What would you say if you were asked, “What is so different about your God?” In a world with so many options of who or what to worship, what sets the God of the Bible, the God perfectly revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, apart from all others?
The question is not a new one. In fact, it is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. What makes Israel’s God greater than the idols of the nations? One of the primary answers that the Old Testament gives us is this: he is merciful.
The Old Testament writers had deeply meditated on God’s words in Exodus 34 when he “told Moses his name”. He reveals himself as “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” (Exodus 34.6). That verse is the most referenced in the rest of the Old Testament.
If your view of God in the Old Testament is influenced by the prevalent caricatures in our culture, this might seem surprising. However, the God revealed in the pages of scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—is a God of astonishing mercy. Here are three precious Old Testament texts that remind us of this unique attribute.
More merciful than our idols
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in steadfast love.” Micah 7.18
When setting up a contrast between the true God and other “gods”, the prophet Micah zeroes in on the fact that God is a forgiving God. He does not reluctantly receive us—perhaps after we have proved just how sorry we are and sufficiently punished ourselves—but rather delights in showing steadfast love to his people.
The fact that God is more merciful than our idols holds true whether a person worships Baal and Molech or our culture’s more subtle idols like money and beauty. A person who idolises money is crushed when they make a bad investment or miss out on a pay rise. There is no grace from the idol of money, only a demand to try harder and do better. It’s the same for anything else we put in the place of the true God. But our God is different because when we fail him—as we do every day—he is merciful.
More merciful than us
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55.6–8
Many of us associate the last verse quoted above with the reality that God is wiser and knows better than us. While that is true, it’s not the passage’s main focus. Reading that verse in context, the message is clear – God is more merciful than we are.
We often count ourselves out of God’s mercy and think thoughts like “surely God could never forgive someone like me who has done [insert grievous sin]”. But our God unreservedly invites the wicked and unrighteous to forsake their ways and receive his compassion and abundant pardon. If you feel condemned about some seemingly unforgivable sin, you can take comfort in the truth that God is more merciful than you.
Merciful and just
“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53.5–6
We know instinctively that wrong deeds should be punished and feel outraged when a guilty person goes free. Other deities may claim to be merciful, but even if this were true, it would not make them like our God. In fact, their mercy would be an evil rather than good quality, because it would be an unjust mercy.
The final way our God differentiates himself is in showing both mercy and justice. His is a just mercy. He does not forgive us by ignoring our sins, relativising them or letting us go because we have done more good than bad. No, he leaves no bad deed unpunished. He can show us mercy because he has punished another for our guilt. The perfect Son of God became our sin-bearing substitute so we could spend eternity delighting in our merciful God.
We are not professionals
Professionalism is the death of authentic church.
If the church was designed to be led by professionals, then pastors could come and go as and when opportunities arise, maybe looking for better pay, or better hours, or some other personal benefit. The church itself would be a different kind of organisation, prizing efficiency at the expense of relationships, control over reality.
But the church is not professional in that sort of way because it is a family. And this changes how we view pastors and leaders, and how they see themselves. As pastors, we are not in this to merely work for the church as you might engage in many other jobs, but to be a part of the church in a deep and intimate way.
Because of this, it will be a profoundly important moment for us when we welcome Tobias Brown as a pastor along with his family, and say goodbye to Jeremy & Jen Moses and their kids. We are marking both of these moments on 15th of June at our Together Sunday.
Jeremy and Jen have had an extraordinary impact over these past 10 years at Grace. They have embodied the same heart that Paul spoke of: ‘But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us’ (1 Thessalonians 2.7–8).
And we know that the Browns will touch many lives in the years to come, not just because of their gifts and callings, but also because that’s how families work. We become entwined, and we share our very lives with one another.
I’m sure you understand that this is an emotional and poignant time for me, full of conflicting emotions, including hope and happiness, as well as a sense of loss. Being ‘unprofessional’ (so to speak) makes the highs a little higher, and the lows a little lower. But I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Let’s embrace this precious moment as a church family with expectation and prayerfulness.
Shaping young lives
Teaching the Bible to our children is one of the most important (and fun) things we do as a church. Yet, if you're not part of the team or don't have kids yourself, it might easily go unnoticed. So, we spoke to Kat Miller, who recently joined the staff team as Children's Ministry Lead, to tell us more.
Pancho, Kat, Jonah & Benji
What should we know about you?
I’ve been part of Grace London with my husband, Pancho, for over seven years. We have two boys, Jonah (4) and Benji (2), and before being a mum, I was a maths teacher.
What does the ministry look like?
Our kids' ministry has grown lots over the years. I often reflect on how Grace started with only a couple of babes in arms, yet now we have almost 90 children between the ages of two and 12. On a usual Sunday, we have somewhere between 60 and 75 kids across four groups at Waterloo and two at Holborn. There are also about 30 under-twos who will join our groups over the next few years. It really is expanding.
The kids gather in groups with leaders each week, where they play games and hear a Bible story that points to the bigger story of the gospel. Recently, I've really enjoyed delivering little stories from Leviticus or Numbers and pointing them forward to Jesus.
They exceed our expectations of how much they enjoy it, how much they retain, and how much they already know. And it's just lots of fun!
Tell us about the Weekend Away.
The kids loved it, the team loved it, I loved it. We put all the children together in one space, almost like a summer camp. One big fun experience and competition. We learned about Jesus' miracles and, on the last day, looked at his resurrection. Joel and Will came to lead worship, which was a highlight. The kids rose to it in a beautiful way, singing with abandon.
Designing team banners at the Weekend Away
What have the kids taught you?
Teaching children from the Bible has been incredibly humbling and helpful. To explain a passage, even to a ten-year-old (let alone a two-year-old!), makes you really think about it. The kids also remind me not to underestimate what they remember, what they know, and how deep their relationship with God can be, even at their age.
How can you see God at work?
Grace London is exciting for many reasons, not least because of the diversity of our church family, reflected in our children's work. We've got kids from all different backgrounds and situations, and yet together in one space, they're just children - and they're just children of God. They're great at befriending, inspiring, and learning from one another. It's inspirational to us as leaders.
How can we pray?
Please pray for continued enthusiasm amongst our team and for growing the vision of what Grace London kids could be like in five, even ten years. As our groups grow, we also need more volunteers.
Pray for the children too - that they continue to encounter Jesus every time they step foot in one of our sessions.
Let's pray for Grace London kids, Kat, and the team of volunteers. If you'd like to start serving yourself, head to our website here.
Faith, Questions, and Paninis
Luke Mathiesen recently started helping to lead the Salt Course. We got in touch to hear about his story, the course and why it resonates with Londoners today...
The first time I got involved in the Salt Course was in October 2022. My then-fiancé, now wife, Issy and I led a discussion group together. Since then, we’ve led a group on nearly every Salt Course. From the start, something resonated. It felt like exactly the kind of work I wanted to give myself to.
Leading alongside Issy has been a joy too. Looking back, I’m convinced it helped prepare us for marriage, and it continues to strengthen us to make disciples and share the hope of Christ. (Maybe Grace London should make Salt a compulsory part of marriage prep? Just saying.)
Real Conversations
One of the best things about the Salt Course is the depth of the conversations. There’s something about sitting down over a meal or hot drink that opens the door to genuine connection. It’s not uncommon for guests, even on the second session, to share vulnerably about mental health struggles or family bereavements. It’s a great privilege to walk with them and encourage them to look to Christ in these moments.
There are so few spaces in modern life for people to talk honestly about life’s big questions and our deepest struggles in a group setting like this. Outside of the church, it’s practically unheard of. But these conversations are normal at Salt, and the 25-minute talk that kicks off each evening gives plenty of subject matter for meaty conversation.
Recently, I’ve started giving a few of those 25-minute talks myself, alongside Harrison Clewes. It’s been a stretch, but a good one. Preparing these talks has forced me to read widely and think deeply about the intersection between faith and today's culture—what people are really struggling with in a secular city like London, and how the gospel meets those struggles head-on.
Luke & Izzy
Why Do I Keep Showing Up?
I care deeply about people finding peace and salvation in Christ. I was like many of our guests—burdened by life’s biggest questions and frustrated by how little the world could offer by way of real answers.
I’ve seen God's power working through the Salt Course; lives changed, hearts softened, and often the initial kindling of love for our Lord. It’s also not unusual for Salt guests to start coming to church services and getting plugged into community. Some of them are now in our life group. It’s a great encouragement.
Why Salt Works
Many secular Londoners assume Christianity is irrelevant, outdated, or even harmful. But the Salt Course gently challenges that. The talks are designed to raise big questions people are already wrestling with—Is there meaning to life? How can I be happy? What does it mean to be a good person? We first highlight why these questions are so important before exposing how our secular societies’ answers prove woefully deficient and why Jesus is our only hope.
Salt isn’t just about intellectual arguments. It’s vital that our guests feel respected and listened to. Our discussions are hearty and require a level of vulnerability to truly engage with them. The job of the table leaders isn’t primarily about answering questions, but cultivating an environment where our guests feel they can truly discuss their deepest problems and are being listened to and loved in the process.
Thinking of Coming or Inviting a Friend?
Do it. Come along to Costa on a Tuesday night. Grab a panini and dive into conversations that matter. It’s relaxed, friendly, and I believe God loves it.
If you’re a Christian thinking of inviting someone, don’t overthink it. We’ve had many guests come along who knew little to nothing about Christianity, and we’ve seen God change lives time and time again. If there’s even a chance your friend might say yes—and if you care about their eternal destiny—it’s worth the invite.
The Salt Course runs for seven consecutive Tuesdays, starting 27th May, 7.30-9.15pm at Costa Coffee, SE1 8LP. Find out more here.
Introducing Takita, Riley and Michelle
Takita, Michelle and Riley tackle the day-to-day logistics of church life. They form our Ops team and do a range of tasks from assigning newcomers to life groups to overseeing volunteer teams. For every service and event, they arrange volunteers, venue, food, equipment, and more.
Takita, who leads the trio, oversees both our central events and operations for the Waterloo PM service. Michelle runs our Holborn service on an interim basis, and Riley, the Waterloo AM service. They tell us more about themselves and the role below.
Tell us about yourself.
Riley: I was born in Cape Town, moved to London from ages 2-12, and moved back to Cape Town for my teenage years. I returned to the UK to study music and theology. In my spare time, I absolutely love teaching drums. It's one of my passions; a job and a hobby. It’s so rewarding.
Michelle: What Cape Town and London are for Riley, that's Korea and America for me. I was born in Korea, but moved between there and America growing up and later for studies and work. After working a few years in Korea, I was itching to head overseas again. The opportunity to come to the UK came up seven months ago, so I went for it.
Takita: I grew up in South Africa and initially came to London for work experience, to go outside my little bubble. I wanted to know what living elsewhere would be like, and was planning to move back after a year. Eight years later, here I am still!
Fav Grace London memory?
T: That’s so hard - I've got eight years to choose from! But I think it has to be my first Christmas here. The first Christmas I spent in London was also my first away from my family, and I was so nervous about that. But I got invited to celebrate with a family from Grace alongside others from my life group, and I honestly felt so loved. There was so much love in that room. It felt like family. That Christmas was so much better than I ever imagined.
R: I've loads of great memories, but one stands out. One Sunday in November 2023, someone from the Welcome team introduced me to a newcomer. I was keen to get them plugged into church life, so I said, ‘Are you free next Sunday? Before church, let's meet up for coffee.’ That blossomed into a friendship I could not have imagined. I hadn't had great friendships before coming to Grace, but since then, I haven’t been lacking. God has blessed me with solid friendships like this one and many others.
Takita, Riley & Michelle (left to right)
Michelle, you're not only new to the role but to London altogether. What are you enjoying most about both your role and living here?
I love that London is a walkable city with so many green spaces. Those two are my favourites and make London so different from other cities.
In this role, the team has been a real blessing. It's rare to be in a workplace where you work with people you like and enjoy being around. It’s a blessing in itself! Working here has also opened my eyes to other aspects of church life. It's been great to see and to pray for things I might not have known about.
Riley, you helped to get Holborn off the ground and have now switched to Waterloo AM ops. What keeps you motivated in your role?
It’s a deep love for the church - seeing people coming together, hearing God's word preached, and that leading to worship in our everyday lives.
To paint a picture, when Holborn was starting up, there was a lot to do. Problems came up. We had to sort it out, and it was often hard work. But later, when everyone had headed into the auditorium for the service, I would come in at the back and see everyone worshipping and listening to the sermon. These moments really brought me joy. The hard work pays off. That's the reason I do it.
What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?
M: I’m excited to help operations run even better, particularly at Holborn. We hope to have a streamlined system so volunteers aren’t rostered on too much and can focus on worshipping in the service. We do our job so meticulously to help the rest of the congregation freely worship and be undistracted. So, helping to achieve that will be exciting.
T: I'm really enjoying work, and I've never said that before! I'm looking forward to settling into this role and learning along the way. What I’ve learnt so far has not been what I expected, but it's been so good. I’m keen to keep working and growing with this team. And that excites me a lot.
And I think to myself... what a weekend away
Our recent weekend away was one to remember. Raucous worship, plenty of laughter, profound teaching, beautiful scenery, and (amazingly!) skies of blue. Cue Louis Armstrong.
We spoke to some first-timers who shared their highlights. Read more below.
As we’ve only been coming to Grace Holborn for a few months, we were excited about the weekend away, and loved interacting with different cross-sections of Grace. We met many lovely people and heard about some of their journeys with the Lord, leaving encouraged by what God is doing in people’s lives, and compelled by Tim and Andrew’s exhortations to trust God in times of abundance/felt absence and be intentional about prayer! We were also adopted into the team that ended up bagging the victory at the games night!
Abraham (12): I loved the vastness of the grounds and being able to explore them with friends. Kids’ worship was also a highlight for me!
Jemima (9): The bonfire and games night were so fun, and I got to know some of the other kids better.
Sam, Li Ann, Abraham & Jemima
The weekend away allowed me to ground myself in the Word of God and the Spirit, while also being deeply convicting. I cherished the opportunity to connect with more people from the church, forming deep and meaningful relationships. It was truly delightful to step away from London life and embrace this retreat.
Tshepo
One highlight of our church weekend away was helping with the kids' work. We loved their energy and enthusiasm! Alban gave a talk explaining the resurrection and how Jesus has defeated death for us, which was quite a challenge given the wide age range of 2 to 12. Afterwards, it was wonderful to lead a prayer activity with them. Overall, it was a really special time seeing God at work in the youngest hearts.
Alban & Esther
The dedicated time spent worshipping ignited a fresh fire within me. One moment that stood out to me was when Andrew encouraged us to pray for prayerful hearts and invited us to pray in small groups. Hearing hundreds of voices lifting prayers to heaven gave me chills. It was a joyful, Spirit-filled weekend where the hunger for more of Jesus was truly tangible.
Tiffany
Three books for you
Recommendations are everything when it comes to books. With so much content out there, it's difficult to know where to start otherwise. A simple suggestion from a friend is often what we need.
All three of these books were recommended to me (Jono) by a friend or family member. Two were lent. One was gifted. And all were great reads. So, here are my second-hand recommendations. I hope they bless you as they have me.
The Pleasures of God by John Piper. God is happy. He's beaming, singing, and exuberantly joyful. It's easy to forget at times, but God is never grumpy or melancholic.
Piper explores God’s happiness in this book. He plumbs the depths of scripture to find what warms the heart of God. Perhaps surprisingly, 90% focuses on what God delights to do rather than what he delights to see in his people. The attention is off us and onto the joyful exploits of a smiling Father.
Untangling Emotions by Alasdair Groves and Winston Smith. Whether you’re a natural stoic or the ‘emotional type’, we all have emotions and need to navigate them in a godly way. This book is a helpful guide for doing exactly that. Written with everyday relevance, it tackles the darker side of our emotional lives—painful emotions like fear, anger, shame, guilt, and sorrow—and explores how we can understand them biblically and process them wisely.
Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin. I’ll confess this one isn’t a recent read from me. In fact, I read this book shortly after starting to lead worship and found it incredibly formative. Bob Kaufflin, a seasoned worship leader and songwriter, explores what biblical and God-honouring worship looks like. A fount of practical advice then follows, gained from years of experience. Accessible and personal, this book is perfect for any worship leader, songwriter or musician looking to foster a heart of worship themselves and in the church.
The end of your shame
As swiftly as Adam and Eve ate the fruit, so did they experience a new and profoundly uncomfortable sensation: that of shame.
They went from being ‘naked and… not ashamed’ to hiding in the bushes, crossing their legs and covering their privates. When God came looking for them and asking, ‘Where are you?’ Adam replied, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.’
What was new to them is not new to us. Shame is part of our very existence. What are we to make of it?
Shame is both deeply right and deeply wrong.
It’s right because it’s an intuitive, conscience-level awareness that we are not as beautiful, pure, and admirable as we ought to be. We were made for glory and for innocence and for peace in our consciences. We were made ‘a little lower than the angels’. But we have climbed down into the cesspit of our sin and our humanity has become tainted. As a result, there are things in us we want to hide because they’re genuinely ugly.
But it’s also deeply wrong because our redemption should mean liberty from sin and from shame. For many, this sense of being clean can be hard to accept. When this happens, our shame can become enflamed and aggravated by the devil who accuses us, the world that alienates and despises us, and even our own sense of hatred towards ourselves. Shame in your conscience is much like your immune system: It’s designed to keep you healthy and fight off infections, parasites, and the like. But for some people, the immune system itself can be the very thing that is causing harm and even death.
Either way, whether our shame is right or it is wrong, the remedy is the same. We must turn again to a crucified saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took our sin and our shame upon himself when he was made a spectacle on the cross.
In an age of advanced pain management – of paracetomol and aspirin and morphine and anaesthetic – we are often most horrified by the physical pain and torture of the cross. ‘And yet,’ writes Fleming Rutledge, ‘we must continue to emphasize that the shame of the crucifixion is more important for the determination of its meaning than the physical suffering.’
Jesus experienced the shame of the cross in order to take your shame away.
Dear Christian, that is one reason why Good Friday is truly good, and why you can smile in relief and bask in his loving acceptance, knowing once more what it means to be truly seen and to be deeply loved.
Launching in Pimlico
Each week, our life groups meet in homes across London, from Blackheath to Battersea, from Kensington to Kennington. We share a meal, study scripture, and pray together. It's simple gospel-centred hospitality in a big and busy city.
Our newest life group has just launched in Pimlico. We spoke to its leaders, Graham and Lucy, who tell us more.
Tell us about yourselves.
Hey! Graham here (don’t worry, Lucy mostly approves of what follows):
Lucy is Scottish/Brazilian (Scozilian), and as an oil-child she grew up in and out of Nigeria, Oman, UAE, Brazil, and Aberdeen. I’m from Bolton, and it doesn’t get much more exotic than that. We’ve been coming to Grace for nine years now - we just missed out on being part of the elect few in that sticky-floored pub at the beginning.
Graham and Lucy aren’t new to being life group leaders but also led a group between 2018 - 2023. What did life group look like back then?
We’ve been married for 15 years, and around 18 years ago (in Uxbridge), I was co-leading a life group that Lucy attended, which is how we got to know each other better. So, my favourite thing about life group is probably picking up a wife.
Joking aside, we’ve led life groups together on and off over the years in Uxbridge, Salisbury, and now London. We’ve loved being in various groups at Grace (shout-out to the Tans and the Van-Nierkerks), and we led a group, ‘It is Camberwell with my soul’, for a few years before we moved to Pimlico.
Our Camberwell group was lovely, but the period was not an easy one in our lives — spanning lockdowns and some work and health challenges for us. We disbanded but are coming back refreshed and excited for our new group!
What was your favourite thing about being a life group leader?
One thing I love about life group leading is real talk (when it happens). I’m not much for small talk, but the conversations at life group can get pretty interesting (spicy, even). Some members bring provoking ideas or have cultural takes that you might not have considered before.
We both love the opportunity to open the word together, to get to know people deeper, and to have friends to share life with and sharpen each other. In big cities, that's not a given, and it’s something that reflects the beauty of the church to the world.
Graham & Lucy, with friends and life group hosts Luke & Janice
What’s your vision for the group?
The key thing for me is trust. As in any big city, London makes it easy to avoid having anyone input into your life (that’s often why people come here). Anonymity can feel comfortable, for a while. But we don’t thrive like that for long.
We want to get to a point where we trust each other — we open up, bringing our genuine selves along, making real friends (not that sub-species, ‘friends from life group’).
So, I hope we reflect something of Jesus’ weird combo of being both straight-talking and yet super caring. It takes time and a lot of regular meeting to earn the trust required with each other to make that stuff happen.
How can we pray for you?
It is by no means unique to our group, but where are all the fellas at? While Luke and I do admittedly exhibit an embarrassing amount of (Christian) masculinity, we would love a few more lads to join and even things out.
As I’ve mentioned, we’d also love to get to a place where we trust one another and be open and honest in a caring manner. So please pray that the Holy Spirit works among us in this way too.
Finally, Janice keeps mentioning one past life group where she got them all to shout ‘YeeHaw’ in worship, so please pray that she forgets about that.
Part of something bigger
At Grace London, we give away at least 10% of our finances to support other churches in the UK and abroad. One partner church we’ve recently supported is GodFirst in Barry, Wales. We spoke with pastor Rhys Gronow to hear their story.
GodFirst Barry is also part of the Advance Movement.
Please tell us about yourself and GodFirst Barry.
I live in Barry, South Wales, with my wife, Rachel, and our two sons - Elliot (12) and Jude (9). Rachel and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage this October.
In January 2019, we planted GodFirst Barry, starting in our living room with just six adults and five children. By God’s grace, we’ve grown into a vibrant community with around 60 people gathering on Sundays, including more than 20 children.
Rhys, Rachel, Elliot & Jude
Tell us the story of how you planted the church.
During a visit to Barry in 2013 for a friend's baptism, we had a conversation that changed everything.
I started chatting with the church pastor where the baptism was taking place and asked him to tell me a bit about the church in Barry. He shared that there were only four or five gospel-affirming churches, each with around 40 to 50 people. It didn’t take long for Rachel and I to realise that, in a town of around 55,000 people, the number of Bible-believing Christians was incredibly small.
It broke our hearts. In that moment, we felt God stir something deep within us. We were convicted that Barry needed more gospel witness, and we were called to be part of it.
That conversation became the turning point. Over the next few years, we prayed and prepared, and in 2019, we moved back to Barry and planted GodFirst, trusting that God had brought us home for a purpose.
How have you seen God move in surprising ways?
God's provision has astounded us since we planted the church. When I stepped out in faith, leaving my job as a driving instructor to commit fully to church planting, we had no certainty about our financial situation. But God has sustained us. And a significant part of that has been through the kindness of Grace London!
We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your financial support over the past year - it truly has been a tangible expression of God's provision and kindness. Through yourselves and others, especially within Advance, God has ensured that we have everything we need—not always in excess, but always enough.
Sundays at GodFirst
Last year's Weekend Away
Anything you wish you knew before church planting?!
If there’s one thing I wish I had fully grasped before planting, it’s the unique nature of ministry in a settled town like Barry.
Barry is not a transient place—it’s a town where people put down deep roots. Those who grow up here tend to stay, raise their families, and remain connected to long-standing social circles. Building trust, integrating into the community, and seeing gospel fruit is a long-term investment. People don’t just jump into new things—they watch and wait before fully committing.
The blessing, however, is that once people commit, they are here for the long haul. Ministry in Barry is not about quick growth but deep roots. If you plant well, if you disciple well, and if you build strong foundations, the result is a long-term, sustainable church community where people grow together over generations.
So, if I could go back and prepare myself for one thing, it would be this: church planting in Barry is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to build, but what you build lasts.
How can we pray for you and the church?
1) Please pray for God to raise up strong, godly leaders who can take on key ministry roles. As we grow, we need more people equipped to disciple others, serve in leadership, and help carry the vision forward.
2) A pressing need right now is for a new building. We're at maximum capacity, with no room for further growth, and suitable venues are scarce. Please pray for wisdom on timing and finances and a clear way forward. We need God's guidance and provision.
3) Finally, please pray for our evangelistic efforts. Despite the limitations of our meeting space, we long to present the gospel so that people encounter Jesus for themselves. Several individuals regularly attend our services but have not yet committed their lives to Christ. Please pray that God draws them to salvation and that we would see baptisms in the months ahead.
We are so grateful for your prayers and partnership in the gospel. Thank you for standing with us as we seek to see Jesus glorified in Barry.
Bible & Brekkie
Ever scrolled through the Grace London WhatsApp community, stumbled across a group chat, and wondered, 'What is that?'
Maybe it's just me.
One chat you may have seen is the Women's Bible Study & Breakfast Club. The group has met at the church office every other Saturday morning since the beginning of January and is led by Bisi, Paulina and Naomi, who tell us more.
Bisi, Paulina & Naomi
It's been so amazing getting to know many new sisters from the Grace family as we've studied the Bible together. These Saturday mornings are a place to reconnect with friends we don't often see and make new ones.
We've been studying 1 Peter alongside a study guide from Jen Wilkin. We hear teaching, study in smaller groups, and use online resources to chew over the incredible truths found here - our inheritance in Christ, the call to look different from the world, and what it means to live sacrificially for Christ.
We're also practising different study techniques along the way, such as looking for links and repetition in biblical texts, the importance of context and pursuing the author's intentions for the text before exploring its present-day meaning for us. It has been rich and eye-opening, and I'm grateful for the amazing, raw, and honest discussions we've had as we've explored this text over an (extremely satisfying!) breakfast spread.
The time has been precious, and we're looking forward to studying many more books in the coming months. We want to create a space for any ladies who call Grace London their home to come and prioritise reading the word with other sisters.
What others are saying
Lisa
"When I first heard about the Saturday morning Bible study, I immediately shut it down because I like a slow Saturday morning and am a creature of habit! I missed the intro, but praise God for leading me to sign up for the second session. Now, I can't think of a better way to start my Saturday morning than Bible 'n' brekkie with the girls. I've met ladies from other services who I wouldn't normally bump into, and analysing the word to the depth that Jen Wilkins's book encourages us to is mind-blowing."
Rachel
“So much kindness, wisdom, prayers & testimonies shared amongst sisters. Sometimes scripture can be confusing, but having the space and time to zoom in on a passage with other believers is a real privilege. I’ve learnt some transformative ways to study the Bible! Plus, there are charcuterie boards...”
If you'd like to join for the remainder of our sessions on 1 Peter or find out when we're starting our next study, please join our Bible study breakfast WhatsApp group via the Grace London WhatsApp Community.
Why give thanks?
Psalm 92 verse 1 says, 'It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High'. Scripture is full of exhortations and encouragements to thank God, prayers and songs of thanksgiving, and cautionary tales about the danger of ungratefulness. Most of us know thanksgiving is something we should do, yet many of us struggle to practice it intentionally. We must ask, Why is it ‘good to give thanks to the Lord’?
Thanksgiving blesses God
Scripture tells us to enter God’s presence with thanksgiving (Psalm 100.4), to make our requests known to him with thanksgiving (Philippians 4.6), and to give thanks to him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5.18). It is possible to see texts like this and wrongly perceive thanksgiving as another duty to perform or a ritual we do to appease God, but scripture is emphatic that while God delights in our thanksgiving, he does not need it. He doesn't call for it from a place of insecurity or a desire to be encouraged. Rather, thanking God is the natural response when we see God for who he is.
We are not called to baseless thanksgiving but are repeatedly told why to thank God. We thank him because he deserves it. ‘Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ is a repeated refrain in scripture (e.g. Psalms 107, 118, 136, 1 Chronicles 16). We thank God because ‘every good and perfect gift’ comes from him, every breath we take, every ray of sunshine, everything comes to us from his merciful hand. When we truly grasp this, thanking God should be our instinctive response. When we give thanks, we are saying true things about God. We are treating God as God.
Thanksgiving blesses us
But when Psalm 92 says it is good to thank God, it is not just saying ‘It’s the right thing to do’ or ‘It’s good for God’, but also that it is good for us. How so? There are many ways, but I’ll touch on three briefly – faith, hope and love.
There is much in life to distract and disappoint us, to provoke us to ignore or doubt God. Without intentional effort to fix our minds on God, we drift towards unbelief. But giving thanks reminds us of who God is, what he’s done and what he’s doing, and it builds faith in us. Thanksgiving also gives us hope. Difficult situations can drive us to despair, but recalling the good things God has done gives us perspective. Our challenges are big but our God is bigger, so we can have hope.
Finally, thanksgiving blesses us as it stirs our hearts to love God. Left to their own devices, our hearts focus on what we don’t have, growing cold and bitter to God. But when we ‘bless the Lord and remember his benefits’ (Psalm 103), we are reminded that God loves us and means to do us good, and this enables us to love him.
Thanksgiving blesses others
Christian thanksgiving differs from the secular idea of “practising gratitude” in that our thanks are directed to God. But another key distinction is that Christian thanksgiving has a strong communal aspect. Throughout scripture, thanksgiving is something others are invited into. Psalm 34 says, ‘Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!’
Why? Because thanksgiving not only blesses God and the person giving thanks but it blesses others too. It builds faith in those joining in, as they hear how God is still at work, answering prayers, saving and bringing deliverance. It stirs hope and warms their hearts with love for this God who constantly lavishes mercy on undeserving people.
So friend, I encourage you to take time today to write down some things for which you are thankful to God. Make a regular habit of doing this. Don’t stop there, but invite others into your thanksgiving. It’s as simple as asking, 'What are you thankful for?' or 'How have you seen God at work lately?' Let us thank the Lord, for he is good and giving thanks is good.
Events you won't want to miss
The church's unity is only possible through the Holy Spirit drawing us together in love. In that sense, it's supernatural. Left to ourselves, we prefer only comfortable isolation or tight cliques. We need the Spirit for deep and diverse community to thrive.
We would love for you to get stuck into this community that the Holy Spirit is building. If you're new to Grace London, please push yourself out of your comfort zone, throw yourself in, and join us in all God is doing here.
Practically, here are some events for your calendars. Do take a read and sign up!
Weekend Away '25
25th - 27th April @ Ashburnham Place
In just two months, we'll head to the Sussex countryside for one of the year's highlights. There'll be worship, teaching, fun and relaxation, delicious food and plenty of quality time together. We will also have social time together including meals, walks, outdoor activities and Saturday evening entertainment.
Sign up for our Weekend Away.
Together Sunday
Sunday 30th March, 4.30pm @ Westminster Chapel, SW1E 6BS
Every few months, we gather our three congregations in one service for a Together Sunday. To mark the occasion, we're serving up a jerk chicken feast (see below). Vegan option available. Please sign up for food in advance (£5 if you sign up now or £10 on the day).
Sign up for our Together Sunday dinner.
Women's Day
Saturday 15th March, 10am - 4pm @ London Nautical School
Our upcoming Women's Day is an excellent way to form deep friendships and encourage each other in the faith. The topic for the day is, Every Moment Holy: How worship transforms all of life.
Sign up for our Women's Day.
Men's Retreat
Thursday 30th October - Saturday 1st November @ De Vere Beaumont
From experience, the Men's Retreat is an investment worth making. We'll hear how God's word speaks to us, particularly as men, and spend time over good food and (probably) a campfire. If finance is an issue, please let us know. Email info@grace.london and we can make a plan.
Sign up for our Men's Retreat.
Who manages our money?
Who sets Grace London's salaries? Who tracks our cash flow? Who signs off hiring plans or significant costs?
Behind the scenes at Grace London, we have a team of experienced accountants, administrators, lawyers, and bankers, who hold these responsibilities and more, mostly as volunteers. Paul Nicholas is our Finance Team Manager and a Trustee. He tells us more about himself and the finance team below.
Please tell us about yourself.
I’m married to Gloria, and we have two daughters, Abigail (Abby, 4) and Eleanor (Ellie, 3). We’ve been at Grace for around three years and love the community and fellowship. I grew up in South London (mainly Peckham), so I’m one of the few born and bred South Londoners at Grace! We live in North Kennington, close to Elephant & Castle, where we lead a life group. I work as a fixed-income fund manager in the City of London.
Paul, Gloria, Abigail & Eleanor
What do your roles involve?
As Trustees, we focus on the more administrative aspects of church life. We have formal meetings once a quarter where the Finance Team produce a financial update to review income (i.e. giving), compare expenses against budgets, and assess the ongoing financial position of the church. We then discuss key business items, such as hiring plans or potential significant expenditures.
We also communicate regularly over email to make ad hoc spending or staffing decisions. I also sit on the Remuneration Committee, which reviews salaries for current employees and sets the initial pay for new joiners.
What does the finance team do?
We have a theological (as well as legal and regulatory) obligation to steward the church finances well. It includes:
Categorising every item of income and expenditure so we can track against budgets and prepare detailed accounts.
Maintaining appropriate reserves and managing cash flow.
Helping to set budgets once a year so the ministry teams know how much they can spend.
Zach Kellett on the staff team does most of the day-to-day work with oversight from Pete Mills. Kat Miller will shortly take up a finance role on the staff team. Cezar Rugasira, Naomi Wang and I help in a voluntary capacity.
Our finance team, minus Cezar (Pete, Paul, Naomi, Zach & Luke)
Why did you step up to the role? How do you see your role connecting with your faith?
It’s somewhat niche – Luke said I was the first person ever to mention ‘Trusteeship’ as one of my gifts in the membership interview!
One of the first problems the early church encountered was administrative - "[some] widows were being neglected in the daily distribution" (Acts 6:1). The apostles had to choose “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (v3), including Stephen, the first martyr. Paul lists ‘administrating’ as a spiritual gift in 1 Corinthians 12:28.
Although it’s mostly behind the scenes, doing this work well has a big impact on helping all our ministries to flourish and thrive, as well as taking some of the burden off the elders.
What's a highlight from the last year?
We’re so blessed by God’s faithfulness and all of your generosity! We have a policy to give 10% of our income away to kingdom causes. It’s a huge joy to support churches that are faithfully witnessing but struggling financially, and they are so grateful for our support.
How can we pray for/support the team?
Pray for wisdom, discernment and faith! It would also be great to have one or two more people with relevant experience/gifts join the team.
As a church, let's get behind them in prayer! If you'd like to join the team, contact Paul via finance@grace.london. For more info about giving to support the church, head to grace.london/give.
Grace London Wants You
I’ll refrain from fully impersonating Lord Kitchener (that moustache is beyond my capabilities), but you have to admit it was an effective recruitment campaign during World War I.
There are currently many people, both employees and volunteers, who work together to facilitate everything happening at Grace London. We’re deeply grateful for each of these people and I’m always so encouraged whenever I see the church family come together to serve one another.
You may or may not know, but alongside our ongoing need for volunteers on Sunday service teams, we have some opportunities to join the Grace London staff team in pastoral and operational roles. If you’d consider working for Grace, or perhaps know someone who would, take a look at the job descriptions below and get in touch if you feel drawn towards any of them.
Children’s Ministry Lead
We are seeking a leader to oversee and nurture our growing children’s ministry. In this role, you will steward and communicate our vision for the ministry, manage and support the volunteer team, and design engaging curriculum and Sunday teaching for our children’s groups. You will also play a vital role in integrating the children’s ministry into the broader life of the church – collaborating with the staff team, communicating with families, and fostering greater awareness and involvement within the church community.
See full job description.
Pastoral Residency
The Pastoral Residency is designed to offer a pathway into church ministry for those who have limited or no prior experience. There are general contours to the role described in the job description below. But there is also the opportunity to design a more person-specific role in accordance with age, experience, gifting, and so on. We would expect a Pastoral Resident to work as a generalist and get involved in various aspects of ministry and church life. The aim is to give broad exposure to church ministry and pastoral leadership, enabling growth in different areas.
See full job description.
Operations Coordinator
This role is one of a team of three Operations Coordinators. Each takes an operational lead for each of our three congregations at Grace London - Waterloo AM (10am), Holborn (11:30am) and Waterloo PM (5pm). The Operations Coordinator takes responsibility for the logistics of a Sunday service, including leading volunteers and organising the various events related to the particular congregation. The role also includes the ongoing administration related to the congregation, such as managing the Welcome process and working with the whole Operations team to deliver church-wide events, such as Upper Room or Church Weekend Away.
See full job description.
Sunday Volunteers
We are always looking for those willing and able to serve on one of our Sunday service teams. Our Sunday volunteers are essential in facilitating our gatherings and there are multiple ways that you get involved, including Hospitality, Kids, Tech, Venue, and Worship. Please fill out the form below (less than 2 mins!) if you’re interested in joining any of these teams.
Join a serving team form.
Grace London's loudest life group?
If one word could summarise Zach, Rebs & Julie's life group, it would be LOUD. These three extroverts lead a young group in north London which, like them, exudes energy and enthusiasm. On any given Wednesday, expect plenty of laughter, Gen Z humour, and raving about the food. Hear more from them below.
Rebs, Zach & Julie
Tell us about yourself.
Zach: I was born in London but moved around England as a kid with my family. I've been at Grace London since September 2019, where I also work as an Operations & Finance Coordinator.
Rebs: I was born in Korea but grew up in Sydney, Australia, with my parents, two siblings (I ofc am the favourite last-child :)), and my cousin. I have been at Grace since I moved to London in 2022, and I love pretty much anything and everything - food, people, walking, you name it.
Julie: I'm also a third-culture kid, born in China, raised in Canada, and have lived in London for the last 8 years. I joined Grace in 2019, and it’s been my core London family ever since. I work as a freelancer in fashion, and my side-quests are food making, food offering and food exploring! I also occasionally host pop-up cafés.
Please tell us a bit about your group.
We currently meet at Julie's flat, and our group has people from all over the globe, with a majority from SE Asia. We meet every Wednesday for a delicious meal cooked by one of our members before studying the Bible together and praying about the passage and for each other's prayer requests.
What's one highlight from the last year?
We had a weekend away together last summer, and it was so encouraging to see the group get on so well. Friendships were deepened, and people who had just joined the group felt like part of the furniture by the end of the trip.
Life group weekend away
What’s your hope for the life group in the year ahead?
Zach: My hope is that we grow in maturity in Jesus. We'd love to see our group get to the stage where everyone is contributing in their unique way, becoming a community like in Acts 2.
Rebs: Similar to Zach, I hope that we all help one another grow in Christ, digging deep into the word, genuinely praying for one another, and reminding each other of the things that are unseen.
Julie: That we become prayer warriors who break barriers. And that the world we pray for knows us not primarily for our knowledge or wisdom but for our love.
How can we pray for you and the group?
Our group has been together for some time now, and we want to continue thanking God for our challenges & growth.
Inward: Please pray for greater love for Jesus and each other. That we love like him and devote ourselves to each other like family in this big and busy city. We want to keep growing within.
Outward: For us to be sent on mission to the nations and into the city. Please pray that our hearts may be present and attuned to the great commission and our personal callings.
Find out more about our life groups here.
Dreaming of Milan
Two Sundays ago, we announced that Jeremy & Jen Moses are hoping to move to Milan later in 2025 to learn language, and, God-willing, plant a church. Jeremy is one of our pastors and has been on staff since 2017. We've caught up with them to find out more.
Tell us more about your journey towards planting?
Our planting journey began before we even met each other. When we came to faith, each of us had a strong sense of God’s call to take the hope we’d found in Christ to people who had never heard it before. The dream of doing this together was part of our decision to get married! We joined Grace excited to be a part of a church that faithfully and engagingly preached the Gospel to people of many backgrounds in London, but we felt strongly that one day we would go out to take the Gospel to new places. The time never seemed right for us to plant until now.
Nine years after joining Grace, having grown in pastoral experience, received theological training, developed a greater heart for the Church - along with an increasing awareness of our flaws - we felt a stirring that the time was right to plant. Wise counsel and prophetic words have seemed to confirm this so we are ready to step out in faith.
What led you to decide to seek to plant in Milan?
Italy was the home of Jeremy’s maternal grandfather and he has always felt a natural affinity for it as a country. As we sought the Lord about where he wanted to send us, we heard a prophetic word from a church leader at an Advance conference that spoke of someone being sent 'from a successful context to what could be considered a barren land that would become a gateway to the nations'. The words immediately resonated deeply with us both, as we have always thought of Italy as a 'barren land' spiritually.
Italy, like much of mainland Europe, has an incredibly sparse number of Gospel-preaching churches and is in much need of hope in Christ. Our thoughts soon turned to Milan as a strategic place to plant a church, given its cultural and economic importance in Italy (and geographical placement at the heart of mainland Europe). As we prayed about this tiny seed of an idea, prophetic words from a variety of contexts, thoughtful insights from trusted Christian friends, and our growing sense of conviction have led us to set our eyes on Milan as the place where we think God is leading us to.
What practical things do you need to put in place?
Our most immediate practical priority is to make a successful visa application. We are preparing our application now and we hope to be approved in the coming months, to be able to move in July this year, God-willing!
We are also asking God for a team of people to go with us. We’re looking for folk who are willing to uproot their lives and come with us, to plant the gospel, and see God grow a Christ-exalting, spirit-filled community in the centre of Milan. We hope to build a team over the next 18 months, both here (before we go) and in Milan.
Language is also vital. The whole family has started learning Italian and we need to intensify our language-learning in the coming months.
How can Grace support you?
We would really appreciate your prayers. We are saying with Moses “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). We are going with a strong sense of dependence on God, asking that the Lord would glorify his name, and that he would accomplish his purposes through us, in our weakness.
Please do pray for us (and our family) as we go through this significant transition. Please pray for Grace London, as we're asking the Lord to grow the team here, as Jeremy steps off staff. Please do consider joining our WhatsApp prayer group (link below) where we'll be sharing regular updates.
And of course, if you'd like to explore joining the team, you can get in touch, and If you know anyone with a heart for Europe, do share what we're doing with them. As ever, we're praying for labourers for the harvest!
Jeremy & Jen will be hosting a monthly online prayer meeting for Milan. The first one will be on Monday 10th February at 8-9pm. All are welcome to join.
Bored and addicted to our phones
Less than 20 years after the birth of the iPhone, screens have become the dominant presence in modern life. We work, plan, socialise, read, and entertain ourselves through them. Barely a minute goes by without a pick-up.
And yet, we’re increasingly aware that too much screen time is harmful. Heightened anxiety from constant doomscrolling. Brain-rot from too much YouTube. Insecurity from perpetual comparison. We’re bored and addicted to our phones.
We feel like something is wrong. But buying a dumbphone or reducing screen time isn’t enough. What if the problem is deeper? Do we need to understand the roots of our habits?
Behind our restless scrolling is a longing for deep connection. Underneath our influencer-obsession is a search for wisdom. We don’t have a way of dealing with pain, so we distract ourselves with hours of mindless entertainment. What if there’s a better way?
How do we reimagine what it means to be human in the digital age? Join us as Jeremy explores the roots of our screen habits and considers how the ancient truths of the Christian faith give us a better vision of human flourishing.
Date: Tuesday 4th February
Time: 7.30pm
Price: Free
Location: London Nautical School, SE1 9NA
We would love to see you there and please consider who you could invite. Expect a thought-provoking talk, lots of nibbles, and plenty of time for Q&A. But even if you can't make it, please join us in prayer. Our Salt Live events allow those who would never usually step foot in a church to hear the gospel. Pray that lives will be changed!
Notices and Events
Giving
If you call Grace London your home, please consider giving financially to support the work of the church. You can find all the details you'll need on our website here. Please email the finance team if you have any questions (accounts@grace.london).
Pre-service Prayer
Prayer is vital to the church. We pray before each service and ask God to be powerfully at work among the church congregation. Anyone is welcome to join! 9.15am & 4.15pm @ LNS Staff Room | 10.45am @ Holborn crèche area.
Winter clothes collection
If you have any spare winter clothes (coats, jumpers, gloves, etc), please consider donating them. We're taking a collection to give to the homeless people we know through Webber Street. Drop them off in the container at the back of our Waterloo services or contact Amy.