Lead Pastor Kendrick and a Grace-Filled Vision
Grace Church in Chapel Hill is shaped by the leadership of Pastor Kendrick, whose positive, grace-filled life message - "don't try harder, enjoy more" - has become the heartbeat of the congregation. His biblical and practical teaching is designed to help people take healthy steps in their relationship with God and the people around them. Weekend services pair those messages with high-energy, passionate worship led by a full band, creating an environment that feels welcoming, contemporary, and alive.
Two Campuses, One Church
Grace Church meets in two locations across the Triangle and Alamance County. The Chapel Hill campus sits at 200 Sage Road in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Alamance campus gathers on Sundays at Southeast Alamance High School at 3400 S NC HWY 119 in Haw River, with a separate Alamance Ministry Hub at 174 Trollingwood Road in Haw River that hosts the Wednesday night student ministry and other gatherings.
Weekend Services and What to Expect
The Chapel Hill campus holds services on Sundays at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:15 a.m., with an additional service on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. The Alamance campus offers services on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Each service runs a little over an hour and includes thought-provoking, Bible-based teaching from Pastor Kendrick, energetic worship music, and Grace Kids programming for children during the same hours. First-time guests can stop by the Guest Services Kiosk in the foyer to pick up a free gift, get a quick tour, and ask any questions. Services are also livestreamed online and available through the Grace Church app.
Grace Kids
Grace Kids partners with parents to help children from newborns through 5th grade experience God's love through age-specific lessons, small groups, and trusted adult leaders. Families can preregister online to make their first visit easier. At check-in, parents receive a unique code tag that matches their child's name tag - that code is the only way a child can be released after service. Every volunteer has a background check, and volunteers are never left alone with children. If a parent needs to be reached during service, the team sends a text. Questions about Grace Kids can be sent to kids@gracelife.com, and there are serving opportunities for adults who want to invest in the next generation.
Grace Students on Wednesday Nights
Grace Students serves 5th through 12th graders, with the heart of the ministry landing on Wednesday nights. At both the Chapel Hill and Alamance campuses, doors open at 6:30 p.m. - with $2 pizza available at the door - and service and small groups run from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Students gather for high-energy worship, group games, practical messages, and small groups that address the real-life issues teens face. Joe Ackerman oversees the Chapel Hill student ministry, and Emily Stroud coordinates the Alamance student ministry at the Alamance Ministry Hub. For church-wide Super Series events, both campuses come together for a special night in Chapel Hill, with a shuttle from Alamance provided.
Grace College and Young Adults
Grace Young Adults welcomes people in their 20s and 30s into community through small groups and a monthly Young Adults Night. Each month at 6:30 p.m., young adults gather for worship, a message geared for them, free Brenz Pizza before service, and time to build friendships before and after. Pastor Jonathan, reachable at jonathan@gracelife.com, oversees the ministry and helps new folks plug in through small groups and a GroupMe chat. Grace College and Grace Women round out the age- and stage-specific ministries, with Grace Women providing connection and growth opportunities for women in every season of life.
Small Groups and the Growth Track
Small groups are at the core of how Grace Church does life together. Groups typically range from three to twelve people and meet for six to twelve weeks on a semester basis, with rolling groups available throughout the year. There are groups for men, women, couples, students, and anyone looking to grow spiritually. Some meet at the church building, others in homes, and some online. Each leader sets the format - whether that is a Bible study, book study, exercise group, message discussion, or parenting group. The Growth Track is a three-step pathway that helps newcomers grow in faith, learn the church's values, and build relationships: Step One (an initial class), Step Two (a short next-step experience), and Step Three (a six-week class on the church's core values and beliefs, taught in a small group setting).
Camp EXP and the Fall Retreat
Students have two annual experiences to look forward to. Camp EXP is a weeklong summer camp held at Carolina Point in Brevard, North Carolina, built around excellent worship and deep small group relationships in a mountain setting. The Fall Retreat brings middle and high school students together at the Chapel Hill campus for a weekend with their small groups and leaders; students and leaders stay in host homes overnight. Scholarship applications and work crew sign-ups are available for both experiences.
Serving, Outreach, and Freedom Groups
For those ready to step in, the Dream Team is Grace Church's volunteer community, with serving opportunities on the kids, students, worship, hospitality, and outreach teams. The Outreach ministry extends the church's mission into the surrounding community. Freedom Groups walk people through personal struggles in a supportive, small-group setting. Water baptism is offered for those ready to take that next step. Giving is available online for those who want to support the ministry.