Nice to meet you.
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It's all about Jesus
Grace Community Church of New Tripoli, PA exists for a clear and compelling purpose: to glorify God by developing devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. This mission reflects the central calling of the church—not merely to gather, but to actively participate in God’s redemptive work by helping people grow into faithful, mature followers of Christ. Rooted in the authority of Scripture, this purpose aligns with Christ’s command in Gospel of Matthew 28:19–20, often referred to as the Great Commission, where believers are instructed to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach obedience to all that Jesus commanded.
To glorify God means that every aspect of church life—worship, teaching, fellowship, and service—is oriented toward honoring Him. At Grace Community Church, this is not a passive idea but an active pursuit. It involves cultivating a community where God’s character is reflected in how people live, love, and serve. Worship is not confined to Sunday gatherings; it extends into daily life as individuals seek to honor God in their relationships, decisions, and witness in the world.
Pastor Ray
Senior Pastor
After leaving the US Army, I began a downward spiral that only the direct intervention of God could have stopped. I was rescued by Jesus Christ through the ministry of Calvary Chapel. I and my lovely wife Kathy began to attend a local Free Methodist church where I was first ordained as a Local Licensed Pastor. After a few years of pastoral ministry, the Lord led Kathy and me to plant a new Calvary Chapel in rural Virginia, and I pastored that church for several years. We started a chaplaincy program with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, and this enabled us to become police chaplains through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. We were deployed by BGEA into New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina where twice we were able to minister Jesus to the hurting. After turning the ministry in Virginia over to another pastor, the Lord moved us and my family to Edmond, Oklahoma and then to Slatington, Pennsylvania.
Contact Pastor Ray at:
rsumner@gccnt.org
Got kids?
View our Grace Kids ministry page for more information.
Our Mission
To glorify God by developing devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.(Matthew 28:19-20)
Our Objectives
To exalt Christ and His Word – through our worship to Christ.
To exemplify Christ in everything we do – through our walk with Christ.
To execute Christ’s Great Commission – through our work for Christ.
To expand Christ’s Kingdom – through our witness for Christ.
We believe.
Statement of Faith (We are a member of the EFCA-Evangelical Free Church of America)
We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 2:9)
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. (I Corinthians 15:3-4; I John 2:1)
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service. (John 15:26; John 16:7-14)
We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; John 3:3)
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus, become children of God. (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:1; John 3:16)
We believe that water baptism and The Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
(Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.
(Ephesians 4:1-6; I Corinthians 12:13)
We believe that only those who are, thus, members of the true Church shall be eligible
for membership in the local church. (Acts 2:47)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18)
We believe in the personal pre-tribulational, pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (I Thessalonians 4:14-16; Acts 1:11; I John 3:1-3)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
(II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:15; II Thessalonians 1:7-9)