Welcome to Grace Mission of Tallahassee

Greetings from your brothers and sisters in Christ at Grace Mission Episcopal Church!

Your prayers, ministry and contributions are a source of great encouragement to us. On the occasions when we get to be with you there are questions that are commonly asked. The following is a sampling of these questions:

Just what is Grace Mission and where is it?

Grace Mission Church is an Episcopal worshiping community much like your church. It is located at the corner of Brevard and Bronough streets on the edge of Frenchtown. The congregation is a very diverse one. Approximately 60% of us are black, 50% are male, and 70% of us are un- or underemployed. Many of us live in the homeless shelter.

How did it get started?

In May 1996, the vestry of Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit (CHS) adopted a resolution calling for the founding of Grace Mission Church for the purpose of providing a worshiping community in urban Tallahassee. The resolution called for the emphasis to be on teaching, preaching, recovery, and social ministries. In January 1997, Grace Mission was accepted by the Diocesan Convention as a mission station attached to CHS. The first Sunday service was held on Easter Sunday 1997.

Who is in charge?

Grace Mission is an outreach mission of the Diocese of Florida. Unlike a mission church, which is expected to be self-supporting at some time in the future, an outreach mission is expected to be supported by other congregations and the diocese. Grace Mission has two priests.

As an outreach mission, Grace has an advisory board made up of communicants from the supporting congregations. Advisory board members are appointed by the rectors of the supporting congregations. Qualifications are similar to those for vestry members in your parish.

Who are the Priests?

Michael and Sterling Henderson are the co-vicars and "planters" of Grace Mission. They began Grace Mission as lay pastors and were ordained as priests in 2000. Prior to beginning their work at Grace, both had long business careers. They were involved for over 20 years in various leadership roles in the church and both served as lay preachers in the county jail.

I want to paticipate. How can I?

You can serve meals, tutor kids, do maintenance projects, help staff the women's day program, or visit with us for worship and study. For a current list of opportunities, see the Opportunities to Participate in the Ministry of Grace section of our site.

If you would like to explore being involved in the ministry at Grace Mission, contact Kathy Watkins, Ministry Coordinator, at kwatkins4@comcast.net. For information about the Society of Grace, a network of parishioners committed to the ministries of Grace Mission and its congregation, contact Tom Proctor, Jr. at 385-9905 or tomcproctor@gmail.com and see the Society of Grace information site.

The Revs. Sterling or Michael Henderson may be reached at 850/224-3817; gracemission@nettally.com ; or P.O. Box 10472, Tallahassee, FL 32301)