How it all began...
Pastor Joe witnessed negligence and despair within communities in the Lawrenceville area. The at-risk youth were attending church but they were not learning or growing. He founded H.Y.P.E (Helping Young People Excel) to not only teach young people about the love of God, but to allow them to praise and worship God in a way that was related to their culture because the young people knew dance, rap, and spoken word, they were encouraged to express their worship in this matter.
The H.Y.P.E. ministry was birthed out of Hebron Baptist Bus Ministry. This ministry has served well over 500 youth with a plethora of emotional, environmental, and relationship challenges. Gang members lives have been changed through this ministry. Students that normally would not have graduated from high school, have been able to attend college and graduate through this ministry.
The needs of 21st century communities seem to be growing by the day. This ministry expanded and met those needs over the years, the leaders have learned that what people needed most was someone who would listen to their concerns – someone they could turn to for support and someone who would walk the tough roads with them.
The beginning of 2013 H.Y.P.E. was taking a new form. It was moving in the direction of a new church and transitioned into LifePointe Community Church, the point where church meets life. LifePointe met in the Jenkins Elementary School for three years and continued to grow and believe God for a church building. In February 2016, God provided a place of worship and LifePointe began a blended service with Amazing Grace Baptist Church.
However, God had another plan and the two churches merged and became GracePointe Community Church. We are “the point where Grace meets life”. The church has expanded the scope of its community services to include community outreach, community block parties, community movies on the lawn, Christmas Wish List and a Food Pantry for the families of the community.
The H.Y.P.E. ministry was birthed out of Hebron Baptist Bus Ministry. This ministry has served well over 500 youth with a plethora of emotional, environmental, and relationship challenges. Gang members lives have been changed through this ministry. Students that normally would not have graduated from high school, have been able to attend college and graduate through this ministry.
The needs of 21st century communities seem to be growing by the day. This ministry expanded and met those needs over the years, the leaders have learned that what people needed most was someone who would listen to their concerns – someone they could turn to for support and someone who would walk the tough roads with them.
The beginning of 2013 H.Y.P.E. was taking a new form. It was moving in the direction of a new church and transitioned into LifePointe Community Church, the point where church meets life. LifePointe met in the Jenkins Elementary School for three years and continued to grow and believe God for a church building. In February 2016, God provided a place of worship and LifePointe began a blended service with Amazing Grace Baptist Church.
However, God had another plan and the two churches merged and became GracePointe Community Church. We are “the point where Grace meets life”. The church has expanded the scope of its community services to include community outreach, community block parties, community movies on the lawn, Christmas Wish List and a Food Pantry for the families of the community.