Grace Avenue United Methodist Church is a third generation congregation. In 1986, Highland Park United Methodist Church of Dallas planted a new church in Plano called St. Andrew United Methodist Church. In 1999, St. Andrew planted a new church in Frisco called Grace Avenue United Methodist Church. In both cases, significant amounts of human, financial and spiritual resources were donated in order to give the new churches every opportunity to succeed in their respective growing communities.
Important Dates and Milestones
November 1998
United Methodist Church commits to starting a new congregation in West Frisco
December 1998
St. Andrew United Methodist Church of Plano agrees to sponsor the new church
April 1999
Billy Echols-Richter is appointed as pastor of the church
May 1999
Fifteen person design team meets, sets the vision, and chooses the name Grace Avenue
June 1999
Sunday Evening Worship is conducted for the summer
August 1999
First Sunday Morning Worship Service is held at Christie Elementary School
April 2000
Grace Avenue constituted as an official United Methodist Church
June 2000
First Children’s Vacation Bible School is held with over 60 children and adults in attendance
July 2000
First Youth Mission trip is taken to help hurricane victims in Falfurrias, Texas
January 2001
First Capital Campaign is kicked off using the theme “God Will Make a Way”
April 2001
First Capital Campaign is completed with over $650,000 pledged over 3 years
February 2002
Second Sunday Morning Worship Service is added at 9:15 am
May 2002
Grace Avenue purchases 19.54 acre tract of land on Main Street (FM 720) in West Frisco for $1.7 million
New Church Site
October 2002
Grace Avenue completes site Master Plan with HH Architects
June 2003
Grace Avenue agrees to a three-way land deal, which leaves the church with 16 acres of land adjacent to the future Frisco Family YMCA on Main Street
August 2003
Construction begins on site infrastructure and an 8500 square-foot facility that will seat 450 people for worship
March 2004
Grace Avenue moves onto the site in a 7200 square-foot modular building that will house office and education space
June 2004
Grace Avenue begins worship in the Phase I facility
Phase I New Building
December 2004
Membership increased 42% throughout the previous year to 586
April 2005
Third weekly Worship Service is added on Saturday evening at 5:30 pm
December 2005
Membership increased 34% throughout the previous year to 789
June 2006
Capital Campaign “Celebrate What God Will Do” is completed with over $1.5 million pledged over 3 years to build an education and office facility
January 2007
Construction begins on the new 23,000 square-foot Phase II education and office facility with expected completion in September 2007
October 2007
Grace Avenue moves into the Phase II facility
Phase II New Building
September 2008
Fourth weekly Worship Service is added on Sunday morning at 11:00 am
August 2009
Grace Avenue celebrates its 10th Anniversary with over 1500 members, average weekly attendance of over 750, and an annual operating budget of $1,350,000
June 2011
Capital Campaign “Because of God’s Love” kicks off to build a 22,000 square-foot facility that will feature a new traditional worship facility and renovation of our current worship space
February 2012
Construction begins on Phase III of the Grace Avenue campus
Phase III New Building
January 2013
Grace Avenue begins three traditional worship services in the Sanctuary and three contemporary worship services in the Worship Center