Our Story

Turlock Grace is actually a very old church that is actually a very new church. Even though the legal organization of the church was established many decades ago, we have the personality of a newly started church.

For example, almost all of the leadership is new, the focus is new, the methods are new, the strategies are new and nearly all the infrastructure ministries of the church are new.

Yes, that creates challenges but it also presents incredible opportunities. Pastor Kendall Odle tells the story of applying for a position at a local newspaper years ago.

When they asked me if I had any experience as a circulation manager, I had to admit that I didn't. In fact, my entire experience was being a paperboy during high school. But I told them that was exactly what they needed - first, a person who knew what it was like to actually be out there dealing with customers, riding a bike at 5:00 in the morning, and doing what it took to make people happy and increasing the customer base. I also told them that, since the newspaper was in pretty big trouble with the declining circulation numbers, they didn't need someone who would do things the way they've always been done. They needed fresh ideas, out-of-the-box thinking, a vision bigger than an out-of-the-mold, traditional newspaper guy.

Well, the bad news is that Kendall didn't get the job. The good news is, it might be that type of thinking that has made Turlock Grace an epicenter of the gathering of people who are tired of traditional Christianity, tired of church services that cater to already-established believers, a home for people who love Jesus but who have decided that the church wasn't for them.

Turlock Grace doesn't make any pretensions of being a church that "normal" or "traditional" Christians might like. But that's not who we're here for. We are here for those who are "outside the faith," those "far from God," those that may have sworn off church and those who are hurting.

Those who are already established in their faith? You are very welcome to be a part of the team that is forming that will reach the tens of thousands in the Valley who don't attend church for whatever reason.

In 1999, Turlock Grace was nearing collapse as a result of financial heartache. The details were gruesome, there was very little hope, and the end seemed near. But through a series of incredible events, Turlock Grace not only survived, it flourished. From fewer than, at times, 70 people, and property that was about to be lost, the church now has over 600 people with ties to the church and over 200 in regular attendance.

But we're just getting started. In the month of November, 2007, Turlock Grace ran a series called "Connect," which was authored and produced by the Turlock Grace Creative Team. During that month, we welcomed over 150 guests.

We saw our potential. Turlock Grace can add hundreds of people in 2008. We learned two things during "Connect."

  1. We can grow, and grow a lot!
  2. We are not yet fully prepared, as we should be, for that kind of growth. Our infrastructure must be brought up-to-date, and that's exactly what we're doing right now.

On Easter Sunday, 2008, we re-launched Turlock Grace as an all-new Biblically-functioning, culturally-relevant Community of Faith, open to all, focused on growth by reaching those far from God. Everyone is accepted, nothing is demanded and each person is able to progress at their own pace.

Yes, it's different, yes, the music is loud and not always real "churchy," yes, you see way more jeans than suits, no, there's no pulpit, no, there's no offering taken, no, you won't get beat over the head with a Bible and threatened with hell.

So even though there are churches everywhere in Turlock and surrounding communities, and even though this is considered a "churchy" town, some studies show that as few as 20% of the local population are regular church attenders! That leaves us with tens of thousands of people to reach.

So we've decided to do three things and do them well:

  1. Environment

    Create an environment of creativity and worship that appeals to everyone.

  2. Effort

    To always give our absolute best as we focus on those that need Christ.

  3. Relevance

    While we present a very old gospel, we will apply it to our current culture in terms that we all relate to.

The story will continue and we want you to be a part of "Our Story." The possibilities that lie ahead are monumental. We believe this is the ground floor of something great that will reach Turlock and surrounding communities.