On Airport Road in Panama City, just minutes from St. Andrew Bay and the heart of Bay County, Grace Presbyterian Church lives out a vision its members simply call "Grace is the Place." Behind that phrase sits a congregation that sees itself as "God's family of friends," small enough to feel like family and big enough to make an impact. The motto sets the tone for everything the church does: Small enough to feel like family...big enough to make an impact!
"Grace Is the Place"
The phrase "Grace is the Place" frames everything the congregation does. Grace Presbyterian Church exists to share the gospel, to equip the saints, and to serve others. Visitors are greeted with a simple welcome: Where everyone is welcome, no one is perfect, and anything is possible! That openness is visible from the parking lot to the pews. Pastor Rev. Eric Spoon and the elders work together to offer hands-on ministry, and members extend "open arms" to anyone new.
The church's stated aim is to provide a place where the compassion and love of Jesus Christ heals and equips people to be successful in life. Whether someone has walked through the doors for years or is visiting for the first time, the expectation is that the children are loved, the youth are growing in their faith, and the adults are welcoming with open arms.
Sunday Mornings on Airport Road
The weekly schedule moves at a comfortable pace. Sunday school begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs until worship starts at 10:30 a.m. Four adult and youth classes meet before worship:
- Wired Word in Room 202, a current events study led by Hank Picken that explores how Scripture addresses the world of today.
- Morning Glory in Room 204, a women's book study led by Laurie Combs.
- Men's Class in Room 205, a men's group that rotates leadership among participants under Joe Wayne Walker and works through PCUSA curriculum and book studies.
- Children and Youth Sunday School in the Youth Edge Room (Room 110), led by Lily Hoisington, the Director of Children and Youth, helping kids and teens apply biblical principles to everyday life.
A Blended Style for Every Generation
Worship at 10:30 a.m. is blended, a mix of contemporary and traditional, something for all ages. The minister searches Scripture in its original languages to prayerfully bring out what the Bible meant when it was written and what it means today. A dedicated music team, led by Pianist and Music Director Deborah Collins, supports congregational singing, and leaders offer prayers for the people, the church, the nation, and the world. The result is a service where the Word is faithfully proclaimed through sermon and song, prayer and personal witness, and where every age can find a place to worship.
Wednesday Nights and Bible Study
During the school year, Wednesday nights bring the congregation back to campus for dinner, fellowship, and Bible study for all ages. Adults dig into Scripture together, and youth and children gather in their own groups. It is one of the church's signature rhythms and a place where friendships across generations grow quickly around the table.
Children, Youth, and Grace Schools
Children are a centerpiece of the church's life. Grace Preschool and Aftercare is an outreach ministry of Grace Presbyterian Church for the Panama City area. Accredited, faith-based, and intentionally nurturing, the program offers age-appropriate activities including inside and outside play, art, music, language, and Bible stories. The aim is for children to grow socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Jaden Duncan serves as Interim Director of Grace Schools.
Beyond the preschool, Lily Hoisington leads the children and youth ministry throughout the week, building on the foundation laid in Sunday school.
Men's and Women's Fellowship
Grace also hosts monthly gatherings for men and for women, giving adults a regular rhythm of encouragement, study, and fellowship outside the Sunday morning schedule. Those groups, alongside the weekly Sunday school classes, are part of the church's broader commitment to walk alongside one another through every season of life.
Grace Cares: Feeding Neighbors on Thursdays
One of the most visible ministries in the life of Grace Presbyterian is its food and utility assistance program, Grace Cares. Every Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., volunteers welcome community members who need food and help with utilities. The program ministers to more than 120 clients each week and assists with financial utilities for as many neighbors as the congregation can support. The ministry is funded by gifts from the church family. Grace is networked with other local organizations to offer optimal assistance to those in need, and the church supports Humble House, a women's recovery program and women's shelter in the area.
Local and Global Missions
Grace takes seriously its call to serve beyond its own walls. Locally, Grace Cares anchors the church's outreach, and Souper Bowl Sunday is a yearly community event that collects donations for the hungry.
Nationally and internationally, Grace partners with several organizations:
- Thornwell Home for Children, a Presbyterian family services ministry that supports children and families in need. Grace provides prayer and financial support.
- Bob and Kristi Rice, missionaries serving in South Sudan, empowering local churches to live out the gospel and minister to their own communities.
- Operation Christmas Child, in partnership with Samaritan's Purse. The congregation packs shoe boxes each November filled with simple gifts and prayer, sending them around the world.
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, sustained support for communities affected by crises and catastrophic events.
Leadership and Staff
Rev. Eric Spoon serves as pastor. Lily Hoisington directs the church's children and youth ministry. Deborah Collins leads music as Pianist and Music Director. Jaden Duncan serves as Interim Director of Grace Schools, overseeing the preschool and aftercare program. Together with the elders and a team of dedicated volunteers, this staff shepherds a congregation that gathers on Airport Road each Sunday and scatters into Panama City throughout the week.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Worship is livestreamed on the Grace YouTube Channel and on Facebook, with replays posted online for those unable to attend in person. Grace Presbyterian Church is located at 1415 Airport Road, Panama City, Florida.