Extending the Transformative Love of Jesus to Our Neighbors and the Nations
Grace Church gathers in Middleburg Heights as one congregation with multiple campuses, meeting in English on Sundays at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:00 PM at the Pearl Road campus and at 10:00 AM in Olmsted Falls. Worship also happens in Spanish at noon in Room 204, in Arabic at noon in Room 20, and in American Sign Language through Signs of Grace Deaf Church. Beyond the visible campuses, a fully functioning Grace congregation meets inside Lorain Correctional Institution every Thursday at 9:15 AM, and a new gathering is forming for the Lorain Avenue neighborhood of Cleveland. The church's stated purpose is to exalt Jesus Christ by making disciples who love Jesus, grow with others, and serve the world, and its vision is to extend the transformative love of Jesus to neighbors and the nations. Everything from nursery care to senior ministry, from coffee shop hours to global mission partnerships, is shaped by that aim.
From Fifty People at an Elementary School to Six Campuses
In 1958 a group of fifty people from the Brooklyn Alliance Church began meeting at C.A. Thomas Elementary School on Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights. Jim Seward, a commercial artist, served as lay pastor, and the first person to come to Christ, Julia Shuster, lived across the street from the school. The church purchased her former chicken, pig, and tomato property for its first building. Donald and Elfriede Schaeffer were called in 1962 to be the first full-time ordained pastors, arriving with four young children and adding five more in Middleburg Heights. The Schaeffers pastored through slow early years and a 1967 building program that filled to capacity the day construction was finished, then was paid off in five years without any cash on hand. A 1973 sanctuary expansion, a 1996 move to the current 7393 Pearl Road home, a 2004 Worship Center with classrooms and nurseries, and a 2011 parking lot expansion grew the church to a regular attendance of more than three thousand.
Grace has launched other churches over the years. In 1987 West Park CMA Church (now Lighthouse) was started, followed by an Old Brooklyn church in 2003 and Hope Church in Brunswick in 2009. In 2014 the church launched Signs of Grace Deaf Church on site, and in 2015 helped launch Hope Community Church in Olmsted Falls. The Ministry of 2022 expanded the church's reach further with a campus inside Lorain Correctional Institution. Pastor Donald Schaeffer passed away on October 10, 2014, after more than fifty years of pastoral influence. His son Jonathan, who had grown up in the congregation, served as senior pastor for twenty-seven years before becoming President of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Today the church is led by Lead Pastor Tim Meier, who has committed to honoring the past while leading with faith into the future. Across six decades the ministry has seen more than five thousand professions of faith, more than two thousand baptisms, and more than sixty people step into vocational Christian service.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
A typical worship service runs about sixty-five minutes. Visitors are invited to wear whatever makes them comfortable, with people showing up in everything from shorts and t-shirts to skirts and suits. The Welcome Center team is on hand to answer questions and help newcomers find their way, and the Welcome Center at Middleburg Heights sits near the Global Grounds coffee shop in the lobby. Free shuttle service runs from Big Creek Elementary School during Sunday services, and ASL interpretation is offered during the 10:30 AM Middleburg Heights service. Grace Kids classrooms are open during every Sunday service for children from birth through fifth grade at the Middleburg Heights campus and during the 10:00 AM service at Olmsted Falls. Services are livestreamed and available on demand, and message notes for recent sermons can be downloaded through the Grace app. The Olmsted Falls campus offers worship at 10:00 AM and shares the same discipleship ministries, kids programming, and Grace 101 pathway as the larger Middleburg Heights home.
Worship in Spanish, Arabic, and ASL
Three of the church's campuses exist so that Cleveland's multilingual neighborhoods can worship in a heart language. Iglesia Grace meets in Spanish every Sunday at noon in Room 204 at the Middleburg Heights campus, with the stated vision of serving the Hispanic community and introducing people to the love of Jesus. The Spanish Campus offers a Bible study, cell groups connected to the Small Groups ministry, and the In-Touch Fellowship membership class that alternates between Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM. Giving, a Facebook community, and a YouTube channel support the Spanish-speaking congregation. The Arabic Campus meets every Sunday at noon in Room 20, also at the Middleburg Heights campus, with the vision of serving Arabic speakers and seeing lives transformed. Signs of Grace Deaf Church began on the Middleburg Heights campus in 2014, and ASL interpretation continues during the 10:30 AM Sunday service for hearing attendees who join alongside the deaf congregation.
Inside Lorain Correctional
The Lorain Campus is a fully functioning Grace Church located inside Lorain Correctional Institution. It is not open to the public, but it offers weekly worship, Bible studies, and faith-based courses through the week, led by volunteers. Thursdays are the main gathering day, with a 9:15 AM service followed by Pastor Scott's DMD class. Mondays host Making Peace & Beyond; Tuesdays rotate through Grief Group, Re-entry Preparation, Alpha, Rooted, and an evening Bible study; Wednesdays feature Word Up, an open space for questions and biblical discussion; and Fridays bring Galvanized, a Christ-centered men's recovery group. On the last Thursday of each month, baptisms and birthdays are celebrated together. Mother's Day welcomes families, and Thanksgiving has become a cornerstone event. Outside the walls, Fresh Start is the church's Christ-centered reentry ministry, meeting on the last Monday of each month at 6:00 PM at the Middleburg Heights campus, offering workshops, support groups, and faith-based encouragement for individuals and families navigating life after incarceration.
Grace Kids from Tidepool Through Fifth Grade
Grace Kids serves children from birth through fifth grade and exists to lead and teach the next generation to believe biblically, love intentionally, and honor God with heart, mind, and soul. On Sundays, programming is offered at all three Middleburg Heights worship services and at the 10:00 AM Olmsted Falls service. Tidepool Nursery cares for babies through two-year-olds in a safe, nurturing environment, with a separate nursing mothers' room and a family room (Room 116) at the 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM services where parents can watch the worship service with kids who need more freedom to move. Ocean is the classroom for three-year-olds through kindergarten, and Elementary covers first through fifth grade with Bible teaching, Scripture memory, small group discussion, and intentional preparation for the move into middle school. Wednesdays at 7:00 PM add a second Tidepool, Ocean, and Elementary hour at the Middleburg Heights campus, so parents can attend adult classes or visit Global Grounds. The Friendship Class, part of the Disability Ministry, meets Sundays at 10:30 AM and provides an adapted Bible teaching environment for individuals with cognitive or physical impairments. Every volunteer leader is interviewed, passes a background check, and receives training, and hallways are monitored by background-checked security during each experience. Check-in uses a secure system with matching parent and child tags, and the auditorium screen and text messages can reach a parent during the service if needed. Grace Kids, like every other ministry at Grace, is provided at no cost to attending families.
Middle School and High School
Grace Youth Ministries walks with students through meaningful, consistent gatherings, empowered teaching and worship, and life-giving experiences. At the Middleburg Heights campus, middle schoolers (grades six through eight) meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in The Venue, with Rosie Hartman serving as Middle School Youth Minister. High schoolers (grades nine through twelve) gather on Sundays at 6:00 PM in The Venue and in small groups on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. At the Olmsted Falls campus, Jacob Bentley serves as Middle School and High School Youth Pastor, with middle schoolers meeting Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Activity Center and high schoolers gathering Sundays at 6:00 PM. Both campuses share a culture of adult and student leaders who encourage and equip students to grow as Jesus followers. Students practice serving, develop skills tied to their calling, and are invited into the larger life of the church. Parents can sign up for text updates, and both middle and high schoolers have Instagram accounts and weekly newsletters.
Women, Men, Young Adults, and Forever Young
Grace Women is a place to grow in faith, build meaningful friendships, and live out faith with purpose. Opportunities include active groups like Walk by Faith and Strength Training and Toning, Bible studies throughout the week, the Women's Sabbath Retreat, discipleship groups of four women meeting for seven months, H.E.A.R.T. (a seven-week healing workshop for those affected by abortion-related trauma), Ladies Latte nights, Moms Connect gatherings and small groups, Quilts to Comfort, Simply Worship evenings, Single Women of Grace, and Widows of Worth. Grace Men walks with men through weekly gatherings, small groups, mentoring, and events. Band of Brothers meets Wednesdays at 6:15 AM at Middleburg Heights, Kingdom Men meets Saturdays at 7:30 AM, and a separate Men's Bible Study meets Saturdays at 7:30 AM at Olmsted Falls. Six- to eight-month discipleship groups of three to five men build accountability and spiritual maturity. Grace YA (Young Adults) focuses on ages 18 to 26 with a weekly Tuesday gathering at 7:00 PM in Room 204 and a Sunday noon discussion group in Room 202, both at Middleburg Heights. Friday Night Socials connect ages 26 to 35. Forever Young is the name given to the 50+ community, with monthly Saturday evening gatherings September through May that feature speakers, a potluck, and community, fourth-Thursday luncheons at $8 per meal, special outings and multi-day bus trips, and Widows of Worth as a flagship ministry for widows.
Support and Recovery for the Hard Seasons
Grace offers one of the deepest benches of Christ-centered support and recovery ministries of any church in the Cleveland area. Arise, a confidential, faith-based community for women affected by abusive or controlling relationships, meets Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in Room 201 at Middleburg Heights and offers resources, referrals, advocacy, mentoring, freedom and safety planning, and education. Beyond Betrayal provides confidential support for women navigating a spouse's sexual betrayal, meeting Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in Room 10. Keys to Recovery meets Tuesdays at 7:30 PM in Room 20 for men and women seeking freedom from addiction and unhealthy patterns. Galvanized meets Fridays at 7:30 PM in Room 209 at Middleburg Heights and Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the Activity Center at Olmsted Falls for men pursuing freedom from addiction. Other recurring groups include the Chronic Pain Support Network (third Tuesdays online), Faithful Journey for family and friends of LGBT+ individuals (second Tuesdays online), the Jobseekers Network (third Mondays at 7:00 PM in Room 201), Caring for Aging Loved Ones (fourth Mondays at 6:00 PM), Living Hope for mental health (third Saturdays at 10:00 AM), Parents of Ill Children (third Sundays at 9:00 AM in Room 11), Men's Sexual Integrity Groups (Wednesdays at 7:00 PM), and DivorceCare. Making Peace & Beyond, a separate ministry that uses videos, workshops, podcasts, and written materials, examines how childhood and family experiences shape the present and offers freedom from guilt and shame. Steps to Spiritual Freedom in Christ walks through confession, forgiveness, and standing in identity in Christ.
Small Groups, Classes, and the Grace Residency
Small groups of three to ten people meet in homes and online for one and a half to two hours, following a nine- to twelve-week semester rhythm each fall, winter, and spring, with some continuing through the summer. Groups are led by trained leaders, sometimes share light refreshments, and handle childcare individually. Alpha is Grace's evangelistic entry point, an evening of dinner, a twenty-five-minute film, and facilitated conversation where people can explore the big questions of life and faith. Grace 101 is the membership class, held four times a year at Middleburg Heights on Sundays at 10:30 AM in Room 202 with Pastor Steve and Nancy Harper, and at Olmsted Falls on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in Room 109 with Pastor Neil and Julie Clark. Each class week features a different pastor or ministry leader, and the syllabus covers Grace's faith and mission, what the church believes, worship, discipleship, missions, generosity, sharing the gospel, and committing to Grace. Classes begin the first week of March, June, September, and December. The Grace Residency is a two-year, two-term (August through May) ministry experience for emerging leaders, with a $500 monthly stipend, mentoring, broad ministry exposure, and the option to complete the Alliance School of Ministry. Applications run January 1 through April 1.
Marriage, Family, Weddings, and Funerals
Grace treats marriage and family as a centerpiece of discipleship. Engaged couples attend the Ready to Wed class (offered twice a year for twelve weeks), meet with a licensed Christian counselor for four sessions, or attend a Weekend to Remember Conference. Couples getting married at Grace complete separate bride and groom surveys, interview with an officiating pastor, and are matched with a Wedding Scheduler and a Wedding Consultant. The Middleburg Heights Worship Center seats up to 700 on the main level (1,400 total), with smaller rooms for intimate ceremonies, while the Olmsted Falls Worship Center seats up to 950 and the Atrium up to 175. Fees are discounted for active Grace attenders. Grace pastors will also officiate offsite, with travel expenses added. Musicians and vocalists are reserved through the Worship Ministry at $125 each. Alcohol is not permitted on church premises, and dancing at receptions is allowed so long as it remains Christ-honoring. Funerals are supported with a Planning Checklist, facility reservation, officiant coordination, music support, and (in some cases) a graveside service. The church encourages funerals at funeral homes when possible to limit facility conflicts; when held at Grace, Room 209 seats up to 140 and the Worship Center seats more than 200. Counseling referrals, premarital resources, marriage intensives, and an extensive library of marriage, parenting, blended family, and apologetics books round out the ministry. Financial counseling is offered at no charge for those in need, and the Emergency Relief Fund offers short-term material help for regular attenders facing urgent financial need.
Cleveland and the Nations: Local and Global Outreach
Outreach at Grace is organized into four lanes of local work and a worldwide mission. Locally, the church partners with City Life Center and Deaf Teen Quest for student mentorship, with local schools for teacher encouragement and supply drives, and with ministries serving women, children, and individuals experiencing homelessness through care kits and street outreach. Koinos creates space for honest conversation about racial and cultural reconciliation. Refugee Assistance and Resettlement Support pairs volunteers with newly arriving families for ESL, transportation, home setup, cultural orientation, and ongoing friendship. Grace Sports organizes co-ed volleyball, men's basketball and softball, pickleball, and Upward Basketball and Cheerleading for kids as a faith-centered way to build community. Globally, Grace partners with Envision, Christian & Missionary Alliance International Workers, and the church's own international workers. Trips for 2027 are in the planning stages. Prerequisites for going on a Global Outreach Trip include being at least twelve years old, a background check for adults, attending October 30/31 training plus six pre-trip meetings, and a post-trip recap. Trip fees cover airfare, lodging, in-country transportation, food, and emergency insurance. Jonathan and Mary Schaeffer, who led Grace for twenty-seven years before Jonathan was named President of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, now lead the global C&MA family and remain close ministry partners.
Care Ministry: Meals, Rides, Repairs, and Prayer
Congregational Care extends to nearly every life transition. The Meals Ministry delivers food to those who are grieving, recovering, or welcoming a new baby. The Hospital Ministry calls, visits, and prays for individuals during a hospital stay. The Homebound Friends Ministry pairs volunteers with individuals who cannot leave their homes. The Care Home Ministry brings services, visits, and prayer to assisted living and nursing homes. The Transportation Ministry helps with rides to church, medical appointments, and errands. The Handyman Help Ministry offers no-cost or low-cost minor home repairs that can be completed in about two hours. The Vehicle Donation Ministry matches donated vehicles with families in need. The Cards Ministry makes greeting cards for the congregation, nursing homes, and other ministries. The Emergency Relief Fund offers short-term material assistance. Computer Help for Seniors provides friendly tech support. DivorceCare meets as a confidential support group, and Steps to Spiritual Freedom in Christ walks through deeper spiritual struggles. Prayer undergirds every part of this work. Pre-Service Prayer meets Sundays at 8:30 AM in Room 8 at Middleburg Heights and at 8:45 AM at Olmsted Falls, the Altar Prayer Team prays with individuals after each service, Behind the Wall Prayer Team covers pastors and worship leaders, Prayer Connect supports phone and email requests throughout the week, Olmsted Falls Campus Prayer meets Thursdays at 7:00 PM in Room 111, and International Prayer gathers Saturdays from 2:30 to 3:30 PM in multiple languages with translation available.
Global Grounds, the Coffee Shop Funding Missions
Global Grounds is more than a coffee shop. Located inside the lobby of the Middleburg Heights campus, it offers a full range of coffee-shop fare including cappuccinos, frappes, and fair-trade pour overs, along with cozy seating and free wifi. One hundred percent of net profits support global missions. Hours run Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with an extra evening hour on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, plus Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Global Grounds is a natural meeting spot for small groups, a place to host a remote call, and a way for visitors and regulars alike to plug into the global story of the church.
From the First Profession of Faith to a New Campus on Lorain Avenue
Today Grace Church continues to expand across the Cleveland area while remaining rooted in the same Pearl Road address where it settled in 1996. A new West Park Campus is taking shape at 17407 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, with the hope of becoming a neighborhood gathering space where neighbors from different backgrounds can worship, find community, and follow Jesus together. The Spanish Campus, Arabic Campus, Signs of Grace Deaf Church, and Lorain Correctional Campus show that the church's reach has long since outgrown any single building or language. Across more than five thousand recorded professions of faith, more than two thousand baptisms, more than sixty people entering vocational ministry, and decades of faithful presence, Grace Church remains committed to making disciples who love Jesus, grow with others, and serve the world.