Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church

Link to YouTube Video – Matthew 28:16-20

Pastor Will Shewey

Shades of Grace, a United Methodist Congregation is a certified Safe Sanctuary location. We recently contracted with the city police department for addition of two more weekdays with a uniformed officer on premises.

We are zero tolerant when safety issues arise. Our goal is to make every worshiper, guests, and volunteers experience an atmosphere of security at all times. We are serving a unique sector of the city’s residents. East Sullivan Street is a safer place and the United Methodist Church is a positive permanent presence there.

Yes, we pay for extra security service, as all other similar organizations are required to do. Officers are approved and hired to serve during off duty times at $150.00 per 3 hour blocks of service. We are doing our part of building healthy relationships and faithfully follow God’s call to reach the last, least, lost and lonely of our works.

Shades of Grace wants you to know there is place for you. You are invited to join us for live services at our storefront house of worship at 313 E Sullivan Street in Kingsport Tennessee , and online by means of Facebook or YouTube. We are a missional congregation of the United Methodist church. Due to the nature of ministry involving transient and un-housed citizens, there is no formal membership. We simply welcome all in Jesus’ name who seek to live in peace with one another and trust Christ as Savior and Lord.

We do offer the sacrament of holy baptism and Lord’s Supper to any person seeking to identify with the Christian faith in Wesleyan tradition and be added by the Holy Sprit to the universal church. So far in 2024, we have baptized 15 persons. Several of these have never attended a service or physically been to our building for various reasons. The sacraments can be brought to you if you’re in the TriCities area and are physically incapacitated. Prayers with anointing can be arranged upon request.

Shades of Grace offers memorial services at no cost to any family in grief. A certified counselor is available on site upon request, and a Parents of Addicted Loved One group/peer support meets each Sunday at 4:00 p.m. There is no financial cost to any thing we offer. If you’re unable to attend in person, all services are available online and are listed in our archives. There is also a way for you to contribute financially by a secure giving site listed on our Facebook page. We want you to claim a place with this congregation . All are welcome regardless of status, race, gender or any other ‘label’. God loves you.

We have friends who sleep in the streets, abandoned buildings and automobiles. Yes, these include children and women. Our facilities offer meals five days a week to anyone hungry from the broader community, hot showers, birth certificates, mail service, emergency clothing and groceries.

For many who die alone and unclaimed, we help provide cremation and a final resting place. All services are free and without any strings attached. Many churches, caring citizens and civic organizations make this all happen.

Our Mission Statement is “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for transformation of the world.” Many thanks to all who join hands and hearts in unity as together the work of the “Church” is carried out.

NEWS AT SHADES OF GRACE:
Pastor Regina and/or Dr. Smiddy holds Bible Study, Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.

PAL – A group that is being formed for support parents of children with addiction.

Sunday is my true time of Sabbath, and I am grateful to be scattering gospel seeds along my path.

One of the vital services performed by Shades is the purchase of birth certificates for anyone who needs it. These documents are necessary for housing, jobs and many other reasons. Many of those who come to us are homeless and alienated from any family connection. So they don’t have access to this information, Jimmy secures the document and keeps a duplicate on file.

On July 1, 2014, I was appointed by the United Methodist Bishop to serve the streets of Kingsport, Tennessee.

As we prepare to begin our 10th year of ministry, we offer thanks and praise to God for more miracles than we could ever imagine. We are equally grateful for all our partners and friends who helped the ministry be where we are today. I look forward to sharing many more stories with you and experiencing many more virtual worship services. God be with you all.

Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation is living proof of our living God who loves each one unconditionally and gives us all a reason to keep pushing forward in faith.

Join us online Sunday and revisit this very unique and enlightening worship event. And invite a friend to tune in too! I believe you will be inspired.

Ministry at God’s Living Room is a most life changing and rewarding experience. It is at times the most difficult and heart wrenching experiences. Only the Lord knows the true impact on lives of the least of these. There aren’t enough words to describe this storefront house of worship.

The one thing that has never changed in our ever evolving congregation is the acceptance of ALL people. I have said many times if everyone is not welcome, then no one is welcome. It’s all or nothing. I firmly believe this commitment of caring for the least of these is the reason for our miraculous success and growth in the city. I’m thankful to represent Jesus in the United Methodist Church.

We formerly live-streamed at 4:00 p.m. Sundays in real time. We continue streaming at that same time by edit\redaction and upload of previous Saturday service. Through it all, no aspect of our outreach and ministry ceased. We remain strong and vibrant as we seek to live into the vision of making disciples of Jesus Christ for transformation of our world. We are a safe sanctuary that welcomes and embraces ALL persons in the name of Jesus!

People come to the doors of Shades of Grace at all hours. People come in every size, shape, color, condition, circumstance, and unimaginable lifestyles. They come unhappy, high, hungover, ill, angry, rejected, dissatisfied, lonely, confused, unloved and feeling unworthy.

When they come, we do not ask them to answer questions or try to determine whether or not they are worthy.They simply come because the word ‘Church’ is on our windows. And Jesus says “Come.” We feed them, clothe them, give hot showers, medicines, and pray with those who are open to it. But all is done in Jesus’ Name. They know we will meet them where they are and not necessarily where we want them to be. A song we sing simply says, “People need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, Christ is the open door.”

God loves all people. We are called to love all people. God is love. We’re simply scattering seeds and the Holy Spirit helps them grow. The end result belongs to God. We will continue to welcome, accept and embrace all people in the Name of Jesus Christ. We are the Church. We are the people of God. This is the Kingdom of God. It’s where I desire to be. Grateful for a storefront house of worship called Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation. It is called God’s Living Room.

“Shades” began in October, 2014 as a new Church start of Holston Conference. Due to the nature of ministry with the least of these, there is no membership available. Anyone who claims a place here is accepted and given opportunities to be fully included in ministry. We offer sacrament of holy communion and baptism upon profession of faith. Worship is non traditional in many ways, but solidly grounded in Wesleyan Theology. We offer some of the very best music and worship to be found anywhere.

The ministry is active Monday through Saturdays every week, and closed on Sundays. We feed hundreds of meals to our community friends who are homeless and in need each week and provide hot showers for men and women. We furnish a clothing closet. We provide many funerals for homeless unclaimed in partnership with a local funeral home and Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Please share this ministry. It doesn’t matter where you live, who you love, car you drive (or not), live in a house or cardboard box, attire, piercings or tattoos. God loves ALL. As Oscar often says, “Pray for all who deal with addiction and depression. The world needs a lot more love. So, let it go; let it go.”

Challenging all to exercise and walk. Keeping up my steps. Staying healthy as possible to serve and witness for the Lord…Let’s get it done! Keep moving.

May eternal flames of the CHRIST candle continue to light our path as we “walk each other home”. My prayer is that not one of God’s little ones will ever be made to stumble because of my sincere efforts to fully follow the LORD. Thy will be done, LORD!

You can now listen to Shades of Grace on the Radio – FM 92.1

Everyone continue to pray for all who are feeling hopeless and helpless.

Link to YouTube Video – “U.S.A. For Africa – We Are the World”

Luke 10:27 “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

It’s amazing how so many wandering souls make their way to our doors every day. Lord, May we be faithful to your call.

Serving the Last, Lost, Least and Lonely:
Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

FYI – Coming Events

Would you like to share cards of encouragement with local persons in Recovery? Please write a note inside and drop them off at Shades of Grace at 313 E Sullivan Street anytime this week. Thank you friends!

“Link to YouTube Video – Watch Pastor Michele Beck’s Words of Inspiration

You Can Also Watch the Video of Sunday’s Service on the Shades of Grace UMC Facebook Page
We Have Provided a Donate Button for an Opportunity to Give. You will also be able to add prayer requests