Installation Services for Dr. Albert E. Russell

Installation Committee pictured here from L-R: Pastor Keith Mariott, Pastor Sam Foreman, Pastor Scott Fowler, Elder Ben Ingram and Elder Ken Moore.

Installation Committee pictured here from L-R: Pastor Keith Mariott, Pastor Sam Foreman, Pastor Scott Fowler, Elder Ben Ingram and Elder Ken Moore.

On Friday October 13th, Grace Presbytery unanimously agreed to accept the ordination of Dr. Albert E. Russell and move him from licentiate to Pastor of the Grace Community Church in Millbrook, AL.  On November 5th at 4:00pm, the official installation services were held.  Committee members descended upon Grace Community Church for this momentous occasion.  The committee for installation consisted of Dr. Scott Fowler (Spring Creek CPC), Pastor Keith Mariott (Branchville CPC), Pastor Sam Foreman, Elder Ben Ingram (Spring Creek CPC) and Elder Ken Moore (Grace Community CPC).  Other special guests included Pastor Jan Overton (Crestline CPC) and Pastor Edward Nettles (Freewill Missionary Baptist Church).

As it stands, Dr. Russell inclusion as an African-American Pastor in the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination is a milestone and a testament to the attitude of tolerance and graciousness that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has always been known for.  The generosity of the Cumberland Church, the Pastoral Care committee and the Grace Presbytery is much appreciated by Grace Community Church.

Grace Community Church endured several years of working through the ordination process and has supported Dr. Russell mightily.  Many came out to support the installation.  Family, friends and congregants gathered for a message by Keith Mariott and to witness this historic day.  There was great food and fellowship.  Grace Community Church is grateful for all that Grace Presbytery has done and we look forward to what God is going to do through this little church on the hill.  Credit to Tori J. Walker for the photos.

Dr. Russell is Officially the Pastor of Grace Community Church

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Great news from the most recent meeting of the Grace Presbytery.  The Committee on Pastoral Care brought a motion to the floor of Presbytery to accept the previous ordination of Dr. Albert E. Russell and add him as a member in good standing to the rolls of the Grace Presbytery.  The vote was unanimous.  The Pastoral Care Committee was instrumental in making this happen and Grace Community Church is eternally grateful to them.  Grace took roughly 20 people to the Presbytery meeting in support of Dr. Russell.   

Small Groups Starting September 21st

The early church met in small groups from house to house according to Acts 2:44-47.  Many times we have a tendency to believe that the only place that salvation or growth can take place is within the four walls of the sanctuary.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Intimate, small group study contributes greatly to the spiritual development of the body of Christ.  I'm excited to see a facet of the vision of Grace Community Church coming to fruition by the creation of small groups.  We have three small groups that will meet beginning September 21st.

Elder Ken Moore's group will meet on Thursdays at 6:30pm [Topic: Christian Maturity] 

Brother James Pendley's group will meet on Fridays at 7:00pm [Topic: Making Jesus the Center of Our Lives]

Elder Wade Cooper's group will meet on Sundays at 5:00pm [Topic: Jesus 101: John's Gospel]

If you'd like more information on how to get involved with the small group, email sufficientgracecc@gmail.com

 

Second Annual Revival September 15th through September 17th

We are blessed to be able to invite Pastor Chuck Hood home to be our guest revivalist/evangelist.  Our annual revival will kick off on September 15th and will climax on September 17th during our annual Fishers of Men Fish Fry in Millbrook Park.

Pastor Charles "Chuck" Hood is the former Pastor of Grace Community Church is a gifted teacher, preacher and evangelist.  Reverend Chuck Hood is an ordained minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He answered the call for Ministry in July 1980. He earned a BA from Bethel College in McKenzie, TNand later his Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Alabama Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1999 he was hired in a joint effort of Grace Presbytery and the General Assembly to serve as a church planter for a new church in the Millbrook and Prattville area.  That church became what we now know as Grace Community Church.  He served Grace Community for 9 years. Chuck is married to Julie Hood and together they have 11 children and 8 grandchildren. He has been serving as pastor of the Union Hill Church in Anderson Alabama for the last 9 years.  

SWAP is on for July 22nd

We are excited about the Grace Swap coming up on July 22nd from 7am-11pm.  Donations are being accepted this week from Monday-Friday.

Drop-off Schedule:

Tuesday 3-6

Wedesday 5-8

Thursday 9-12

Friday 3-6

Remember, the Swap is an outreach as well as an opportunity for bless others.  Donations should be in good condition.  If you are a volunteer or you have questions, you can see Shirley Duncan, Jan Murley or D'Ann Pendley for information.

Min. Jeremy Powers will bring the Word on July 30th

Minister Jeremy Powers Sr., is a resident of Millbrook ,AL and the youngest son of five siblings to Pastor Joseph and Kathy Powers of Temple of Deliverance Holiness Church in Wetumpka, AL. Jeremy was ordained as a Minister in 2006 and has used his calling to reach lost souls and minister unto the broken. Jeremy has an Associate Degree in Theology from Life Christian University graduating with a 4.0 GPA. 


Jeremy is the husband of one wife, Kimberly Powers, married for 12 years and and he's the father to 4 beautiful children, Jeremy Jr, Ke'Arra, Jeremiah, and Ka'Liyah. Jeremy's life is his ministry! He knows if God takes you to it, He will surely bring you through it. Along with preaching the Word of God, Jeremy utilizes himself as a willing vessel to be used by God in the house of the Lord, whether its leading devotion, prayer, MC'ing or using his love of drumming; he does not mind making sure God's house is run in decency and in order.

Jeremy loves and lives for the things of God and believes either it's God's way or NO way!  Grace Community Church is happy to welcome brother Powers and we look forward to a powerful message from God.

Pastor K.C. Jackson will Deliver the Word on Sunday June 11th

      K.C. Jackson

      K.C. Jackson

Join us as Pastor K.C. Jackson ministers the Word on Sunday June 11th.  K.C. is a former youth pastor, pastor and evangelist.  He has a heart to see people come to Christ and become His disciples.  Pastor Jackson is currently the Bible teacher at East Memorial Christian Academy.  He's married to Mrs. Kristy Jackson (17 years) and they have two children Katelyn, 11, and Kaleb, 10.

Grace Convo 2017: What a Time!

We had a blast at Grace Convo 2017.  From the moment we arrived to the moment that we left, everything was awesome.  Cloverton, the band/worship leaders were amazing.  Their rendition of Elton John's Hallelujah had the whole room in tears.  The best part about the Grace Convo was the structure.  It was arranged in four main sessions (10am and 7pm) on Saturday and Sunday with breakout sessions that immediately preceded them and followed them.  There was plenty of free time for the groups to explore Gatlinburg and hang out in the hotel.

It looked sketchy initially because of the fires in Gatlinburg but one look at the areas surrounding the hotel and it was evident that God put a hedge of protection around the Park Vista to preserve the space for us.  The Holy Spirit ordained the moment.  That was, by far, one of the most amazing worship experiences that I've ever been involved in.  The youth who were there were looking to encounter God, and I believe that they did.

Pastor Derek Jacks (Homewood CPC), a humble, scholarly and worshipful man, did a masterful job coordinating everything.  The theme was "Testify" and how we should testify about God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Rev. Micah Tanck (Scottsboro CPC) brought two excellent messages during the Sunday sessions from the third chapter of the book of Joshua.  The take home message, as the Israelites went to cross the Jordan under Joshua's command, "God saw the Jordan before they saw the Jordan...just keep following God!" 

Our group was amazingly well behaved, well mannered and attentive.  Honestly though, all of the young people were just awesome.  To hear YOUNG men and women excited about the gospel was refreshing.  To see their excitement was energizing.  To hear them recount words from the sermons and how they will immediately apply them to their lives was inspiring.  I look forward to taking another group on next year.

I cannot say enough about our youth leaders!  What a great group of people who want nothing more than to raise up our young people in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  April, Wade, Tiffany, Eddie and Samantha did an amazing job.  They kept the youth stimulated, they led the devotionals before each session and they showed the passion for Christ that we have needed for a long time with the youth ministry!  A HUGE thank you goes out to them! 

Let's continue to pray for those churches that were represented there!  There were over 30 churches, nearly 600 people and one AWESOME God whom we all worshipped!