will be the renovation of 4621 Colonial into a new hospitality space called Newton House.
John Newton was a man who understood the grace of God and his own need for it. As a pastor, he was also deeply committed to his flock. His own house at Olney was a place of refuge and hospitality for sinners and sufferers, and also a place of creativity and contemplation. For many years, the poet William Cowper lived with Newton and they composed nearly 350 hymns, all while Cowper suffered from unspeakable depression. Naming this property Newton House reminds us of the beauty of friendship, the power of hospitality, and the warmth and creativity that can flow out for the church from a safe place to seek God.
Get involved!
Pray
The primary way to get involved is through consistent and regular prayer. Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2026, we will offer several opportunities to gather and pray for God’s provision.
Serve
We will also offer plenty of opportunites to get your hands dirty and help with building rennovations. For this strategic plan to succeed, we will need everyone taking part—not just in work days but in stepping up to serve in all areas of ministry and being ready to step into leadership or stewardship when called upon. If you have a special skill in construction, or a passion for ministry you would like us to know about, please fill out the form!
GIVE
Over and above normal giving, our goal is to raise $275,000 in the next 18 months. This funding will primarily go to our structural commitments, but will also be used as necessary to further our other ministry focuses. Our primary goal is that every member gives and participates prayerfully and sacrificially. Spread the word if you know someone outside the church who would be interested in taking part in God’s kingdom in this way!
Financial Goal:
$275,000 by May 2027.
Use the link below to give or to pledge giving. We also have giving pledge cards available in the lobby.