A House on East 22nd Street
Grace Apostolic Church sits at 649 East 22nd Street on the near north side of Indianapolis, a single address that has held the same congregation for more than seven decades. The motto the church repeats often, "Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells," captures an Apostolic Pentecostal identity rooted in the teachings of Acts 2: a Bible-teaching, Spirit-filled body that has served the surrounding neighborhood since November 22, 1953, when about thirty saints first gathered under the leadership of Elder Morris Golder.
From those first meetings in a theater, the work grew in waves. The first sanctuary at 22nd and Broadway was dedicated on the first week of July 1963, then remodeled in 1971 to seat twelve hundred. By the late 1980s the membership had passed a thousand, and on November 7, 1990, a multitude of singing, happy children marched through the rain behind Bishop Morris E. Golder and First Lady Bobbie Golder into a new building capable of seating thirty-two hundred. The sanctuary was designed so every seat is focused on the pulpit area, creating, in the words the congregation still uses, "not a bad seat in the house." In 2003, during the pastorate of Suffragan Bishop Larry J. Hunt, the sanctuary was further remodeled for broadcasting capability, opening the door to the livestream ministry that continues today.
Bishop Golder went home to glory on July 23, 2000. Bishop Hunt was elected in September 2001 and installed on January 13, 2002, bringing a vision of serving the community around the church. He transitioned to his heavenly home on June 27, 2012. On Friday, February 7, 2014, Kevin M. and Deborah D. Harrison consented to become Pastor and First Lady of the historic church. The vision that animates Grace today is captured in three short words: "The Best is Yet to Come!"
The Apostolic Faith at Grace
Grace teaches the inspired, infallible Word of God, given as holy men of old were moved by the Holy Ghost. The church confesses one God, infinite in power, revealed as Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in grace that never leaves those who trust Him. Members hold to the virgin birth of Jesus, both human and divine, his death, burial, and resurrection, and his ascension and the sending of the Holy Ghost poured out at Jerusalem, the same Spirit who fills those who diligently seek him today.
Baptism by water, by immersion, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, is taught as essential for the remission of sins, with the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance understood as the new birth. The church practices divine healing, communion, and foot washing, and teaches a holy, sanctified life, the imminent return of Christ, and the Rapture of the saints. A Frequently Asked Questions page walks visitors through the scriptural foundations of these beliefs, particularly the necessity of water baptism in Jesus' Name (Acts 2:38) and the meaning of speaking in tongues as recorded in the book of Acts. Supporting scriptures from the King James Version are listed page by page.
Worship Style
Sunday worship at Grace reflects its Pentecostal heritage. Praise and worship is expressive, prayer is participatory, and the preaching is Bible-centered. Members follow the King James Version in their reading and study, and the sermons interpret both the Old and New Testaments through an apostolic lens. A benediction drawn from Numbers 6:24-26 is regularly shared over the congregation: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
Sundays at Grace
The Sunday rhythm begins early. Morning Prayer starts at 9:00 a.m., followed by Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. for adults, young adults, youth, and children of every age. The Adult class, the Marriage Builders Class taught by Elder Reginald Golder and Lady Brenda, and age-appropriate classes for children and youth all meet during this hour. Morning Worship, the focal point of the week, begins at 11:00 a.m., with praise and worship, prayer, the sermon, altar work, baby dedications, and the recognition of academic, athletic, military, and community accomplishments. Praise, worship, and sermons are interpreted for deaf and hard-of-hearing members and visitors every Sunday morning.
For those who cannot attend in person, the 11:00 a.m. service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel. Archived video clips are available through Grace Live Stream Videos and More, and a separate Moments of Encouragement page collects short teaching videos on prayer, identity in Christ, and other topics. Giving is offered online through a secure giving portal.
Wednesdays and the Rest of the Week
Bible study meets twice on Wednesdays: at noon and again at 7:00 p.m. These midweek gatherings are open to anyone in the community who wants to dig into the Word, and they are a regular touchpoint for members between Sundays. The young people ministry also hosts Monday Night Fire once a month, breaking the youth into age-appropriate groups for open dialogue on faith and the issues they face, and the second Saturday of each month is set aside for Project Serve, when the young people volunteer at the homes of the elderly and with homeless shelters, food pantries, and other local organizations.
The Pastoral Team
Bishop Kevin M. Harrison, Sr., is the third pastor in the church's history and was installed on Friday, February 7, 2014, with Deborah D. Harrison as his First Lady. He trained under Bishop David L. Ellis of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, was recognized for his gifts, and in 1992 was sent to pastor Life, Power and Praise Apostolic Church in Thomasville, Georgia, where he served for sixteen years. He earned certification in Leadership Development and Youth Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and in Leadership and Executive Business Management from the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame. While pastoring in Michigan, he served as a District Elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, governing the spiritual and leadership direction of eleven churches, and in 2011 he instituted the Southeastern Michigan Apostolic Bible Institute, which trained over one hundred ministers. Within the PAW nationally, Bishop Harrison serves as Assistant to the Chairman of Ecclesiastical Protocol and Adjutant to the Board of Bishops. He and Lady Deborah have been married for over forty-six years and have five children and grandchildren, all baptized in Jesus' Name and filled with the Holy Ghost.
First Lady Deborah D. Harrison was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost at thirteen at Greater Church by Christ Jesus of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in Detroit. A graduate of Tallahassee Community College with a Master's in Education, she has served as President of the Minister's Wives and Widows Auxiliary in the Georgia State Council, as Program Director for Christian Women and Missionary Department, as a Sunday school teacher at all levels, as church administrator, as Christian Education assistant treasurer, and as Parliamentarian of the Georgia State Council. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6.
Elder Fred Pervine, Jr., serves as Executive and Assistant Pastor. He is a fourth-generation Apostolic and a Deputy Chief of Special Operations with the Indianapolis Fire Department, with twenty-nine years on the force. He attended Aenon Bible College, where he was ordained an Elder, and also studied at Indiana Christian University. He has been a member of Grace since childhood and serves as the church's Sunday School teacher.
Five Associate Pastors carry specific ministry portfolios. Elder Al Brown oversees Christian Education; he is a thirty-three-year member of Grace, a graduate of General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) with an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a passionate teacher of young people. Elder Reginald B. Golder, Sr., leads the Marriage Ministry and, with Lady Brenda, teaches the weekly Marriage Builders Class during Sunday School; he was ordained at Grace in 2000 and consecrated as Associate Pastor on January 25, 2015. Elder Anthony G. McDaniel, an Administrator for the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works, heads the Brotherhood Ministry, is a Sunday school teacher, and serves as an outreach minister. Elder Walter W. Rhinehart, Jr., a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who received two Purple Hearts in Vietnam, leads New Members and Congregational Care, is Coordinator of the Outreach Team Ministry at Rockville Correctional Facility, Indiana Women's Prison, and Pendleton Reformatory, and instructs the New Member Class. Evangelist Betty J. Stewart leads the Senior's Ministry and Care; she has been a member at Grace since 1976 and was ordained by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, International in 2007.
Elder Hubert Tyler chairs the Ministerial Alliance, which coordinates the work of Grace's licensed and ordained ministers. The pastoral team is supported by a Board of Deacons led by Senior Deacons Walter Rhinehart and Melvin Stringer.
Ministries for Every Generation
The ministries at the church are designed to give every member a place to serve. The Young People Ministry, led by Associate Pastor La'Kanyere Harrison with Cameron Shepard as President, is built around six pillars that spell CHOSEN: Christ-centered, Holiness, Oneness, Servitude, Equipped and Empowerment, and Next Level. Its core values are Introduce (evangelism), Growth (discipleship), Lifestyle (worship), Relationships (fellowship), Service (ministry), and Vision (calling). Programs include Monday Night Fire, quarterly outings, Project Serve, Cycle Breakers for young men ages twelve to twenty, and Cycle Breakers Young Women of Virtue for young women ages twelve to twenty. Both Cycle Breakers programs are designed to help young people destroy generational curses of faithlessness, drugs, alcohol, abuse, low self-esteem, and promiscuity and to establish generational blessings instead.
The Marriage Ministry teaches the weekly Marriage Builders Class during Sunday School and provides premarital and marital counseling through the church's pastoral team. The Brotherhood Ministry comes alongside men thirteen and older to study their roles as men of God, in the Church, with their wives, with their children, with their money, at work, and in the community. The Sisterhood Auxiliary empowers women of Grace to realize their full potential in service of the church, its families, and the community, manifesting God's spirit through the fruit of labor in love.
The Music Ministry leads worship through choir and instrumentation, the Usher's Ministry welcomes and seats the congregation, and the Hospitality Circle oversees the warm fellowship the church is known for. The Nurses Ministry assists with illness or medical emergencies during services, taking blood pressures and blood sugars, providing speakers with beverages, and calling paramedics when needed. The Deaf Ministry coordinates the Sunday interpretation of praise, worship, and sermons. The Christian Education Department, led by Elder Al Brown, develops Sunday School curriculum for adults, young adults, youth, and children, and oversees the Book Club and Lesson Topics series.
Reaching Beyond the Walls
Grace takes seriously its call to the near north side and beyond. Outreach ministries include a Food Pantry, Street Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry, Home and Hospital Visits, and Jail and Prison Ministry. The late Bishop Morris E. Golder and Bishop Larry J. Hunt each left their mark on this outward mission, and the current pastoral team has continued the tradition of equipping members to live their faith in concrete ways. The Chosen Ministry in particular supports at-risk youth through tutoring, exposure to the arts, and mentoring to help them pursue spiritual and academic goals.
Counseling and Pastoral Care
Through the Pastor and Ministerial Alliance, Grace offers holistic ministry that includes premarital and marital counseling, individual counseling, and family counseling, all conducted with confidentiality. Two professional counselors lead that work: Dr. Renee' Johnson, PHD, and Chaplain Clara Mansfield-Hogue, MA PCC, BCC. Areas of focus include depression, grief and loss, family and marriage therapy, addictions, survivors of abuse, and spiritual and emotional support. All counseling is based on biblical principles, and confidentiality is treated as a sacred trust.
Member Services include New Member Classes during Sunday School, baby dedications performed during Sunday Morning Worship, funeral support with flowers and acts of love during bereavement, and the recognition of academic, athletic, military, and community accomplishments during Sunday Morning Worship. When members experience major life events, including hospitalization, the death of an immediate family member, marriage, a new baby, going away to college, moving, or changing churches, the pastoral team wants to know so they can respond appropriately.
Coming to Grace
The church is located at 649 East 22nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, with the main phone line at (317) 925-8103 and fax at (317) 921-7411. Email goes to contact@gracechurchindy.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a church bus is available for those who need a ride to Sunday worship; riders can call the main number during business hours to arrange a pickup, leaving a clear message with name, address, and phone number, and first-time riders receive a confirmation call before being picked up.
Visitors are greeted warmly by the Hospitality Circle and seated by the Ushers. Sunday dress ranges from Sunday best to business casual; members come as they are prepared to worship. Children are welcome in age-appropriate Sunday School classes beginning at 9:45 a.m., and families are encouraged to grow in the Word together. A live interpretation ministry stands ready, and livestreamed worship on YouTube makes the 11:00 a.m. service available to anyone who cannot attend in person.
Grace maintains a presence on Facebook (Grace Apostolic Church) and Instagram (@gracechurchindy), publishes a weekly print piece called I.M.A.G.E. that is available on Sunday mornings, and shares sermon clips and service highlights online. Visitors who want to learn more before arriving can read the sermons and Bible class videos on the Moments of Encouragement page or browse the Vision and Mission statement and the FAQ on the Connect with Grace page.
For more than seventy years, the work that began in a theater with thirty saints has continued at 649 East 22nd Street: Bible teaching, Spirit-filled worship, practical care for neighbors, and a long history of raising up leaders who serve their community with humility and joy. The motto at the heart of it remains the same. Where the Spirit of the Lord dwells, the best is yet to come.