History

In one sense the history of Grace DC isn’t long, and in another sense it is. We have been gathered as a community and worshiping as a church only since late 2003, but the praying started decades ago—prayers of many.

These prayers became actions in early 2001 when Pastor John Hutchinson of McLean Presbyterian Church linked up with Redeemer PCA Church Planting Center in New York City. Redeemer Presbyterian, through the vision of Tim Keller, had remarkable success in beginning a church in NYC: a center-city church which would engage urban professionals—Christian and non-Christian—as well as demonstrate a real commitment to love and serve the city. The hope was that such a church could be started in the center of our nation’s capital.

In the meantime a motivated and committed core group of people began meeting regularly to pray and talk about ministry in the city. In faith they spread the word and desire, and many other interested people were kept apprised via email and word of mouth. In the summer of July 2003 a church planter was selected, and Glenn and Meg Hoburg, with their girls, moved to DC from the Boston/Cambridge area.

At this point circumstances began moving very rapidly. In fact, everything happened six months to a year ahead of schedule. The size of the community grew quickly, from 30-40 original regulars to our current 250 members and about 400 weekly attenders. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for the volunteer force of women and men. This is possibly the greatest strength of Grace DC—many dedicated people giving of their hearts and gifts.

Grace DC wasn’t started to serve as another “option” for church in Washington, DC, but rather out of the belief that the grace of God can change anyone and anything. It started with the purpose of being an inwardly-growing and outwardly-facing community. We are captured by the vision of a community which engages the sincere questions of non-Christians with respect, a community which seeks to be authentic, a community which does not define itself by political affiliation, a community which strives to integrate faith and vocation, and lastly a community which is committed to the physical needs of Washington, DC—not using the city, but serving it. We hope this is just the beginning.