Everyone likes to hear about people helping others during this particularly challenging year. Even television news broadcasts are begging people to send good news. This story is about good news in Indianapolis, about a man who is teaching hundreds of others how to make a difference in their community.
Steven Thompson is the pastor of God’s Grace Community Church, located in the Brightwood neighborhood on the near east side of Indianapolis. With great enthusiasm Thompson told how the church is continually seeking ways to help the community. “One of our goals this year is purposely taking our ministry to people outside the walls rather than inside the walls,” he began.
The church will host a variety of events in a large tent June 25-27. “We will be giving away free food and free clothing,” Thompson stated, noting guests are coming to share the gospel “from both the spoken word to the form of rap, singing and liturgical dance, to hip-hop gospel music … to touch the heart of this community with a fashion they can best understand.”
Thompson grew up in Brightwood, and was just 13 years old when he felt the call of God on his life. As a third generation minister, he understands the community and its inner city issues. “Our efforts are to go into the city, to help deter the issues of crime and to present people who feel hopeless a message of hope,” he explained.
Housed in a former library building on North Emerson, the church offers Sunday services, weekly Bible studies and a daycare facility run by Thompson’s wife and co-pastor, JoAnn. The church also partners with School 88 for after school snacks and tutoring. In a former drug house next door the church operates a food pantry through a subsidiary ministry called Operation Hope. And in conjunction with Access to Recovery the church helps pregnant teens, people who are recovering from addictions, and adults transitioning from the criminal justice system. Ministering in two jails, Thompson added, “We have baptized over a dozen men and many have received Christ.”
Thompson started the church in 1993 with seven people, including his brother Matthew, who serves as a deacon. Five years ago, when a census was taken for the purchase contract on its building, there were 430 people. The congregation is made up of all age groups with diverse needs and soon Thompson realized he was in over his head, carrying too much of the load himself. As a result, he sought to learn more about church leadership.
“Actually, I’m a lover of learning … and I always tell the church that even though I’m your teacher, I’m a student first,” he said with a smile.
In 2005 he enrolled in a master’s degree program in ministry offered by Indiana Wesleyan University to become a better leader. Classes met in Indianapolis during evening hours, and Thompson was convinced the program was a good fit. The classes were held nearby, it was inexpensive and the subjects would address what he desired to learn. “And, I think it was best that I had ministry experience before going into Indiana Wesleyan,” Thompson said. “Those classes made more sense to us (practicing ministers) because of our ministry experience.
“We talked about the multigenerational church, how to reach people of different genres and backgrounds, not just different races, but age groups. I thought that was an incredible lesson because it let me see the church from a different perspective … to look at all generations and realize that generations are different based on the time frame they were born in.” As a result, Thompson was able to better structure his congregation and launch classes to meet the varying needs of the different age groups and cultures.
“What I really loved in our master’s program is that we not only had time to pray, but also time to interact. We learned weekly how to build a closer walk with the Lord. In our classes we would have great discussions that were really relevant to our local church challenges. We learned person to person.”
When hearing the university is starting a seminary this year, Thompson stated, “IWU is a very aggressive learning institution, especially when it comes to training and preparing men and women for ministry. If the seminary is anything like its graduate study program, then it will be a true hit!”
Even after graduation, Thompson still meets with classmates and officiated at the marriage of a fellow student. “We really became family. Not just students, but our professors became close friends,” Thompson stressed. “They were genuine with their students.” He keeps in contact with some of his teachers and a couple have spoken at the church.
In addition to being featured on weekly radio broadcasts airing at 7 p.m. Fridays on AM 1310, Thompson is writing his first book on leadership for ministers. “It’s a book on character,” he said.
Since graduating in August of 2007 from Indiana Wesleyan University, Thompson has received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Grace Bible College in Louisville, Ky. “If I ever retire from the pastorate, I want to go into full-time teaching. I would like to become a full-time teacher in a college or university, and write,” he said.
In the meantime, Thompson is committed to ministry in the near east side of Indianapolis through God’s Grace Community Church. “We want to minister God’s grace,” he concluded. “It doesn’t matter how lowly you are – drug addicts, prostitutes — God offers unmerited favor to all.” The church endeavors to do the same and in doing so, it reflects the essence of its name.
