Grace Church of All Nations gathers at 33 Elm Hill Avenue in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and it is known for a worship service that refuses to sit still. Personal stories, multimedia, contemporary and sacred music, dance and drama carry the message of God's love into a congregation of more than 1,200 people, a fellowship shaped by believers from Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and Europe. Sunday worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, and the livestream begins at 11:00 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube. The rest of the week runs on prayer: intercession on a call-in line before the workday and on selected evenings, Bible study on Grace Zoom on Wednesdays, and Prayer and Praise in the sanctuary on Friday night.
From a Roxbury storefront to a sanctuary on Elm Hill Avenue
The story begins in 1963, when Bishop A. Foxworth Sr. was led to move his family to the Boston area and established the Pentecostal Household of Faith. The aim was to build a body of believers dedicated to the principles of Christian living and to the advancement of the work of the Kingdom of God. Regular services were first held in leased commercial space in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1971 the church bought a building at 114 Southern Avenue in Dorchester.
Archbishop Judah (A. Livingston Foxworth) was called to lead the congregation in 1979, and one of his first undertakings was the move from 114 Southern Avenue to 451 Washington Street. Growth followed in business, religious, community, social service and recreational activity, and the congregation eventually accepted the opportunity to relocate once more. Since Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, Grace Church of All Nations has made its home at 33 Elm Hill Avenue, where the new building gives the church room for continued growth and evangelism in another community.
What 451 Washington Street remembers
Pastor Kenneth Sutton wrote a farewell to the Washington Street building that reads like a family album. He recalls the place where people were born again, where many were baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost, where children were dedicated to the Lord, and where couples met and married, including his own. He remembers meetings in the basement, tent services in the yard, fish fries sponsored by ushers outside in the parking lot, and the startling sight of a building that had once been a nightclub and an A and P supermarket slowly transformed into a church. He painted the first sign that went up on the front of the building, and it read "Grace Community Christian Center."
The revivals held there were memorable across the Northeast. Among those who ministered in that building were Bishop Corletta Vaughan Harris with "The Survivals Are In Trouble," Prophet Leonard Ford with "Who Told You That?", Evangelist Sandra Diehl with "Shooting the Arrow of Deliverance," Prophet and Pastor Keith Drayton with "Hungry for God" and "The Sign of the Olive Leaf," and Bishop John M. Borders III with "A Dove Seeking Rest." Sutton turned to Matthew 24:2 and its warning that not one stone would be left standing, then made the church's guiding thought plain: the treasure is in earthen vessels and not in buildings, and the best of Grace Church of All Nations travels with its people. Looking forward from Elm Hill Avenue, the church frames its next chapter as continued growth and evangelism.
The GRACE Experience on Sunday Morning
Grace Church calls its main gathering exciting and dynamic, and it explains what that means in practice. The service uses personal stories, multimedia, contemporary and sacred music, dance and drama, all emphasizing the Word of God to convey the timeless truths of God's love every week. The 10:30 a.m. service fills the sanctuary at 33 Elm Hill Avenue, and the church shares it live on Facebook and YouTube beginning at 11:00 a.m.
- Sunday worship service at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, with the livestream beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube.
- Communion on the first Sunday of each month.
- Grace Choir rehearsal at 9:30 a.m. in the Lower Level, where new members are welcome.
- Children's Church at 11:00 a.m. in the Lower Level on the second and third Sundays.
- Grace Cafe in the Lower Level after service, with coffee or tea and a pastry for fellowship.
Children's Church runs alongside the second and third Sunday worship gatherings, and parents register their children ahead of time. The registration form asks for the parent's name, phone number and email, along with the full name and age of each child, with space for several children on one form, so the church can plan for the room and the teaching.
The sound and movement of worship
Music sits at the center of the Grace worship style, and the church has made room for both a full choir and a dedicated men's group. The combined choir has sung Easter standards such as "High In All The Earth," "Christ The Lord is Risen Today" and "Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow," while the Grace Men's Choir has performed a gospel medley. Minister Claudine Allen leads the Grace Choir, and rehearsals take place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Lower Level. Alongside the music, the Reconciliation Dance Ministry, led by Sis. Jennifer Frederick-Morgan, uses dance as an act of worship, and the church has presented liturgical dance alongside the choir in Easter services. Photos and videos of services, special gatherings and mission trips are shared by the church's media team, and a collection of the archbishop's Sunday sermons is available for those who want to listen again.
A week built around prayer
Grace Church treats prayer as an ordinary part of the week rather than an emergency response. Intercessors join the call-in prayer line for Morning Glory prayer from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and for Evening Prayer from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The call-in line number is (605) 472-5544 with access code 312541#. Prayer requests may also be sent to the church so that they can be carried during the call-in prayer line and the Friday night prayer services.
Wednesday night Bible study runs from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Grace Zoom and is described as a powerful time of prayer and teaching of God's Word. Participants can join the video meeting at us04web.zoom.us/j/5400695121 with meeting ID 540 069 5121, or dial 1-646-876-9923 for audio only. Friday night brings Prayer and Praise from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, a gathering the church calls a powerful time of prayer, praise and worship.
A multicultural family gathered around Isaiah 2
Grace Church of All Nations describes itself as a multicultural Pentecostal church with a vision to reach all people regardless of race, ethnicity or culture. Archbishop Foxworth's vision is drawn from Isaiah 2:2: "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it." He reads that promise as a prophecy about the church bringing true unity to the body of Christ, and he has made it the reason for a campaign to bring that principle into his ministry.
More than half of the congregation comes from Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and Europe. That diversity of cultures and languages has shaped the services and programs, which are tailored to help a large congregation of believers find their place together. The church describes itself as a pillar of spiritual and moral strength in the community, emphasizing salvation, the power of the Holy Spirit for victorious living, evangelism and impacting the community through the teaching of Christian values and outreach.
That same vision reaches beyond the sanctuary. Archbishop Foxworth is training pastors within the Pentecostal Episcopal Church reformation to establish multicultural congregations throughout the United States and internationally. He also works with uni-cultural ministries, including Haitian, African and Latino ministries, to establish a Multicultural Christian Fellowship. Grace Church is connected to the Pentecostal Episcopal Church International, a covering ministry for pastors and churches that want fellowship, spiritual and theological enrichment and, when desired, credentialing through a recognized religious corporation. PEC is organized under a biblical structure of church government by the episcopacy, with bishops, pastors and, in some denominations, elders, and it holds to the principle that the shepherd alone has senior oversight of the flock, with later leaders appointed or confirmed by the senior shepherd. Archbishop Foxworth serves as the Senior Shepherd of PEC.
Archbishop Judah Foxworth and the pastoral team
Archbishop Judah (A. Livingston Foxworth) has pastured Grace Church of All Nations for 35 years and trained at Moody Bible Institute in biblical and pastoral studies. He was consecrated to the Bishopric at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul in Boston in May 2007. He is married to Karen L. Foxworth, and he is the father of six children and the grandfather of ten.
Around him is a broad team. Bishop David L. Hunter serves as a pastor, Pastor Kenneth Sutton is an associate pastor, and Archdeacon Justus Coney is the head deacon. The Reverend Deborah Parker coordinates the ministers' ministry, Elder Charles Mentos leads the youth ministry, and Minister Claudine Allen leads the Grace Choir. Sis. Edith Reid heads the missionaries. Reverends Corneal and Claudine Allen lead the couples ministry, Lady Karen Foxworth leads the greeters and the mothers ministry alongside Sis. Dell Gardin for hospitality, and Sis. Jennifer Frederick-Morgan leads the Reconciliation Dance Ministry. Min. Randy Johnson leads the effort to replace the church's outdated cooling system, and Pastor Lance Lewis prepares the Bible study notes that accompany the midweek gathering.
Pastor Sutton writes regularly for the church and teaches in its Bible study classes. His pieces carry titles like "A Daily Dose of Humility," "A Spiritual Word Diet," "Beware of Comfort Zones," "God Knows," "Hearing From God" and "Make Full Proof of Your Ministry," and they read like practical counsel for people working out what faith looks like on an ordinary Tuesday. He is candid about the subjects he takes on: pride that creeps into daily life, the discipline of studying the whole counsel of Scripture, the danger of getting comfortable, the habit of hearing God for yourself, and the conviction that God wants His people to use their gifts rather than let them sit idle.
Ministries for every season of life
Women and men
The Women's Ministry of Grace Church is guided by a vision to go into the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, strengthening and encouraging women of all cultures and ethnicities in the ways they need. Its mission is to equip and empower women to go out into the body of Christ with love, lifting up, edifying, strengthening, empowering and encouraging women through seminars, fellowship and group activities and events. Each gathering includes a speaker and a coordinator. Lady Karen Foxworth writes to the women of the church, grounding the ministry in the promise of Psalm 46:5: "God is within her, she will not fail." The ministry also marks International Women's Day with a day of prayer, meditation and reflection on where the Lord has brought women from and to, and it encourages women to be activists for unity among women, binding any division they see and honoring the women who guided them.
The Men's Ministry aims to cultivate a community of spiritually strong, servant-hearted men who are dedicated to growing in their relationship with Christ, supporting one another in fellowship, and leading their families, churches and communities with integrity, compassion and faith. Its stated mission is to empower men of all ages to deepen their faith, develop mature leadership and build meaningful relationships through fellowship, discipleship and outreach.
Young people, mothers and couples
The Youth Ministry serves young people ages 7 to 18 and is led by Elder Charles Mentos. Its vision is to transform the next generation into passionate disciples of Christ, equipped to navigate life's challenges with unwavering faith, compassion and a commitment to serve others, shaping a world of hope and unity. The mission is to empower youth to discover their faith, embrace their potential and impact the world with grace, love and purpose. The ministry celebrates Youth Sunday, when young people are not treated as the future but as the present, taking the lead as their energy, faith and voices inspire the congregation.
The Mothers Ministry, led by Lady Karen Foxworth, gathers women who are raising the next generation. The Couples Ministry, led by Reverends Corneal and Claudine Allen, serves married and engaged couples and meets for fellowship and encouragement.
Welcome, care and mission
Some ministries begin the moment a visitor arrives. The greeters, led by Lady Karen Foxworth, are first at the door, and the hospitality team, led by Lady Karen Foxworth and Sis. Dell Gardin, make sure people are looked after. Ushers serve in the worship service, and the media team handles the livestream and recordings that carry Grace Church beyond the sanctuary.
Other ministries carry the church's care for people. The deacons are led by Archdeacon Justus Coney, who also serves on the pastoral staff. The nurses' ministry, the singles ministry, the outreach ministry and the missionaries, headed by Sis. Edith Reid, extend that care, and Christian counseling is available through the church at 617-238-7057. Worship and Arts gathers those who serve through music, dance and the creative gifts the church asks every member to bring. The full roster of groups at Grace includes Couples, Reconciliation Dance, Greeters, Hospitality, Media, Missionaries, Nurses, Outreach, Singles, Ushers, Men of Grace, Women of Grace, Worship and Arts, and Youth.
What Grace Church teaches about the Christian life
Grace Church states its central convictions plainly. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by personal merit or by works, because Christ paid the price for all sins on the cross. A Christian is called to imitate God, to obey the Lord, and to refuse to conform to the standards of the world. The church teaches that believers have been given authority to exercise power over the enemy, that love is the motivation behind God's gift, that a true Christian bears good fruit, and that a Christian life ends in glorifying Jesus Christ rather than self.
- Saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by personal merit or works.
- Imitates God, following the example of Jesus.
- Obeys the Lord, because love for God is proved in obedience.
- Does not conform to the world's standards, but is transformed by the renewing of the mind.
- Exercises power over the enemy through the authority given to every believer.
- Walks in love, since God is love.
- Bears good fruit in word and deed.
- Glorifies Jesus Christ in everything done for the Lord.
Prayer holds a central place in that teaching. Grace Church calls prayer one of God's ordained means of spiritual warfare, and it teaches a model of strategic prayer drawn from Luke 11:9 and 10 with three escalating postures: asking, seeking and knocking. Asking God to supply a need is the first step, spoken with faith and specificity, as the examples of Jabez and blind Bartimaeus show. Seeking goes deeper, turning away from what we want toward God's will and discovering Him in new ways. Knocking is described as concentrated spiritual warfare, a season of soul-searching, fasting and focused prayer when resistance has to be faced, not an attempt to manipulate God.
The church's affirmation, deliverance and warfare prayer reflects that conviction. It begins with confession and forgiveness, declares redemption from the curse of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, renounces accusation and every evil power, claims divine protection for children and grandchildren, and ends with praise: "Bless the Lord at all times, let his praise continually be in our mouths." The same confidence runs through the sermons the church shares, from "The Prevenient Grace of God" and "Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Purpose" to "Full of The Fullness of God," "The Glory of His Presence" and "But Now." Alongside them, the church publishes topical teachings on Christian life together with synopses of the weekly Bible study lessons, written by Archbishop Judah and Pastor Sutton.
Scripture, the Psalms and daily practice
The Psalms are a sustained study at Grace Church rather than a single week of emphasis. A 100-day devotional takes the congregation through more than 100 Psalms, with a reading and a daily title for each session, written for men, women, youth and children to listen to, discuss and draw strength from. The church has gathered nightly at 7:00 p.m. on Grace Zoom for prayer, readings and discussion, reading the Psalms in advance and preparing hearts for Easter. The arc of the study moves from Psalm 1's "Day and Night" through the Psalms of ascents and lament, titles such as "To Know God's Will," "The Ultimate Promise" and "Healing for the Brokenhearted" day by day, ending at Psalm 150 with the title "Closing Hymn."
Pastor Lance Lewis prepares the Bible study notes that support the Wednesday gathering, along with short devotionals for personal reading, including a five-day study and a reflection titled "You Don't Know How Blessed You Are." The teaching tradition at Grace is practical about Scripture, advising believers to read the law, the Gospels, the Psalms, the histories, the epistles and the prophecies with balance, and to build a study practice around a parallel Bible, a concordance, a study Bible, a Bible dictionary and a trusted commentary. The goal is a well-fed Christian who can find treasure in the text and carry it into daily conversation.
Mission work in Nigeria and ministry at home
Grace Church has carried its multicultural emphasis into mission work beyond Massachusetts. A mission team from Grace traveled to Abuja, Nigeria, to visit Bishop Dauda Maiwaazi at Wonders Chapel International in Check Point Nyanya. The team included Archbishop Judah, Lady Karen Foxworth, Rev. Nicole Alleyne, Rev. Kevin Peterson and Missionary Edith Reid. The visit included a series of Holy Convocation Services and an outreach gathering with African Female Gospel Artists and Ministers Outreach, a ministry that reaches out directly to widows, the less privileged and orphans, alongside a church service with Fountain of Life International Gospel Ministry, City of New Sound, led by Pastor Patrick Charles Chima.
Back in Dorchester, the emphasis on outreach and community impact continues through the ministries and through Grace Cafe, the fellowship space in the Lower Level where coffee, tea and a pastry are served after Sunday worship. The cooling and heating system fundraising, led by Min. Randy Johnson, reflects the same practical care for the building that carries the ministry every week.
Supporting the work
Grace Church teaches that tithing and giving an offering in the place where you are fed spiritually is how a member honors God, and it quotes Malachi 3:10 through 12: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." Members are reminded that belonging to Grace carries responsibilities as well as privileges, and that consistent financial support honors God.
Giving can be made online through SubSplash, Pushpay or Cash App. The SubSplash church code is "Grace Church of All Nations," the PushPay payment name is "Grace Church of All Nations," and the Cash App cashtag is "gracenations." Offerings may also be mailed to the church. The Grace Church app, available through the App Store and Google Play, puts church contact information, Zoom meetings, giving, prayer requests, Bible versions, weekly announcements and upcoming events in one place, along with links to the church's Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
Joining the church: membership, baptism and baby dedication
Grace Church keeps an up-to-date record of its members, affiliates and supporters, and asks anyone who is new, or whose name or address has changed, to complete an online membership form. Only one form is needed per family when everyone shares an address, while a college or military student living away from home submits a separate form. The church states that the information collected is kept for its own records, shared only with church members and staff, and never sold to any other person or organization.
Baptism is arranged through a sign-up request, and the church teaches that infant dedication is one of the important aspects of Christian parenting, a humble claim that God is the initiator, the actor and the sustainer of his saving grace toward a child. Parents seeking a baby dedication must be members in good standing and must have been attending church regularly for the previous six months. A copy of the baby's birth certificate is brought to the church office, a church administrator follows up, and dedications are held on the last Sunday of each month.
For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the church provides a decision request form, and a counselor follows up. Christian counseling is also available at 617-238-7057.
Reserving the sanctuary
Grace Church accepts reservation requests for gatherings in its building, including weddings, funerals and gospel concerts. A request is reviewed and approved, and the arrangements are finalized with the person who submitted it. Families who have lost a church member can ask about funeral arrangements, and couples can request the sanctuary for a wedding, with the church office coordinating the details once a request is approved.
Finding Grace on Elm Hill Avenue
Grace Church of All Nations is at 33 Elm Hill Avenue, Dorchester, Massachusetts 02121, and the church office answers at (617) 238-7057. By transit, riders on the Orange Line can take the train to Ruggles Station and transfer to the #23 or #28 bus, exiting at the intersection of Warren Street and Elm Hill Avenue. From Nubian Square bus station, formerly Dudley Square, the #23 or #28 bus also stops at that same corner. On the Red Line, riders can go to Ashmont Station and transfer to the #23 or #28 bus for the same stop. Drivers can enter the address into Google for detailed directions.
Parking is available in the church's own parking lot, and there is also parking on the neighborhood streets nearby.
Grace Church of All Nations carries a long memory into its work at 33 Elm Hill Avenue. What began as the Pentecostal Household of Faith in a Roxbury storefront moved through Southern Avenue and Washington Street and now fills a sanctuary in Dorchester with music, testimony and prayer from a congregation that spans continents. Its days are marked by intercession before dawn, teaching on Wednesday, worship on Sunday, and a steady insistence that the grace of God is meant to be shared across every boundary of culture and language.