2020 Reflection and Thank You Newsletter from Grace Church in Louisville, KY

Click the image to view the full newsletter.

THANK YOU for your continued prayers and support for the church and our family. We are eternally grateful for mission friends like you. We pray, “the Lord refreshes you as you have been refreshing to others.” (Proverbs 11:25)

To stay updated on what’s happening to and through Grace, please visit our website: www.gracechurchlouisville.com.

We Love Y’all!
Will and Tori Mack

Unprecedented Grace

When reflecting on 2020, the word “unprecedented” easily comes to mind for one reason or another. No one was expecting the year to be what it was. For many, memories of the year are heavy laden with images of isolation, loss and grief. Even penning this newsletter has been a challenge because finding the good in 2020 has been like the proverbial needle in a haystack. The one constant, faithful, true and praiseworthy testimony is God’s sustaining grace. 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

When we pull back the lenses and look at all God has allowed us to do to continue to share His message of hope and love in a world so desperate for it, we must pause and give thanks!

We give THANKS for you, our Mission Friends.

We give THANKS for your prayers.

We give THANKS for your check ins and communications of encouragement.

We give THANKS for your financial support.

We give THANKS for those of you who masked up, showed up and served with us. 

THANK YOU!

Hope Dealing in a Pandemic

With the support of the Joe Adell Foundation, Volunteers of America, Supplies Over Seas, partner Covenant churches and private donors, we hosted a drive thru resource fair in November. Individuals and families had the opportunity to receive a FREE turkey dinner, educational resources, FREE COVID-19 tests and HIV screenings. Thanks to your prayers and support, 167 were served.

Thanks to your support, we were able to continue our Hope Academy Reading Programvirtually. Thirty-one scholars (grades K-6th) received reading intervention, as well as an opportunity to study storytelling and drama with a teaching artist from The Griot Project.

In December, we had the opportunity to serve 150 seniors in our neighborhood with holiday goodie bags. We also had music and holiday photo family fun in Park Hill. Finally, we hosted a Holiday Marketplace for single moms in our city to shop and wrap gifts for their children.

Even with COVID-19, Christmas still came… and with it an opportunity to bring some cheer in a difficult year. Because of the generosity of our partners, Grace Church’s holiday outreach made a difference in our community! Together we raised $5,790 to say nothing of the toys, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper and artwork that came our way.

Our Mom’s Market hosted at Roots 101provided the 17 original families we signed up with an abundant Christmas haul for their children. These moms were also given the opportunity to choose some gifts of their own, in addition to Krogergift cards for some Christmas groceries and beauty packs from the Pretty Girl Foundation.

Their children were kept busy during the shopping and wrapping with the help of I Would Rather Be Reading. Each family (and most volunteers) also went home with a delicious meal from Anoosh Bistro.

At the end of the day, we had such an abundance that we were able to share gifts with additional families, bringing the total number of families served to twenty-five. Some of the remaining gifts also went to a women’s program serving some moms that needed Christmas, but couldn’t sign up initially. The artwork, extra stockings and stocking stuffers were used a few days later to brighten the faces of the seniors at St. Ceciliaand Portland Plaza.

THANK YOU!