GIVE IT AWAY

Our Story So Far

Grace Midtown began at our State Street location as a ministry of Grace Fellowship Church, with a vision to reach a new generation of disciples. Grace Fellowship invested generously in energy, people, and finances to begin what is now nearly a 20 year journey of worship, community, and mission.

  • In 2012 we moved onto our current property, renovating a warehouse into an auditorium.

  • From 2017 to 2019 we renovated what is now our main worship space, café, offices, and courtyard.

  • In 2025 and 2026 we sought God together for the future of our church through a process called Quo Vadis, sensing a growing conviction to give ourselves away. One thing that has become clear is that Jesus is leading us to invest in our ministry to kids and students.

Jesus is Calling us to Invest in the Next Generation

As our children and student ministries have grown, they've expanded into our old auditorium (now "Camp Kidtown") and other spaces on our property. For years we lacked the critical mass to build viable ministries for upper elementary and students. That has changed.

Last August we launched Outpost, a ministry for fourth through sixth graders, with close to 50 kids attending regularly. By fall 2027, many of those kids will move into student ministry. We also have close to 50 kids in Camp Kidtown (K through 3rd), about 100 in babies through pre-k, and seven students in our 7th through 12th grade ministries.

Our Families and Students team and volunteers have done remarkable work without a space built for this. We moved into our new auditorium in 2019 with no funds to renovate the old one. There's no restroom, so kids must be escorted to the main building. There are no walls separating age groups, just one open room. We'll face a real space crisis by the 2027/2028 school year as more kids age into these ministries.

Decades after our beginning, we stand at a new precipice, called again to invest in the next generation.

Two Opportunities Before us

Camp Kidtown Renovations — $800-$900K

In 2022 we began design work with Moeller-Purcell to renovate our old auditorium, but paused for financial reasons. We've restarted that process. The designs create defined spaces for elementary, middle, and high school students, and even include restrooms.

  • Defined spaces allow for age-appropriate teaching, safer environments, and a greater sense of ownership for kids and students.

  • Younger children and those with special needs often find mixed-age, high-volume spaces overwhelming. A dedicated space helps them feel safe and welcome.

  • Shared spaces currently require volunteers to constantly reset the room for different uses. Dedicated environments free leaders to focus on the kids and students.

Debt Reduction/Elimination — Up to $1.8 Million

The timing of this project coincides with the due date of our current mortgage on our property, which began when we completed the last renovation (the note is due in total in June 2027).

We have options in terms of how we approach managing that debt moving forward.

  • We can apply to refinance and continue to maintain the debt (we spend about $250k per year on our mortgage).

  • We are also exploring the possibility of paying down all or a portion of our debt as we approach the due date.

  • In an ideal scenario, we could eliminate our debt and instantly free up a percentage of our annual operating budget to be used for the expansion of ministry and mission.

We have a strong sense of conviction that God is calling us to give ourselves away as a church for the next generation at our church. There will be other expressions as well which could include Church Planting or other missional endeavors. Freeing up our operational budget would expand our capacity for ministry and mission.

Our Response Today

We're in a dreaming and designing phase, not a deciding phase. Listening, learning, and planning together matters right now. A trusted church consulting firm is conducting a feasibility study to help us understand what's financially possible.

We believe God is calling us to a vision that reaches beyond our existing ministries, one that will take unity, prayer, and generosity. We're asking you to do three things:

  • Pray for this project daily. Ask God for wisdom, courage, and unity as we seek his direction.

  • Participate in surveys and conversations. We'll share opportunities through digital questionnaires and in-person interviews. Bring your prayerful input.

  • Consider your contribution. Use this season to pray about how you might be a generous part of what's ahead.