A New GCI Congregation in North Carolina

Joy! Accomplishment! Challenge! Those were some of the feelings experienced on February 14 when the members of King of Kings Community Church (Kings Mountain, NC) heard that they would become a chartered congregation of Grace Communion International.

From the beginning we have clearly seen this as a work of the Holy Spirit. God has provided every need. It all began in the spring of 2003 with a small group of 10 members of Church of the Living Waters GCI (Charlotte, NC). This group started meeting twice a month in Kings Mountain. Members of the group invited friends and family members to attend an outreach event in the fall of 2006. One month later they met, with invited friends and family members, for a Sunday worship service in a garage owned by one of the members.  

For the first year, they met once per month. In November 2007, the group began to meet twice per month. During this time, pastoral and core members received training and guidance from Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM). Randy Bloom, CMM Director, encouraged the Kings Mountain group to develop as a multi-site church affiliated with the Charlotte congregation.

Meetings continued through August 2008, with attendance in the twenties. In September, the group began to meet in a larger rented building. Three months later, they began to meet each Sunday. Attendance has ranged from the twenties to thirties. Last year, seven attendees were baptized, and the church roll has increased to 50 people.

The congregation is focused on spiritual growth, disciple-making, leadership development, and outreach. Luke wrote concerning the Jerusalem church in its beginning, “Everyone was filled with awe” (Acts 2:42). There is a similar sense in this new GCI congregation.

Randy Bloom