History

For almost nine years a small congregation existed almost underground (not on purpose) in the city of Wyoming. What is the church’s name? Wyoming Community Church. The church was planted in 1996 by two Evangelical Free Churches (Chisago Lakes in Lindstrom and Kost in North Branch). The church began meeting in the basement of Chisago Lakes E-Free Church, then moved to the elementary school in Wyoming. After years of hauling chairs and equipment every Sunday, they accepted a gracious invitation to occupy the old sanctuary of the Wyoming Methodist Church.

For the past five years, the Wyoming Community Church met in the old white building, until they were forced to look elsewhere because of plans to tear the building down for a new facility. For Wyoming Community Church this was just what they needed—a nudge!

In September of 2004, a few people in the church discovered a building for lease that they thought would be ideal for the church. The “old dollar store” (Red Hot Deals) on 26680 Faxton Avenue in Wyoming was vacant, and the landlord was interested in renting to the church. This led to a three month process with the city of Wyoming, who carefully and graciously reviewed their application for a permit and eventually changed the city ordinances to accept conditional use permits for a church in the General Business District, after which they granted the church a permit for that building.

The next three months turned into an education course on city building codes for churches. At this time, Sisbro Printing moved out of the building, allowing the entire building to be leased by the church. In March, the lease was signed and the church began the challenging process (primarily consisting of volunteer labor) of converting a dollar store and print shop into a church building, with a sanctuary, classrooms, compliant bathrooms, offices, and kitchen. After blood, sweat, toil and tears, the church held their first service in the Faxton building on July 24th, in which they had a record attendance.

The location was not the only change the church made this year. Wyoming Community Church is now Grace Evangelical Free Church or “Grace Church”, a change that was voted on in January, 2005, at their annual business meeting. Grace Church’s mission statement says that they are “Becoming a people who treasure Christ and the Building of His Kingdom”, and part of treasuring (or loving) Christ, they believe, is loving and ministering to the community. The Church is located “smack dab” in the center of Wyoming, and they hope to be more than just geographically centered in the community.  Grace Church has a strong desire and commitment to serving the community in creative and helpful ways.

-- By Pastor Daniel Patz, Grace Church