An Independent Voice on Main Street Since 1826
Grace Church of Harmony stands at 538 Main Street in the small Butler County borough of Harmony, Pennsylvania, a town whose very name comes from the German religious community that settled it in 1804. The congregation traces its roots to that moment and has carried a faith heritage forward without interruption for two centuries. Today the church describes itself simply as an independent body committed to "exalting and honoring God through the faithful preaching and teaching of the inspired Word of God," and it serves more than two hundred families and four hundred members drawn from various backgrounds and walks of life.
The story begins in 1804, when George Rapp and the Harmony Society, a group of German immigrants, came to America seeking greater freedom of worship and founded a community based on the principles of Acts 4:32. A meetinghouse was built in 1808. After the Harmonists moved on to found New Harmony, Indiana in 1814 and then Economy on the Ohio River in 1825, subsequent German immigrants organized a German Evangelical and Reformed congregation in Harmony in 1826, using the very meetinghouse the Harmonists had left behind. Regular services have been held since 1826 under twenty-five different pastors. By 1929 the congregation had grown enough to construct a new sanctuary, and the old meetinghouse was remodeled for Sunday School use. When the German Evangelical and Reformed denomination merged with the United Church of Christ in 1969, Grace Church chose to withdraw and became an independent church governed by its own constitution, by-laws, and doctrinal statement. A youth and recreation center was dedicated in December 1993, and in March 2002 major renovations were completed to the Sunday School wing.
The Doctrinal Foundation
What Grace Church teaches is set out in detail in its Articles of Faith, which it says are framed by the historic Christian doctrines expressed in the Apostles' Creed. The church holds that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are "verbally inspired of God, infallible and inerrant in the original writing" and are "the supreme, sole, and final authority in matters of faith, life, truth, morality and proper conduct." It affirms one God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and teaches that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is "true God and true man."
The doctrinal statement also reflects classic evangelical distinctives: salvation by grace through faith apart from any human work (citing Acts 13:38, Romans 4, Galatians 2:16, and Ephesians 2:8-9), the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ, His present ministry as High Priest and Intercessor, and the personal, bodily, visible, pre-tribulational, pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Two ordinances are observed: believers' baptism and the Lord's Supper. The church affirms the gifts of the Spirit for service but holds that tongues, prophecy, and healing were given to the early New Testament church "and are not in evidence in the church today." The statement further teaches the sanctity of all human life from conception through natural death and defines marriage as "a covenant relationship with a man, a woman, and Himself," which is why Grace Church recognizes only marriages between one biological man and one biological woman. Church government rests with an elected Consistory of Elders and Deacons working alongside the pastors, who together have "final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application."
Six Pillars: The Core Values
Grace Church summarizes its convictions in six core values. Lordship of Christ means Jesus Christ is the head of the church and all activities are submitted to His will. Bible-Centered means Scripture is the authority and the Holy Spirit produces change through its study and application. Grace-Oriented holds that God's undeserved favor, forgiveness, acceptance, and enablement are the only means for living in a right relationship with Him. Great Commission Directed commits the church's resources to evangelism locally and to the ends of the earth. Prayer-Dependent insists that individual and corporate prayer are essential to every ministry and activity. Relationally Vibrant describes the importance of quality friendships among believers in cultivating community and encouraging a closer walk with the Lord.
Two further values appear on the longer list. Godly Leadership requires that church leaders meet the Biblical standards set out in Acts 20:28 and 1 Timothy 3 and demonstrate an intentional walk with Christ. Voluntary Giving acknowledges that God supplies the resources to operate the ministries of the congregation through the faithful, cheerful giving of members, anchored in 2 Corinthians 9. A ninth value, Christian Living, describes a Spirit-filled life of fruit and service marked by dedication to Jesus Christ.
Sunday at 538 Main Street
A Sunday at Grace Church follows a clear rhythm. The first service begins at 8:00 a.m. and is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook at the same time - a relatively new livestream start that some long-time attendees still associate with the older 10:45 schedule. Drivers who prefer to stay in their cars can park in the church parking lot and listen to a radio broadcast of either service at 8:00 or 10:45 a.m. Sunday School meets from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for every age group, with children invited to a 9:10 singing time beforehand. The second service begins at 10:45 a.m.
During the 10:45 service the church provides an infant nursery for newborns through age two, a toddler nursery, and Children's Church for ages four through third grade. Children begin the service in the sanctuary with their families and are dismissed during the offering for a lesson, craft, and snack in their own classrooms. Adult services feature blended music led by a roster of about thirty volunteers under the direction of Corporate Music Director Tanya Satteson, supported by the pastors and Corporate Music Advisors.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The church's gospel presentation walks through 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 in plain language: "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." The church teaches that Jesus was one hundred percent man - "He became flesh and made his dwelling among us" - and one hundred percent God, fulfilling prophecy, performing miracles, and triumphing over death in His resurrection. Citing John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and Ephesians 2:8-9, the church teaches that Jesus is "the only way to heaven" and that salvation is a free gift received by faith, "not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
Pastors and Staff
The pastoral team is led by Pastor Jeremy Sanders, who joined Grace Church in June 2026. Originally from Washington, Pennsylvania, Jeremy came to faith at a young age, graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2015 with a B.A. in History, and served for seven years as an Army Intelligence Officer before pursuing a Master of Divinity. During seminary he served as an elder at his church and worked in youth ministry, graduating from the Master's Seminary in May 2026. He and his wife Sydney, married in December 2022, are expecting their first child. Both enjoy the outdoors, history, reading the Puritans, and listening to sermons by Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
Nick Prugar has been on staff since June 2008 and oversees CrossTrainers, the youth ministry. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, came to Pennsylvania to attend Grove City College, graduated in 2004 with a B.A. in English and Christian Thought, and earned a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2007. He and his wife Amanda live in Zelienople and have a daughter and a son.
Tanya Satteson serves as Corporate Music Director, supported by the pastors and Corporate Music Advisors on a Corporate Music Committee. The choir rehearses weekly and sings in services, while Sunday School Singing Time from 9:10 to 9:30 a.m. is led by Gretchen McMichael and Tanya Satteson, with Donna Bame at the piano, Wes Woodward on guitar, and Rick Voegtly teaching sign language for selected songs.
CrossTrainers: A Youth Ministry Built on Eight Marks
CrossTrainers is the church's ministry for students in grades 7 through 12, and the name signals its training metaphor. The ministry's aim is to help students grow spiritually through God's Word and the gospel, with activities built around four pillars: discipleship, fellowship, service, and evangelism. During the school year the group meets Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for worship, Bible study, and games, and on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for midweek small groups. Summers shift to outdoor adventures and relaxed hangouts - past events have included hiking, canoeing, bowling, and paintball. A Winter Retreat at Seneca Hills Bible Camp each February is the annual highlight, with cabin competitions and dedicated teaching time. Service takes students to the New Castle City Rescue Mission, an annual Labor of Love leaf-raking event, and ice-cream sundae bars for church gatherings.
What makes CrossTrainers distinctive is the list of eight character marks the ministry tries to instill: Love and Respect for Family, Purity in Relationships with the Opposite Sex, Faithful Dependence on God, A Thirst for Knowledge, Servant's Heart, Prayerful Dependence on God, Values Scripture, and A Heart for Unbelievers. Each mark is paired with a passage of Scripture and a handful of practical indicators by which a youth leader or parent might recognize growth.
Awana on Wednesday Nights
Awana has been part of Grace Church's calendar since October 1998. The program runs September through March, Wednesdays from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m., and serves children from preschool through sixth grade. The acronym stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, drawn from 2 Timothy 2:15, and the national Awana organization provides fully integrated evangelism and discipleship programs for ages two through eighteen. Locally the club is divided into Cubbies (two years before kindergarten), Sparks (kindergarten through second grade), and TnT (third through sixth grade). Weekly meetings include counsel time, game time, and handbook time focused on Bible memorization, with awards for verses learned throughout the year.
The Awana team is led by Rick Voegtly, with Cindy Speck coordinating volunteers. The annual Grand Prix and Quizzing rounds are special features, and the program reaches both families in the community and families within the church.
Children's Ministries and Sunday School
Beyond Awana and the second-service Children's Church, the children's ministry covers Sunday mornings from arrival through dismissal. Sunday School singing runs 9:10 to 9:30 a.m., and from 9:30 to 10:30 children move into graded classes: infants through age two in the Nursery, two- and three-year-olds in Room 101, Pre-K and Kindergarten in Room 102, first and second graders in Room C1, third and fourth graders in Room 202, and fifth and sixth graders in Room 208. High schoolers meet in the Youth Center Upper Room.
Vacation Bible School is a week-long summer program from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. for ages four through eighth grade. Sunday School teachers and helpers rotate, with a goal of letting everyone serve and be fed. The Children's Ministry statement, drawn from Proverbs 22:6, is succinct: it is the church's desire to help children "see God as a real part of their lives" and "enter into a personal relationship with Jesus."
Adult Ministries Across the Week
Grace Church's adult ministries are structured around the conviction that Sunday School is more than a class - it is a place where teaching, discussion, and fellowship combine to strengthen the walk with Christ. Smaller classes create space for personal prayer and shared needs. The Sunday School vision emphasizes four focus areas: spiritual growth, fellowship, prayer, and community, with the explicit goal that "within these smaller groups, people are known by name, and relationships grow deeper."
Adult class offerings rotate throughout the year. Current offerings include Hymns of Grace led by Reid Moon and Chris Jamison in Room B1, a Study of Psalms led by Tom Kristophel in Room B2, a Men's Class studying Galatians in Room 201, and a Women's Class working through the Gospel of Luke with Sue Edward in Room B3.
Women's Ministry hosts weekday Bible studies, a Tuesday morning Bible study at 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. (with childcare), monthly activities, and seasonal events ranging from bonfires and tea parties to game nights and bake-offs. The annual outreach centerpiece is The Market at Grace, a craft show held at the church gymnasium during Harmony's German Christmas Market. Men's Ministry holds quarterly men's breakfasts with peer-led talks on practical Christian living, regular "Coffee, Donuts and Men at Prayer" gatherings, Bible studies, an annual golf outing and chili cook-off, and Sweetheart Dinners designed to strengthen marriages. Senior Saints, for adults 55 and up, gathers twice a year: once in summer for an outdoor picnic and again around Thanksgiving for a turkey dinner, each followed by a brief program of music, testimony, or educational presentation.
Young Adult Ministry welcomes anyone from post-high school through the late twenties or early thirties, whether in college, working, or figuring out next steps. The group meets every other Tuesday evening in a relaxed home setting in Zelienople for Bible study and conversation, with 15 to 20 young adults typically attending. Game nights, bonfires, bowling, and monthly summer get-togethers round out the calendar. The group's current study focuses on the Gospel of John and meets on alternating Thursday evenings at the home of Luke and Mallory Sherrod at 7:00 p.m.
Caring Ministries: Stephen Ministry and GriefShare
Two programs carry the bulk of Grace Church's caring ministry. Stephen Ministry is a Stephen Ministries St. Louis program in which lay congregation members receive roughly fifty hours of training to provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people going through life difficulties - grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. Each Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week for about an hour. The church emphasizes confidentiality, listening rather than preaching, and the idea that Stephen Ministers "provide the care, and look to God to provide the cure." Two referrals coordinators, Bob Schaub and Les Gutzwiller, take intake calls.
GriefShare, a separate but complementary program, is a thirteen-week video-and-discussion series that has welcomed more than seventy participants since 2020. Each session features nationally respected grief experts and real-life stories, followed by small-group conversation. The next group begins Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m. The church sponsors the group so there is no charge for participants.
The church also runs a small Caring Committee that discreetly assists community members facing temporary financial, spiritual, or emotional crisis, and supports the national Faith in Action program, which provides transportation, shopping help, and friendly visits to elderly neighbors through the Sewickley YMCA. The local coordinator is Alice Anton, who emphasizes that volunteers have the freedom to choose how often they serve. Pickleball on Thursday evenings and informal men's basketball on Friday evenings in the church gym extend that hospitality into recreational life.
The Library and Bellora Scholarship
The Grace Church Library, located in Room 207 on the level above the sanctuary, is staffed on Sundays and open any time on a self-serve basis. Its shelves cover Apologetics and Evangelism, Biography, Children's books, Christian Finances, Christian Living, Christian Study, Church Development, End Times/Eschatology, Fiction, General, Marriage, Missions, Prayer and devotionals, World Religions, and Youth Fiction. The library also holds a Small Group Resource center with sample study materials.
The Bellora Scholarship, open each year from May 1 with applications due by June 1, supports students connected to the church pursuing further education. Application packets are available in the Welcome Center and online.
Music That Proclaims the Gospel
Music Ministry at Grace Church has three branches: corporate worship music, choir, and Sunday School Singing Time. The Music Ministry statement argues that "the command to sing our praises to God is repeated over fifty times in the Bible" and that music "helps us communicate thoughts and emotions that are unable to be expressed through words alone." The Corporate Music Committee, chaired by the pastors and including Tanya Satteson and a team of about thirty vocalists and instrumentalists, plans weekly services. Weekly choir rehearsals serve both as preparation time and as a time of fellowship, encouragement, and prayer. Sunday School Singing Time introduces children to scripture songs, hymns, and classic Bible songs in the music room with Gretchen McMichael and Tanya Satteson leading, Donna Bame at the piano, Wes Woodward on guitar, and Rick Voegtly teaching sign language for selected songs.
Missions: A Church With Eyes on the World
Missions are an explicit priority. The church's missions statement quotes Matthew 28:19-20 and says, "Grace church believes it is our responsibility to take the gospel to the ends of the earth." The congregation supports more than forty missionaries and families who are actively preaching the gospel and planting churches across the globe. Returning missionaries are invited to share what God has been doing through their ministry, and the church hosts an annual missions conference to help the congregation pray more effectively.
Missionaries and agencies supported by Grace Church span the globe. Field workers include the Alvarez family with ABWE in Guadalajara, Spain; Wayne and Diane Baker with Ethnos360 in Arizona and Papua New Guinea; the Buckman family with Pastoral Support Service in Brazil; the Craig family with Light in Action in Brazil; the Crawford family with Wings of Blessing in Texas; Bob and Lina Duncan with Avant in Panama; the Fowler, Kristophel-connected, Hefft, Ibarra, and Still families with Ethnos360 in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines area, Arizona, Chihuahua Mexico, and Grimsby, England; Randy and Cubie Kennedy with Ripe for Harvest in Florida; Joachim and Jenny Klotz with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry in Germany; Sylvia Lambright and Margie Veith with Avant in Indiana and Florida; Anna Lloyd with Ethnos360 in Missouri; Rodina MacLean with Bible Open Air Mission in Virginia; Jim and Amanda McCaslin with Fishbone Ministries in Butler, PA; the Muckle family with ABWE serving Spain from Lancaster, PA; Clyde and Debbie and Judy Murphy with Avant and Crossworld in Kokomo, Indiana; Kenn and Doreen Oke working in Kansas and Europe; the Rai family with Commission to Every Nation in India and Thailand; the Reichart family with Pine Valley Camp in Ellwood City; the Rocha and Paul and Laurel Timblin families with UIM Aviation in Lynchburg, VA and Tucson, AZ; Jim and Elaine Schmidtke with Athletes in Action in Powell, Ohio; Russ and Karyn Smyth with Anchored International in Idaho; Heather Still and Kevin Still with Ethnos360 in England; Dan and Kathie Stowell with Brazil for Christ; Will and Kelly Tallman with Ethnos360 in Missouri and Papua New Guinea; Keith and Karen Thomas with Quest in Mars, PA; Chan Kei and Lisa Thong with Cru serving Asia from Georgia; Paul and Sandy Timblin with Word of Life in Lemgo, Germany; the Tini family with Child Evangelism Fellowship in Evans City, PA; Urban Impact in Pittsburgh; Calvin and Birte Veith with ABWE in Mannheim, Germany; Roger and Phyllis Wambold with Hebrew Christian Fellowship in Harleysville, PA; the Ward family with Teach Beyond at Black Forest Academy in Germany; Joe and Nicole Wisniewski with Mission Go in Gasport, NY; and Gary and Kristine Wood with Awana in Milton, WV. Two local missionaries serve at camp ministries: Logan Clark and the Reichart family at Pine Valley Camp in Ellwood City, and Lindon Fowler at Seneca Hills Bible Camp in Polk, PA. The Harbison family serves with CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach) in Seven Fields, PA, and Justin and Erin Harbison are part of the church's college outreach in the area.
The Cemetery and Building Stewardship
Grace Church maintains its own cemetery, with a Cemetery Committee that handles transfers of burial plots, schedules openings and closings of gravesites, oversees grounds maintenance, and conducts annual inspections. The church also maintains two parsonages, an office building, a youth center, and the primary church building, with volunteer Building, Beautification, Kitchen, Library, Parsonage, and Office/Youth Center committees caring for the physical plant and recommending improvements.
Giving and Membership
Giving is described as worship, not a budget question. Members can give in person by cash or check at either Sunday service, by mail to 538 Main Street, or electronically online through the church's secure giving platform (credit card or ACH, with recurring options). Text-to-Give uses the number (844) 422-2158 by texting "GIVE [amount]." Designated funds include the Current Expense fund, the Missions fund, the Building fund, the GAP fund for special building projects, and the Sunday School fund for curriculum, classroom supplies, and VBS. Because Grace Church is independent, it receives no financial support from a governing denomination; generosity is the church's only stream of operating support.
Becoming a member begins with a meeting between the applicant and a pastor and a current or former elder to discuss assurance of salvation, doctrinal belief, and Christian experience. After a two-thirds vote of the Consistory, the new member is publicly welcomed at a Sunday service with a covenant of fellowship drawn from 1 Peter 2:11, Ephesians 4:31-32, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 13:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, and 2 Corinthians 9:7. A New Members Class is offered periodically; one is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch and childcare provided.
Becoming Part of the Life
For a first-time visitor, the Sunday rhythm is the simplest on-ramp. The 8:00 a.m. service is shorter and quieter, the 10:45 a.m. service is fuller and offers nursery and Children's Church. Between them, Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. is the place to meet people and find an adult class that fits. Parking lot radio reception lets visitors stay in the car; the livestream on YouTube and Facebook at 8:00 brings the service home. Wednesday nights open the doors again to Awana families and to youth in CrossTrainers small groups. For deeper connection, Grace Church points visitors to its library, its Right Now Media library of video Bible studies, its Stephen Ministry, GriefShare, Women's Ministry Bible studies, Men's Bible studies, and Young Adult gatherings, and to its annual Corn Roast and Hayride fellowship each September. None of the church's ministries are meant to stand alone; together they form an independent, Word-centered, mission-minded community that has been gathering in Harmony, Pennsylvania since 1826.