Initial Cash Giving: $182,289.99
Total Pledges: 143 Pledges, $1,040,702.92
Total Cash and Pledges: $1,222,992.91

Thank you for your faithful giving to Future Grace. If you would like to give or pledge to Future Grace, please click here. Campaign brochures and pledge cards are available each Sunday in the Gathering Hall.

by Chris Turner

The Future Grace Phase Two building campaign began six weeks ago with a challenge and ended last night with a music celebration featuring singers/songwriters who are members of Grace Community Church. In between was a strong call to discipleship for the next three years and years beyond

The concert featured David Spencer, Ben Shive, Laurianne Cates, Wendy Wills, Josh Wilson and Paul Bogart and, as Pastor Scott Patty said, was a time to celebrate God’s faithfulness to Grace and the congregation’s commitment to build for the purpose of discipleship. Patty also announced an additional $60,000 had been committed yesterday toward the Future Grace campaign.

As of May 4, total gifts and pledges received toward Future Grace Phase Two was $1,073,442, leaving Grace Community Church a little more than $1.4 million short of the total $2.5 million cost of the building project intended to provide additional educational space for primarily children. Forty-one cash gifts and 121 three-year pledges comprised the total received.

“There is reason to celebrate,” Scott Patty, pastor of Grace Community Church, told the congregation last Wednesday night in a special-called meeting. “The gospel is advancing and is taking new territory in the hearts of people which is a joy and disciples are being made so there is a lot to there a lot to be thankful for. At the same time we want to be realistic and we have several issues that need to be addressed. I think it is important to process the results. We need to think about where we are.”

The audio from Wednesday’s session is available for download here.

Patty said in wake of the $1 million-plus difference, the church needed to process events related to Future Grace Phase Two on three levels: emotional, spiritual and practical, saying that the emotional level will take time as information is absorbed. Patty then spent several minutes discussing the spiritual.

Patty said one of the questions on peoples’ minds is: “Did we miss God’s will?” He stated he believed the church is walking in the will of God moving forward with the building project.

“I don’t understand why things work out the way they do, but I do believe providing for the ministry of this church is what we are called to do,” he said. “I believe the motives for beginning this [campaign] are in keeping with what God would want. I’ve not heard of anyone say anything that would be [focusing on] ourselves. I think the process [that has brought us to this point] was honoring to God.

“I do not believe that hardship or alteration to our plans or not meeting our giving goal means that we missed God’s will. I believe there are times when we are doing exactly what God wants us to do and He orchestrates events that require a great deal of faith. I believe that’s what has happened here.

Patty said it was not the church’s desire to take on more debt but to raise the money. However, he said, the church’s leadership does not see all debt as sinful, saying debt is acceptable when there is a clear plan for debt repayment, when the value of the building project exceeds the amount borrowed and when the debt will not hinder the church’s ability to do ministry but actually helps it do ministry.

Patty continued the theme that began campaign six weeks ago when he stated that the best way to honor God for past grace is to trust Him for future grace. It is a statement that bears repeating: “We say thank you to God for everything He has done in our lives…we say thank you by stepping into the future and obeying the Lord. That’s the way the Christian life is. We walk with him by obedience in faith into the future knowing He will sustain us by grace.”

Childcare will be provided for infants through pre-K. If you plan to use childcare, please email futuregracersvp@gccnashville.org.

A seven-week series about following Jesus Christ in the world. Discipleship involves a leader (Jesus), followers (Christians), and a way of living (all that Jesus commanded). Sunday sermons and Wednesday evening Community Group discussions are devoted to this topic.

Enduring as a Disciple

Part 7 of 7
Mark 14-16
Scott Patty

Click here for audio of this sermon.

“Do you ever feel like God created you to show the world how much He can forgive.”

In the gospel of Mark, we see the story line of God’s grace.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save sinners is seen through Mark’s gospel. In Mark 15, we see Jesus fulfilling His purpose by facing the cross.

In the struggle and failure of Peter, we see the power of God’s grace.
The self-confident Peter learns that it is God’s grace causing Him to endure as a disciple.

In Jesus’ restoration of Peter, we see God’s grace for our enduring discipleship.

1. We are all still human. Weakness, failure, and unfaithfulness are all present in our lives.
2. God is faithful to keep us. We endure as disciples because God is faithful.
3. God continues to teach and mature us.
4. We are called to faith in Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, May 11th at 6 p.m., we will have the Future Grace Celebration Concert to celebrate Future Grace and all that it means for our congregation. During the concert, you will have the opportunity to see David Spencer, Ben Shive, Wendy Wills, Laurianne Cates, Josh Wilson, and Paul Bogart perform some of their songs with a full band. The remainder of this post is an interview with Josh Wilson.

Paul Bogart was raised in a small town just north of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Growing up in the rodeo world he competed nationally in rodeos and American Quarter Horse shows both in the team roping and calf roping events. Along with rodeo, music became a big part of Paul’s life especially within his family.

During college Paul started taking his music career more seriously and began touring across Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri playing in venues such as “The Cains Ballroom” and “The Lazy E Arena.” After graduating from Rogers State University, he packed his bags and moved to Nashville in June of 2005 in pursuit of a career as a singer/songwriter. As a song writer, Paul’s music has been greatly influenced by the rodeo world and Christian values. It is this style of country music that truly characterizes Paul Bogart and the lyrics that people grow to love.

I’ve been asking the same question to everyone to begin: how 
long have you been at Grace, and what made you decide to become a 
member here?

Tanya and I joined Grace in the spring of 2007 after visiting for several months. During those months of visiting we realized that this was a place where we could plug in and serve. We felt like the elders and staff humbly led this relatively new congregation in a way that was glorifying to God. It is a wonderful fit for Tanya and me. Grace has become a “family away from family.”

You’ve been in Nashville for a couple years pursuing singing/
songwriting, and you have at least one major cut (Porter Wagner). 
What has it been like seeing Nashville country music up close, and 
what are you currently pursuing?

Seeing the music industry up close makes me feel like I’ve gone back to school. I graduated with a business management degree, and now I’m getting my education in the music industry and I love it! It has been a blessing to see how the Lord has allowed me to meet some “heavy hitters” in the music scene. I’m a glutton for knowledge from those guys because they’ve been here much longer than me, and they know how this industry works. There are definitely some long-term goals, but currently I am honing my songwriting skills by trying to co-write with, and learn from successful writers in town.

You’re a rodeo man. I’m such a city boy that I don’t believe 
I’ve ever known one personally. Can you describe the feeling you get 
when you’re out there trying to rope a calf?

Going from 0 to 30 miles per hour in just a few strides, on a horse that I have trained and trust to do the job, while swinging my rope as the wind going past my face causes my eyes to water, releasing my loop anticipating my dismount to sprint to a 200 lb calf and throw him to the ground and tie three of his legs together, then throw my hands I the air. Well, I guess when I think about it like that, it’s pretty intense.

What songs can we look forward to hearing on Sunday night?

I wrote “Get Back in the Saddle” with Billy Montana and John Griffin. It is a song about family, faith, and the life of a rodeo cowboy learning to keep fighting no matter what life brings.

“Just Might Be Love” is a cozy little chick flick piled into two verses and a chorus. It’s one of Tanya’s favorites and I hope you all like it too.

Geoffrey Mack wrote a song called “I’ve Been Everywhere” that became a hit in Australia in 1962 with the release of a version recorded by Lucky Starr. Later that year a version was written by Mack with American and Canadian cities (instead of the Australian ones) and recorded by Hank Snow. I learned this song in college after a summer of traveling about 15,000 miles going from one rodeo to the next.

On Sunday, May 11th at 6 p.m., we will have the Future Grace Celebration Concert to celebrate Future Grace and all that it means for our congregation. During the concert, you will have the opportunity to see David Spencer, Ben Shive, Wendy Wills, Laurianne Cates, Josh Wilson, and Paul Bogart perform some of their songs with a full band. The remainder of this post is an interview with Josh Wilson.

Josh Wilson, originally from Lubbock, Texas, graduated from Belmont University in 2006 and recorded 2 independent albums while in school. Shortly after, he signed with Sparrow Records and his debut album entitled “Trying to Fit the Ocean In a Cup” was released April 29th. Christa Banister, of Christianity Today, describes the album: “Superb songwriting and varied textures combine to make Josh Wilson’s debut memorable.”

How long have you been coming to Grace, and what made you decide to make it your home church?

I started visiting Grace in 2006 and joined in 2007. I decided to make it my home church because I really feel the Holy Spirit is working in the people of Grace. I was welcomed by so many people the first time I came that I came back the next week. I also love Scott’s teaching. I feel that he not only is very honest, but he has an amazing gift of speaking the Truth of scripture. I wanted to be a part of a church where God is moving.

You’ve recently signed with Sparrow records and released your first album “Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup” a little over a week ago. How was the experience of making a label album different than that of being an indie?

There were a few differences. First, I co-wrote a lot more songs for the label album. EMI was able to set me up with some great writers. Another difference is that there were a few more people involved in the song selection process. We had between 40 and 50 songs to choose from, and this time around I had an A&R person and a manager helping me decide which songs were the best fit. A third difference is that there is a full team of people working on getting this album out, whereas before it was just me selling the album at small coffee shop shows.

What songs will you be doing on Sunday?

“Turn Around” - This song is an observation of how we (like Israel in all of scripture) tend to run away from the only one who can satisfy. The chorus is simply God telling us to “turn around” and come back to him.

“Beautiful Like This” - This one is inspired by Psalm 8 where David is asking how he can be considered more than God’s beautiful natural creation. Growing up in west Texas, the sunsets out there often made me wonder the same thing.

“Tell Me” - This is about how beautiful the Gospel is and how many times we need to hear it, even as Christians. We need to consistently be telling and re-telling to Gospel story to both the lost and to Christians, with words and also with our actions.

On Sunday, May 11th at 6 p.m., we will have the Future Grace Celebration Concert to celebrate Future Grace and all that it means for our congregation. During the concert, you will have the opportunity to see David Spencer, Ben Shive, Wendy Wills, Laurianne Cates, Josh Wilson, and Paul Bogart perform some of their songs with a full band. The remainder of this post is an interview with Wendy Wills. Check this site later this week for interviews with the other artists.

Wendy Wills has written great songs, put out several CDs, and blessed the church with meaningful worship music throughout her career as a singer/songwriter. Her most recent national “hit” is “The Glorious Impossible,” which was recorded by the Gaither Vocal Band. In 1998, she and her husband Dave, along with their two children, Jed and Thea moved to Nashville from Wisconsin. She doesn’t even pretend to be a Southerner, and the whole family is very proud of their heritage.

How long have you and your family been at Grace, and how did you decide on Grace as the place you wanted to put down your roots?

I think we’ve been at GCC around 9-10 years. We decided Grace was for us when 1) Scott remembered us from visiting a year earlier, and 2) In one of his sermons Scott said the best way to know God is study theology.

You are a veteran songwriter with songs that have been recorded by many artists over the years. How did songwriting become a passion of yours, and how do you see it now as opposed to when you first started?

I wrote my first song the morning after I’d become a Christian. I had messed around with songwriting, usually by putting my own satirical words to another song, sort like Cletus T. Judd does. Anyway, once I came to know Christ I realized I had something to write about. So I just wrote. I’d sing the songs I’d written for my church and for other events like FCA banquets and women’s events.

It became a passion when I went to Estes Park, Colorado, for the Christian Artist’s Music Seminar, and I took seminars on writing songs. I can’t describe what happened in my heart. It was like I’d found Jesus all over again! Or rather he found me!

The difference between when I started and now? Maturity.

We sing several of your songs at Grace: “Glorious Impossible”, “Beautiful Wounds”, “The Bread Has Been Broken”, and “We Call You Father” are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. What does it mean for you to be able to write songs that are embraced by your local congregation?

To be perfectly honest, it was embarrassing at first!! I kept thinking, “What if they don’t like it??? What if I don’t like it??” But now, well, I just can’t believe people like what I do. It is very humbling.

What will you be singing on Sunday?

I wanted to sing songs that had some connection with GCC’s discipling of me.

“The Bread Has Been Broken” holds a very special place for me because I wrote it when I came back from my first AGM to Poland. That trip was significant because God broke me there and convicted me of my “practical atheism”. It was Scott’s sermons during that week, combined with John Piper’s 50 Reasons Why Christ Died, that I realized I did not believe the gospel, maybe didn’t even truly understand what it meant. I also realized that I was squandering a talent God had given me. And so I came back with a renewed passion for my songs—to write as much as I could about the gospel, the cross, to encourage the church, and give God the glory he deserves and is so incredibly worthy of. “The Bread Has Been Broken” comes from the account of Jesus on the road to Emmaus. His companion’s eyes were opened when he broke the bread.

“Beautiful Wounds”: The idea for this song came from a prayer Bill Maynard prayed when we were back at First Christian. He prayed something like, “Thank you Jesus for bearing the wounds. Those beautiful wounds.” Again, Scott is always telling us to “talk to ourselves” and so I wanted it write in a psalm type form, addressing ourselves and then God, and then finally the congregation. It is a quiet praise song.

“Long Expected Day” is from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon, actually about the incarnation, but Romans 8 won out. It’s about longing for Christ’s return. And I’ve always loved old-timey music, bluegrass, and folk songs. My co-writers helped me get there musically. My big dream for this song is that Dolly Parton sings it someday!

On Sunday, May 11th at 6 p.m., we will have the Future Grace Celebration Concert to celebrate Future Grace and all that it means for our congregation. During the concert, you will have the opportunity to see David Spencer, Ben Shive, Wendy Wills, Laurianne Cates, Josh Wilson, and Paul Bogart perform some of their songs with a full band. The remainder of this post is an interview with Laurianne Cates. Check this site later this week for interviews with the other artists.

Laurianne is a native Nashvillian (well, Franklin really) who shares her music regularly in Nashville’s music scene. She has just released a great EP titled “Something Real,” and I’ve had it in my car since she released it (meaning it’s one of about five albums I’m currently listening to).

How long have you been at Grace, and what made you decide to make it your home church?

I have been at Grace for seven years. I had been studying Religion at Belmont University and was really searching for answers as to why I believed what I believed…not just because I grew up in the church and that’s what I was supposed to do. When I started visiting Grace I heard the Gospel, I mean, really heard it and began to find those answers. I wanted to be a part of and invest in Grace Community to continue to grow, learn and apply the Gospel in my life.

I know that your experience with the music business has had its ups and downs. If you had your ideal situation as an artist, what would it look like?

I would love to be on the road, touring, playing shows every night. Eventually, I’d like to sign with an independent record label and keep making music for as long as people buy music! (PS-Downloading music is bad and illegal. Support the artist. We have to eat too!)

How do you look at music impacting culture? As an artist who is also a believer, how would you like to see God use you?

Music, I think, is universal. It can cross cultures and impact them. We are in a culture where musicians are elevated to the extreme (American Idol, America’s Got Talent, etc.) and have a platform, whether constructive or destructive. As a believer and artist, I want to be a part of God making His glory known to all the earth and to every generation through song; Lord willing, to have a platform to promote Him. The thing is, a song can say things sometimes a person can’t. It has the potential to speak right to the heart. I want to write those songs. They may not say anything directly about Jesus, but they speak truth. I want to be able to speak life and be a light in the dark places.

What songs will you be doing on Sunday?

I’ll be doing three songs: Louder, Red Wagon, and Everything Right.
Louder is a song that is all about a relationship with Jesus and how it feels to be in it. Red Wagon is a sweet little song I wrote with my brother, Jess, and his wife Mandy. It is about a movement into relationship with another person with all the good and that bad that goes with it. And Everything Right is kind of an anthem that communicates that no matter where you are, what you’re going through, what you’ve done, how low you think you’ve gone, Love does and always will make everything right.

If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can listen to the discussion here.

If you did not receive the email announcing the special called meeting, you can access it here.

Thank you for your prayers and commitment to Grace Community Church.

Pastor Scott