“Seventeen years. For seventeen wonderful years, I have had the privilege of knowing the finest people I could ever have hoped to meet. Minnesotans are joyous. Generous. And, dare I say it, nice. They care genuinely for their friends and their family, and they aren’t gossips. And when we worship at Grace Church together, I know in my heart we all share the highest esteem for the truth of God’s word.
“If I weren’t the pastor of this church, then I’m certain I would still attend it. And I’ll be perfectly frank: I can’t say the same for some of the other churches I’ve led over the decades.”
Pastor Troy Dobbs began his career shepherding a decidedly unrulier flock. He took a job as a probation officer straight out of college, for which he supervised a caseload of one hundred twenty-five adult offenders. During that time, Pastor Troy felt that God wanted him to do something different – a revelation no doubt warmly received by a young man who wanted the same.
“I envisioned my future with zero clarity, but with total passion,” said Pastor Troy. “I considered myself hired by the highest Boss there is, and enrolled in seminary school not long after.”
Pastor Troy was recruited, in a sense, by the Midwestern snowbirds he formerly preached to at First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach, Florida. They invited the Sunshine State native to speak at a family conference in Wisconsin. There he made introductions with a few of Grace Church’s lovely congregation, who were presently pastorless. He followed them to L'etoile du Nord in 2007.
“God draws people. The Bible draws people. Love draws people. It’s no coincidence that Grace Church has the same effect on people. They come here for worship, teaching, growth, and community to which they feel true belonging.
“The world is a fractured place right now. People are starving for truth, and for purpose – the very same gifts God gave to the world when He sent His only Son, and which are still in free supply. Our nondenominational church is here to help anyone accept them.”
Up to four thousand two hundred souls can fill Grace Church’s pews on any given Sunday. It’s a moving scene, to say the least – vast, yet intimate, where hearts thrum in unison as Pastor Troy speaks in an accent as sweet as Key lime pie.
“But we’re much more than Sundays here at Grace Church,” said Pastor Troy. “In fact, during the last year alone, more than ninety thousand people who walked through our doors had nothing to do with the church itself. Our original goal of becoming a linchpin of our community has come to full fruition, which is why we now host public gatherings of all shapes and sizes. Craft shows. School events. Hennepin Technical College and various southwest metro high school graduations. Sport meets and competitions, which we have just the gymnasium for. If our community has any need for our beautiful sixty-acre campus and three hundred sixty thousand square-foot building, then it's fully welcome to them.”
The Women's Ministry, where sisters in Christ learn and live out the Gospel. The Men’s Ministry, where sons of Adam become men of the Word. The Co, where fellowship and guidance await believers in their twenties and thirties. Marriage Ministries, which provides Bible-based insights into navigating that most sacred yet oftentimes baffling social contract. The Special Needs Ministry, which provides classes and support for families impacted by disabilities. Grace Beginnings Academy, and Grace Kids, which reveal age-appropriate Biblical truths to the heritage from the Lord. The re:generation program, which offers discipleship to those seeking recovery from any type of struggle. The Grace Cafe, which isn’t an especially religious place but which has got dynamite stuff for coffee lovers.
Grace Church’s light shines on all subsets of creation.
“And our work extends well beyond our campus,” added Pastor Troy. “I normally try to refrain from feeling pride, but I can’t help but take it from Stop the Trafficking. It’s the southwest metro’s largest 5K, which we organize, and which draws eleven to thirteen hundred runners in support of eradicating human trafficking each year.
“We’re always trying to figure out new methods for spreading the Gospel. There is no greater way to honor Jesus Christ than by sharing and respecting His word. That’s the higher calling – mankind’s true purpose, and precisely what you stand to gain by joining us at Grace.”
Grace Church is located at 9301 Eden Prairie Road. Visit this Sunday, or go to Grace.church to learn more.