Auburn Grace Community Church is a Bible-centered church at 3126 Olympic Way in Auburn, California. It is known for its “Connect, Grow, and Serve” vision and the mission to “make Jesus famous,” expressed through two Sunday services, Life Groups, a strong children’s ministry, local outreach, international sending, and a long-held vision for Grace Park.
Two Sunday Services on Olympic Way
Auburn Grace Community Church gathers at 3126 Olympic Way in Auburn, California, for two Sunday services, at 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM. Visitors are welcome in person, and both gatherings can be watched live on YouTube.
After parking, guests walk through the breezeway and courtyard into the front lobby. A team member at the Welcome Desk can identify first-time visitors, help them find seats and Sunday School classes for their children, and answer practical questions. After the service, visitors can pick up a Visitor’s Packet with more information about Auburn Grace.
The service follows a clear two-part rhythm. The first half includes worship, prayer, announcements, and occasional special celebrations. The second is devoted to studying God’s Word. Auburn Grace upholds the authority of Scripture and uses it as the foundation for all its teaching.
- 9:00 AM: The first Sunday service, followed by the Generations class in Room 204.
- 10:45 AM: The second Sunday service, with adult and student classes meeting during the gathering.
There is no formal dress code at Auburn Grace. Members of the church family arrive in everything from business casual to jeans and flip-flops, so visitors can dress comfortably.
The Media Team livestreams both services through the church’s YouTube channel. A church app also provides sermon notes, updates, and other features for people who want to remain connected with the church between gatherings.
AG Kids: Eight Weeks Through Sixth Grade
AG Kids, Auburn Grace’s Sunday School ministry, meets during both Sunday services. Check-in for every age begins in the courtyard 20 minutes before the service, where greeters help families check in and find the appropriate classroom. The check-in kiosk is at the end of the courtyard by the fountain.
- Nursery, 8 weeks to 2 years: Parents and children remain in the classroom for the full service, where children play, sing, and have a small snack.
- Early Childhood, ages 3 to 5: Children begin in their classrooms for play and Bible time, then join the other early-childhood classes in the Kid’s MPR for worship and a large-group lesson. They return to their classroom for a snack before dismissal.
- Elementary, grades 1 through 6: Children are dropped off in their classrooms, gather in the Kid’s MPR for worship and a large-group lesson, and then return for activities, games, and small-group lessons.
AG Kids uses the GO! Curriculum, taking children through the Bible chronologically so they can understand how each story contributes to the larger story of God’s love and redemption. The lessons place God at the center of each story and help children apply their faith in everyday situations.
The ministry’s vision is to partner with parents in raising children who are rooted in their identity in Christ, firm in their understanding of who God is, and confident in his grace through the teaching of his Word.
Life Groups and Adult Sunday Classes
Life Groups are described as “people living life together.” Each group meets regularly with fellow believers for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Groups have different characteristics and meet in different venues, and Auburn Grace invites people to explore the available opportunities for a group that fits their needs. People with homes or leadership gifts can also serve as hosts or facilitators.
- Generations Class: This 9:00 AM class in Room 204 functions like a Life Group, bringing generations together to pray, study, and discuss.
- Ambassadors Class: This 10:45 AM class in Room 204 gathers adults age 50 and older around a passionate pursuit of God’s Word and a mature love for the Lord and people. Pastor John McIntosh leads the class.
Life Groups also use sermon-based questions to extend Sunday teaching into personal reflection and shared discussion. The church’s broader discipleship pattern emphasizes connection with God and others, spiritual growth, and active service.
SUMMIT Students, Men, and Women
SUMMIT serves students in grades 6 through 12 and seeks to root and ground young people in their relationship with God. During the 10:45 AM service on second and fourth Sundays, students remain for worship in the main auditorium and then meet in Room 205 for discussion. On first, third, and fifth Sundays, they stay in the service. Sixth graders may remain in AG Kids for the second service. Wednesday nights and youth-night gatherings add other opportunities for connection.
- Connect: Students gather weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays and at various youth nights.
- Grow: Bible study helps students deepen their faith.
- Serve: Students participate in service projects and mission-trip opportunities.
Growing as Men of God
Auburn Grace describes growth as a man of God as an intentional act. The Men’s Ministry offers a bi-monthly study on first and third Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in Room 204. Men and Missions also meets on first and third Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 AM in the Missions Cafe. The ministry draws from the biblical example of the Men of Issachar, emphasizing an understanding of the times and what God requires.
Women of All Generations
The Women’s Ministry creates opportunities for women to connect, grow, and serve. Sewers and Rippers meets Tuesday mornings from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM during January through October. A seasonal Wednesday-morning Bible study runs from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Grace Moms gathers mothers on first and third Thursdays from September through May. Casey Klein serves as Women’s Ministry Director, and Liz Ziegenmeyer leads Grace Moms.
Celebrate Recovery on Tuesday Nights
Celebrate Recovery is Auburn Grace’s Christ-centered 12-step recovery program. It is designed to celebrate God’s healing power through the 12 Steps and eight Recovery Principles. Participants share experiences, strength, and hopes with one another and become willing to accept God’s grace in addressing problems in their lives. Applying biblical principles brings spiritual growth and freedom from addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors.
The weekly meeting is free, open to everyone, and requires no registration. Childcare is provided. The gathering begins with a large-group meeting and then separates into men’s and women’s small groups addressing substance abuse and life challenges.
- 6:30 to 7:30 PM: Large-group meeting.
- 7:30 to 8:30 PM: Men’s and women’s small groups in Room 205.
- 8:30 to 9:00 PM: Fellowship in the Cafe.
GraceTown Academy for Homeschool Families
GraceTown is Auburn Grace’s school program for homeschooling families, with the motto “Training Hearts, Teaching Minds.” Its vision is to partner with parents in both the spiritual and academic education of children, incorporating God’s standards into learning for the glory of God and in love and humility.
- Preschool, ages 3 to 5: A two-day program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, while a three-day program meets Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to noon.
- Kindergarten through second grade: A three-day program meets Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to noon.
GraceTown combines biblical instruction with age-appropriate academics and character training. Preschool lessons use Bible stories, scripture memory, and examples for practical application. Children also work on obedience, kindness, giving, love, thankfulness, honesty, patience, self-control, listening, and following instructions. Hands-on activities include gardening, cooking, science experiments, guest speakers, and field trips.
Kindergarten through second grade uses Answers in Genesis for biblical training and Abeka for language arts and math. Auburn Grace emphasizes a low student-to-teacher ratio as a way to support both discipleship and learning. Registration involves an assessment and a tour of the program.
Grandparents Mentoring the Next Generation
Auburn Grace gives grandparents a distinctive ministry of spiritual intentionality. It gathers community grandparents through outreach gatherings and provides biblical resources and training intended to help them understand and fulfill their role in passing faith to younger generations. Its guiding phrase is simple: “Learn His Truth, Practice His Word, Pass it on.”
The church identifies three central responsibilities for Christian grandparents:
- Spiritual investment: Grandparents are called to invest themselves spiritually in the lives of their grandchildren.
- A godly example: They are encouraged to model a lifestyle marked by good deeds, sound teaching, and disciplined speech.
- Prayer: Grandparents are taught to pray regularly for their grandchildren.
Auburn Grace works with the Legacy Coalition, which supplies free webinars, conferences, books, and training for churches and grandparents. The emphasis is on helping grandparents move beyond retirement culture and invest their experience, faith, and relationships in the lives of their grandchildren.
Grace Park: A Place to Connect with Foothill Neighbors
Grace Park grew from a 30-year dream to create a place where families could meet. Auburn Grace purchased the six-acre property in 2005, and the vision is to develop it as a community park where hundreds of families can play sports, walk or exercise, picnic, enjoy a playground, and take part in community gatherings.
The purpose extends beyond amenities. Auburn Grace intends to manage the park and its gatherings as a way to build intentional relationships with Foothill neighbors and introduce them to Jesus. The broader plan includes Grace Park Ministries, with families and the wider Auburn community gathering at the property.
Strategic Partners support the vision through three forms of participation: regular prayer, giving as God provides, and practical volunteer work such as hosting gatherings, joining work days, and helping with church-plant services. Planned estate giving is also presented as a way to leave a long-lasting faith legacy. Giving can be made online or by mail to the church’s P.O. box.
Auburn Grace also conducts Park Days in Auburn from May through September. Twice each month, the church hosts a Kids’ Club for families in the Regional Park area and includes dinner, games, and Bible stories. The shared meal and family activities create a setting for neighbors to become known to one another and hear the gospel.
Making an Impact for Neighbors and Nations
Auburn Grace describes its IMPACT mission as caring for hurting people, sharing the gospel, going where people are, and seeking more worshippers from all people groups and communities. The Great Commission of Matthew 28 provides the framework: disciples are to be made among all nations, baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and taught to obey Jesus’ commands.
Local outreach includes life-on-life training through the Urban Centers in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. That training helps people begin conversations, tell their own stories, and share their faith in approachable ways. Park Days, Children’s Ministry partnerships, and other neighborhood gatherings complement this emphasis on personal engagement.
The sending emphasis includes international church planting, leadership support, and ministry among unreached communities. The O’Brien family’s work around Chiang Mai has focused on training and supporting native church planters from India and other least-reached nations. The Malarae family’s work in Japan has emphasized sharing the gospel with people who have little access to Christian community. Auburn Grace’s involvement with Global Fellowship supports pastors and missionaries working in unreached areas.
Auburn Grace supports an extended circle of ministry partners:
- Acres of Hope provides rehabilitation for women in crisis in Auburn.
- Ancient Promise supports biblical teaching for pastors in multiple countries.
- Arab American Learning Center serves refugees in Sacramento.
- Assist Network assists local churches across the United States.
- Child Evangelism Fellowship serves children in Auburn and surrounding areas.
- Christian Encounter Ranch provides a restorative rehabilitation program for youth in Grass Valley.
- Encompass World Partners is a global sending organization based in Atlanta.
- GEMS for Christ carries out restorative ministry in Auburn.
- Heart serves women in Africa.
- Sierra Leone/Willamette School focuses on discipleship and children with Brody International in Sierra Leone.
- Sierra Pregnancy serves women in crisis in Roseville.
- Urban Centers combines evangelism and discipleship in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Additional mission resources include Compassion International, Hope Takes Root, Voice of the Martyrs, Missions Catalyst, and Encompass World Partners. The common thread is a desire to make the good news of Jesus known among people who do not yet have access to a Christian community.
Facilities, Giving, and Staying Connected
Auburn Grace makes its facilities available for events through a facility request form and published rental fees. The facilities are unavailable during June and between Thanksgiving and New Year. The Cafe also serves as a place for informal fellowship, including the gathering that follows Celebrate Recovery.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the church’s telephone number is (530) 823-8330. The physical address is 3126 Olympic Way in Auburn, while mail and gifts by mail go to Auburn Grace Community Church, P.O. Box 6446, Auburn, CA 95604. Beyond the two Sunday services, the church offers Life Groups, student and adult gatherings, Celebrate Recovery, GraceTown Academy, special celebrations, and volunteer opportunities for serving the church and its partners.
Pastors, Elders, and Ministry Leaders
Lead Pastor Phil Sparling teaches the church’s vision of helping people connect with God, grow spiritually, and serve others. He explains that Auburn Grace was launched by three families, one of them his parents, and emphasizes the joy of teaching God’s Word and leading teams that pursue meaningful work.
Brian Altizer serves as Worship Pastor and has played worship guitar since he was 15. Ryan Hooper serves as Executive Pastor after eight years as a youth pastor in North Carolina and eight years as a teacher and vice principal in California. Greg Hummel is Body Life Pastor; his background includes 18 years as a missionary in Brazil, chaplaincy work in Nevada corrections, hospital chaplaincy training, and a Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling. Joseph Lueders serves as Student and Young Adult Pastor and is committed to seeing young people’s lives transformed when Jesus becomes their Lord and Savior.
Five elders serve Auburn Grace: Jeremy Adams, Steve Kellar, Ken Swinton, Chuck Townsend, and Kevin Ziegenmeyer. Other ministry leaders include Missions Coordinator Brooke Bye, AG Kids Ministry Director Cory Howard, GraceTown School Director Angela Hooper, Women’s Ministry Director Casey Klein, Worship Media Director Alan Koshiyama, and Pastor John McIntosh, who leads the Ambassadors Class.
Connect, Grow, and Serve at the Heart of Auburn Grace
Auburn Grace declares that Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God revealed in the Bible, is the only Savior and Lord and the center of its shared experience of biblical unity. Scripture’s authority is foundational to its teaching, and the church’s affiliated fellowship is Charis Fellowship.
The church’s vision gives concrete form to that faith. Connect means connecting with God, the faith community, and neighbors. Grow means growing in personal transformation, individual capacity, and perspective. Serve means serving the faith community, the wider community, and people who are foreign to the church and its culture.
Those three verbs shape Auburn Grace’s life in Auburn through worship and teaching, AG Kids, Life Groups, student and adult ministries, recovery support, homeschool education, neighborhood gatherings, mission partnerships, and the long-held vision for Grace Park. At its center is the church’s own purpose: to make Jesus famous by helping people connect, grow, and serve.