Community Outreach & Service
Grace Bible Church actively engages in community outreach and service through various programs designed to meet practical needs and build meaningful relationships with neighbors both locally and internationally.
The Big Giveaway
One of the church's signature outreach initiatives is the Big Giveaway, which has been serving the international student community for over 25 years. This annual event connects church members with incoming international students at Texas A&M University, providing essential household items and building cross-cultural relationships.
(Big Give // Story of Grace, 0:46) The program has evolved over the years to better serve the changing needs of international students. Recent surveys revealed that most students now move into furnished apartments, prompting the church to shift from collecting used furniture to purchasing specific high-need items like vacuums, rice cookers, and blenders (Big Give Update, 0:30).
Personal Impact and Relationships
Participants in the Big Giveaway describe meaningful connections formed through the program. (Big Give // Story of Grace, 1:20) Volunteers load cars with supplies and then deliver them directly to students' homes, often spending time in conversation and learning about different cultures. These visits frequently include opportunities to pray with international students, creating natural openings to share God's love in a non-threatening way.
The program serves as a powerful reminder that (Big Give // Story of Grace, 1:36) "this is a great Mission field - we don't have to travel across sea to make a difference for the kingdom." Church members report that participating in the Big Giveaway has strengthened their sense of community and provided opportunities to serve alongside fellow believers.
Backyard Bible Club
(Backyard Bible Club - Grace Bible Church, 0:19) As a family ministry initiative, the church was commissioned to use their summer programming as "an effective outreach to our community here in Bryan-College Station." After much research and planning, they developed Backyard Bible Club as their primary summer community outreach program.
(Backyard Bible Club - Grace Bible Church, 0:34) The program is "an hour and 15 minute activity based curriculum with storytellers games gospel presenters skits and a host and hospitality team as well." This format creates an engaging environment for children while presenting the gospel message in age-appropriate ways.
Community Impact
(Backyard Bible Club - Grace Bible Church, 1:05) Through twelve locations dispersed throughout Bryan and College Station, the program reached well over 250 kids, with 10 and 11 children placing their faith in Christ for the first time. These children ranged from ages 5 to 13, demonstrating the program's broad appeal across age groups.
The initiative particularly focuses on reaching children who might otherwise never interact with the church. (Backyard Bible Club - Grace Bible Church, 3:29) In just four days, the program was able to "take the truth of Jesus Christ to people who never would have stepped foot on the campus of grace bible church."
Ongoing Neighborhood Engagement
(Backyard Bible Club - Grace Bible Church, 1:31) While the actual clubs only run for a week, "the heart behind it is that we would continue to impact our neighborhoods and bring the truth and the love of Jesus Christ to the immediate sphere of influence where we live." This approach emphasizes long-term relationship building rather than just one-time events.
(Backyard Bible Club - Grace Bible Church, 2:12) The program provides unique opportunities for church members to "invite our neighbors not just to hear a message but actually into our home and to see the gospel lived out in our lives."
Community Partnerships
Grace Bible Church's campuses actively seek partnerships with local organizations to extend their reach and impact. (Southwood Campus Prayer Requests, 1:12) The Southwood campus specifically asks for prayer regarding their community partners, viewing these relationships as opportunities for members to "continually look beyond themselves and care about the kingdom of God."
Campus-Specific Outreach
Midtown Campus
The Midtown campus focuses particularly on college ministry through their program called "Midtown College." (Midtown Campus Prayer Requests, 1:03) Their stated goal is to "help students to find and follow Jesus," with prayer requests centered on growing and multiplying their leadership to reach more students in future semesters.
Southwood Campus
(Southwood Campus Prayer Requests, 0:43) The Southwood campus emphasizes "intergenerational discipleship and care," working to form meaningful relationships between mature families and students. This approach recognizes the value of connecting different generations within the church community for mutual support and growth.
Transformative Community Presence
(Community Impact by Trey Corry and Ryan Poehl at Grace Bible Church at Southwood, 2:40) The church's approach to community engagement emphasizes having "a transformative presence in our community," recognizing that while it's easy to have residence in a community with just an address, "it's actually different to have a presence in a community because in order to have a presence and a community you've got to have deep impactful relationships."
This philosophy drives the church to stretch beyond comfortable social circles. (Community Impact by Trey Corry and Ryan Poehl at Grace Bible Church at Southwood, 3:20) Rather than huddling among those who are similar, the church encourages members to "stretch the scope of our relationships" to have meaningful impact across all of Bryan-College Station.
Biblical Foundation
The church's community engagement model draws inspiration from Nehemiah 2:11-16, where Nehemiah enters Jerusalem with humility, spending time listening and learning before taking action. (Community Impact by Trey Corry and Ryan Poehl at Grace Bible Church at Southwood, 4:48) This approach emphasizes the importance of understanding community needs from within rather than making assumptions from the outside.
(Community Impact by Trey Corry and Ryan Poehl at Grace Bible Church at Southwood, 11:21) Following Nehemiah's example, the church seeks to identify with the community's challenges, speaking of problems and solutions in terms of "we" rather than "they," demonstrating genuine partnership rather than external charity.
Addressing Community Isolation
The church's approach to outreach is informed by an understanding of widespread loneliness in modern society. (Impact: Community by Tod Berkey, 3:18) Research shows that nearly 50% of Americans feel alone, with social media usage often increasing rather than decreasing feelings of isolation. The church's community-focused programs aim to address this epidemic by creating genuine connections and relationships.
Through initiatives like Junction, a young adult ministry serving graduate students and professionals, (Impact: Community by Tod Berkey, 5:42) the church provides spaces for people who might otherwise feel disconnected from traditional church communities. This ministry welcomes individuals from various church backgrounds or no church background at all, recognizing that many have "felt burned by the church" but are still seeking authentic community.
Mission and Vision Integration
The church's outreach efforts align with their broader mission of reaching both neighbors and nations with the gospel. (Every Knee: The Vision Continues, 1:35) From the church's early days, it was established that they would "not exist for our own comfort but instead so that the nations could hear the good news of Jesus." This philosophy continues to drive their community engagement, viewing local outreach as an integral part of their global mission vision.
The church's commitment to service reflects the biblical principle found in Acts 2:42-47, where the early church demonstrated care for one another and favor with their broader community. Through programs like the Big Giveaway, Backyard Bible Club, and various campus partnerships, Grace Bible Church seeks to embody this same spirit of practical service and genuine community engagement.