Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church denomination and the Presbytery of the Southeast.  We are also a supporting member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. The EPC motto is "In essentials, unity.  In non-essentials, liberty.  In all things, charity."  The essential beliefs of the EPC are as follows:

1. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory and praise forever!
   
2. Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
   
3. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
   
4. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God's free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
   
5. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord.
   
6. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth-personally, visibly, and bodily-to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:20)
   
7. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us." He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10)

These Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith.

 

Our Pastor: Kenneth R. Jones has been our pastor since 2003.  Prior to coming to Grace, Ken pastored an EPC church in Northern Virginia where he also worked as a Lieutenant in the Fairfax County Sherrif's Department.  In that capacity, Ken ministered to a number of families who were impacted by the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Pastor Ken has written a book about the theological implications of that tragedy. 
Ken has  earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in Counseling at Birmingham Theological Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama. 
Ken and his wife, Pam, have three children - one in college, one in high school and one in elementary school. 

Elders and Deacons:

Spiritual oversight of our congregation is provided by a group of six elders.  Our current elders are:

Mike Beck - co-owner Highlands Tree Service
Bob Bennington - retired from the airline industry
David Holt - real estate appraiser
Don Dewhurst - practicing physician
Bill Dyer - retired school principal
John Sill - wildlife artist and illustrator

Our current Deacons are:

Joey Curtis - Drake Enterprises
Nathan Dewhurst - U. S. Forest Service
Don Ives -  retired Air Force
Pam Ives - retired school system employee