Reframing Discipleship from Institutional Programming to Intentional Living at Grace Presbyterian Church of Houston

This doctoral project develops a strategic plan for Grace Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas that reframes discipleship from institutional programming to intentional living in order to propel congregants into becoming active followers of Christ and disciple-makers. Grace Presbyterian is a 2,500-member congregation that has journeyed faithfully through a tremendous amount of transition and discernment. Propelled by its rich history and energized by a new vision, Grace is poised to launch into a new season. This paper is divided into three parts. Part One examines the rich history of Grace Presbyterian and how its history has become the catalyst for the future. This section also explores the church’s recent decision to become part of ECO (A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians) and introduces a clear vision for how Grace can engage in discipleship in its present physical location at the epicenter of the Houston Energy Corridor, strategically positioned in the heart of Harris County where some 120,000 new residents are arriving each month. Part Two of this project engages relevant biblical and theological foundations for discipleship. Building on these foundations, this portion also discusses the potential realities for how discipleship becomes an integral part of daily life. Specifically, it focuses on three common areas for intentionally living faith in Christ: the workplace, the worship-place, and the living-place. Part Three presents a strategic three-year plan that is supported by biblical and theological foundations. Engagement in this strategy is an opportunity for Grace to continue to be a conduit of God’s love and hope for the City of Houston, while equipping and empowering the people of Grace to embrace gospel-centered intentionality in their daily lives. For this reason, Part Three gives careful consideration to the strategy’s timeline, participants, development, and assessment. Content Reader: Kurt Fredrickson, Ph