Gracepoint

reach than we anticipated it being.”

The Ryans said that if people looked at the number of views they would have as high a 1,000. “I feel like if even 300 or 200 only watch than that’s more what we would have here,” Gary said. “So I feel like they’re getting something too.”

But the Ryans, like many, are ready for the pandemic to end. “We’re ready to have youth activities and people not having to worry about getting sick,” Stephanie said.

Gary added, that the youth is their heart’s desire. He feels that Malvern needs an outreach for the children because “they’re the church of today,” he said. That is one of the reasons why GracePoint went to a worship service after Sunday School. “That’s one reason why we went to a worship service instead of just having one service with them in the Sunday School rooms and us having worship service, they never participated in a regular service,” Gary said. “They need to see the movement of God and see the presence of God.”

The Ryans also want the church to be multicultural; a place where everyone can worship. “I want it to be altogether,” he said. “I don’t want it to be divided. God doesn’t have a divided church.” They want everyone to unite together.

GracePoint Apostolic Church is a Pentecostal church that is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International organization. But Gary said that Pentecost is an experience and “the way we look at things is Pentecost is an experience and Apostolic is a lifestyle.”

Gary is a part of the Malvern Ministers Conference

Poyen has had to deal with during the pandemic. Cleaning and having faculty in and out due to quarantine has been another issue. “Just a lot more expense with everything,” he said. “Your having to clean more often and having to clean differently in the past, so that’s been a challenge.”

Kissire said that the district has invested in foggers to help in the cleaning process. “We can come around and fog the classrooms, then we do the regular cleaning,” he said. “That gives us the option to hit the whole room quicker.”

Other COVID-19 protocols have included social distancing and the installation of bottle fillers instead of water fountains. “With our virtual students out, we can spread out in the classrooms,” Kissire said. “We try to do that and feels like if he’s going to be in Malvern than he needs to be apart of Malvern. “I feel like that’s what we’re here for is we’re servants. We’re here to serve,” he said. “The true church is outside these four walls, it’s the city and that’s what I tell them (congregation,) ‘we’ve got to take the message to the street.’”

Every Sunday, GracePoint Apostolic Church holds Sunday School from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and a Worship service at 11 a.m. They have a Tuesday night prayer at 7 p.m. and a Wednesday night Bible Study at 7 p.m.

GracePoint Apostolic Church holds an array of Bible Studies using “Exploring God’s Word” to anyone who is interested. “They don’t even have to go to this church,” Gary said. “If they’re hungry for the word of God then I’m going to give it to them.”

Once a month they also hold a youth day where kids get to eat and play games.

The Ryans said that the church came pretty much furnished when they moved in. “The pews were all here, the pulpit, piano and organ were all here,” Stephanie said. “We updated some of the outside and we’re painting some on the inside.” In the past year they have painted the outside and put a new roof on the building. In the upcoming year they plan to remodel and bring the church more up to date. They’re planning on putting in new carpet and chairs and working on the parking lot to where it’s more convenient for cars to get in and out.

“It’s a work in progress,” Gary said. “But we’ve got a great group of people and everyday the Lord has supplied.”