network updates
We know how important our locations are to our church. See below to hear stories and updates from all of our locations.
Grace Edison, NJ
From our Location Pastor: Christie Poluan
During our Baptism Sunday, we had the joy of witnessing Cassandra, her husband Danny, and their daughter Jazlyn publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism. Their journey with Grace Edison began just two weeks before our launch Sunday last year when they first attended our prelaunch service, and they have faithfully been part of our church community ever since.
Cassandra’s story is a beautiful testimony of God’s redeeming grace. She was a Teen Mom who dropped out of high school. She had her daughter, Jazlyn, when she was only 15 years old. She spent years struggling with shame and feelings of unworthiness, believing her past had disqualified her from God’s love and purpose. But God has been faithfully restoring her identity, healing her heart, and bringing restoration to her family.
On the day of baptism, Cassandra testified of God’s faithfulness in leading her back to Him, declaring that Jesus is the King of Kings, her Lord and Savior. As she beautifully expressed, “My history is His story, my test is my testimony, and the present is His presence.” Two months ago, Cassandra and her family generously opened their home to host our baptism celebration.
Since then, they have continued to open their doors to our church family for worship nights, fellowship gatherings, and Community Group meetings. Cassandra is also now leading one of Grace Edison’s Community Groups. What a beautiful testimony of God’s transforming grace—turning a heart once burdened by shame and unworthiness into a life that now serves, gives, and makes room for others. Our past does not disqualify us from God’s grace; He redeems our stories and invites us to participate in His Kingdom work.
Cassandra’s story is a beautiful testimony of God’s redeeming grace. She was a Teen Mom who dropped out of high school. She had her daughter, Jazlyn, when she was only 15 years old. She spent years struggling with shame and feelings of unworthiness, believing her past had disqualified her from God’s love and purpose. But God has been faithfully restoring her identity, healing her heart, and bringing restoration to her family.
On the day of baptism, Cassandra testified of God’s faithfulness in leading her back to Him, declaring that Jesus is the King of Kings, her Lord and Savior. As she beautifully expressed, “My history is His story, my test is my testimony, and the present is His presence.” Two months ago, Cassandra and her family generously opened their home to host our baptism celebration.
Since then, they have continued to open their doors to our church family for worship nights, fellowship gatherings, and Community Group meetings. Cassandra is also now leading one of Grace Edison’s Community Groups. What a beautiful testimony of God’s transforming grace—turning a heart once burdened by shame and unworthiness into a life that now serves, gives, and makes room for others. Our past does not disqualify us from God’s grace; He redeems our stories and invites us to participate in His Kingdom work.
Grace Grand Rapids
From our Location Pastor: Nasario Pena
The thing about urban ministry is that things tend to move slower. It takes time to establish trust, and people won’t come to church on Sundays if they don’t know or trust you. At our block party, we had the pleasure of serving hundreds from our community, introducing ourselves to our neighbors and taking an important step toward earning that trust. We are grateful that a few of those neighbors began attending Grace Grand Rapids in the weeks that followed, especially the families who have brought the sound and presence of children back into our church.
Being a replant, Grace Grand Rapids’ preexisting community hadn’t seen or heard children in the church for a good while. On the day of our block party, Arnie and Trisha came with their family and expressed that they wanted to come to church, but most places they visited were not hospitable environments for their daughter on the autism spectrum. When Karen, a member of our team, heard this, she immediately empathized with this family and assured them, “We would gladly welcome your family on a Sunday morning, especially your daughter!” They haven’t missed a Sunday since!
Being a replant, Grace Grand Rapids’ preexisting community hadn’t seen or heard children in the church for a good while. On the day of our block party, Arnie and Trisha came with their family and expressed that they wanted to come to church, but most places they visited were not hospitable environments for their daughter on the autism spectrum. When Karen, a member of our team, heard this, she immediately empathized with this family and assured them, “We would gladly welcome your family on a Sunday morning, especially your daughter!” They haven’t missed a Sunday since!
Grace Madison, WI
From our Location Pastor: Peter Vang
Dorothy came with a question: Would the grace in the church’s name be reflected in the way its people loved?
After living overseas, Dorothy had joined the church’s house gatherings during occasional visits to Madison. This summer, she returned for her annual medical appointments and stayed with a couple from the church. Their hospitality brought her into the daily life of the community, and she chose to join them for worship.
The name “Grace” resonated deeply with Dorothy. God’s freely given grace is central to her faith, and she was drawn to the vision of Jesus bringing people together across cultural boundaries—the reconciliation we see in Ephesians 2.
She wanted to know what that looked like in everyday life. Could people of different cultures and generations become a family? Would they love like Jesus beyond Sunday morning?
As Dorothy spent time among them, she experienced a community sharing laughter and tears, offering encouragement, and caring for one another. She told us, “I have never seen a church where they love so deeply.”
She also found joy in their worship: hearing voices lifted together in authentic praise, using what they have to worship Jesus. For Dorothy, those simple, shared moments revealed something beautiful about the church God is building.
Today, we get to celebrate that God is making His grace tangible at Grace-Madison—through hospitality, relationships, and people learning to love across their differences. Let’s thank Him and pray that this multicultural community continues to grow in that love, welcoming others into the family He is bringing together.
After living overseas, Dorothy had joined the church’s house gatherings during occasional visits to Madison. This summer, she returned for her annual medical appointments and stayed with a couple from the church. Their hospitality brought her into the daily life of the community, and she chose to join them for worship.
The name “Grace” resonated deeply with Dorothy. God’s freely given grace is central to her faith, and she was drawn to the vision of Jesus bringing people together across cultural boundaries—the reconciliation we see in Ephesians 2.
She wanted to know what that looked like in everyday life. Could people of different cultures and generations become a family? Would they love like Jesus beyond Sunday morning?
As Dorothy spent time among them, she experienced a community sharing laughter and tears, offering encouragement, and caring for one another. She told us, “I have never seen a church where they love so deeply.”
She also found joy in their worship: hearing voices lifted together in authentic praise, using what they have to worship Jesus. For Dorothy, those simple, shared moments revealed something beautiful about the church God is building.
Today, we get to celebrate that God is making His grace tangible at Grace-Madison—through hospitality, relationships, and people learning to love across their differences. Let’s thank Him and pray that this multicultural community continues to grow in that love, welcoming others into the family He is bringing together.
