Letter from our Lead Pastors
Dear Launch Partners,
Planting a church takes a village. We believe what it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV), “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; If either of them falls down one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” With a multitude of support through praying, serving, and giving, we will be stronger. We are looking for an army of believers to stand with us and carry the weight of Grace City Tampa.
We have always lived with the mentality that ministry is who we are, not what we do. Our heart is to simply love God and love people (Matthew 22:33). Our first priority is to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and mind. In every way, we want to be an example that points people to Jesus with our convictions, family, life, and message. Secondly, we know that the reason we are alive is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We want to see people fully shown, led, and discipled into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
Three years ago we felt the leading of the Lord to start praying for the people of a city that God wanted us to plant a church in, but we didn’t know where those people were located. From weekend drives, to vacations around the United States, we prayed with no definite answer as to where we would start a church. In early 2020, we began feeling led to leave our full time ministry positions. We knew the Lord was calling us to step out onto the water, in faith, to prepare to plant a church. With no church, no city, and only faith, we stepped out. Ten months into our year of faith, we received a direct message on Instagram from the Gard’s and the rest is history. One trip to Tampa and it was game over. We knew that there were people to reach. We knew that there was room in the city for people’s lives to be transformed. We knew that God had placed a burden in our heart for the greater Tampa area that was undeniable! Three months later, in January of 2021, our family of six, with four kids, who are all five years old and younger, moved to Tampa to begin planting this church.
We feel so privileged to call ourselves a location of Grace City Church. With a powerful legacy of influence in Florida over the last five years, we have an incredible church that is supporting us and believing in us. We, the Lead Pastors and Planters of Grace City Tampa, are under the amazing leadership of Andrew and Christina Gard as our Senior Pastors. We feel so fortunate to have the Gard’s covering and encouragement through this whole journey. Not just for us as the Lead Pastors, but for Tampa at large
The dream we’ve been carrying for years is coming to fruition! 2021 is the year that we are launching Grace City Tampa. We are confident that God is already moving and making a way. Our assignment is set. We’ve laid down our life in faith to see God move like never before in this city. We graciously ask that you would join us in any way you can to help us do something incredible for the Kingdom of God in Tampa, Florida. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This is our personal call and we hope you can live by faith with us in this coming season to win a city for Jesus!