How We Started
Grace Church of Sahuarita began with the prayers and vision of our parent
church, the Evangelical Free Church of Green Valley (EFCGV). In 2004 this
vision resulted in a task force being formed by the EFCGV Church Council
and Elder Board to study church planting. The vision was to reach young
families and to employ a pastor for the church plant as part of the EFCGV staff.
The Grace Church congregation began as a small group meeting weekly at EFCGV to pray. A search committee sought a pastor and that process resulted in Fred Eaton being called as the church planter pastor. Fred had served as an Associate Pastor in southern California for five years previously, but he and his family were committed to starting a new church. Fred, Susan, Owen and Henry moved to Sahuarita on March 21, 2005. The church began with small groups in the summer of 2005. On January 15, 2006, Grace Church officially launched to the public.
Today
Today Grace Church is a vibrant, diverse, excited group of new and older believers in Jesus Christ with a powerful vision to make a lasting impact for Him in the Sahuarita community. We now have two worship services on Sunday morning, including Studio Grace, a video venue. Many children and youth are filling the theater, so that we are strained to fit all of the classes. We have growing ministries for small groups, families, children, students, men, women, recovery needs and more. In 2008 and 2010, we purchased approximately nine acres of land and two homes at 2301 E. Sahuarita Road that we now use for offices and many events. Our church has a dynamic plan to help people believe in Jesus Christ and become more like Him. Our dream is to see many families and lives transformed in Sahuarita and to leave a lasting legacy for God in this area.
Our Staff
Fred Eaton - Lead Pastor
Before coming to Sahuarita, Pastor Fred pastored in San Juan Capistrano, CA for five years. During that time, God led Fred and Susan to realize that they were gifted and desirous to help start a new church. They left many family and friends for a new adventure in Sahuarita. Fred is a graduate of M.I.T. and Dallas Theological Seminary. His wife of twelve years is Susan and they have three children: Owen, Henry and Avery. Fred's favorite things to do, outside of pastoring, are playing guitar and golfing.
Linc Brayer - Family & Care Pastor
Born in Marshfield, WI, a small town in central Wisconsin. Got my BA in Journalism-Advertising from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994. Attended Calvary Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, pursuing M.Div. and then accepted first pastorate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Married to my beautiful bride, Abby, in 2000, and together we ministered in Iowa for two years. Moved to Fort Collins, CO and were blessed with our first daughter, Charis there. She is now 5 years old. We moved to the Green Valley/Sahuarita area in the fall of 2005 and were blessed to be part of the Grace Church plant beginning with Pastor Fred and Susan's first home Bible study. In December of 2006, we celebrated the birth of our second daughter, Sophie, who is now 2 years old. Pastor Linc began working with the Oasis Youth Group in the Fall of 2006 and is now also involved in Family and Pastoral Care ministries.
Pastor Linc loves Italian food, ice cream, hiking and backpacking, mountain biking, all kinds of music, good movies, tennis, ping pong, foosball, and interpretive dance (just kidding about that last one)...
Marty Blaine - Worship Leader
Marty has stepped in as our part-time Worship Leader. She is from the land of 10,000 lakes, otherwise known, as Min-nah-so-tah. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Education/Coaching. After teaching for several years, the Lord called her into full-time ministry where she spent almost 20 years in Oaxaca, Mexico serving as a missionary/worship leader. After returning to the States, she moved to Tucson, AZ to attend the University of Arizona Nursing Program. She graduated in August of 2007, and is employed as an RN at St. Mary's Hospital. Obviously, Marty's passion is music. She plays the violin, guitar, keyboards... and the radio as a means to keep up-to-date on contemporary Christian songs. Her favorite verse is John 4:23, which says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." When Marty doesn't have an instrument in her hand, she can be seen (we're told) on the tennis court or baseball field. When music and sports aren't enough, she enjoys her two teenage boys, Andrew 18, and Cory 15.
Austa Rogers, Administrative Assistant
I am new to Sahuarita, moving here to enjoy family and the sunshine after 8 years in Washington. I graduated in 2009 with a BS in Leadership & Ministry from Multnomah University, Portland OR, and have served in the church in all areas of ministry. I lived all over the country; even after being an Army brat and an Air Force wife we continued to move but plan on Sahuarita being our permanent home and look forward to all that the Lord has for us here. Married to Rick for 32 years, we have 3 wonderful daughters (Kristyn Stewart, Rebecca Hoy & Erin Gomes) and sons in law.
Our Elder Council
The elders currently shepherding our church for 2010 are: Fred Eaton (Lead Pastor), Robert Eshagpoor, Bruce Froderman, Terry McClain, John Murray (Chairman), and Michael Vance.
