From Foundation to Skyway: How We Got Here and What's Next

In 2017, Matt and April Dean, with their family, moved from China back to Auburn, Alabama with a desire to plant a gospel-centered church that would reach the city of Auburn, campus of Auburn University, and the nations of many who might call this place a temporary home.

To that end, Grace Auburn Church was born in March of 2018. In the early days, we met at Ross House Coffee, amidst what is lovingly described as "sweet chaos". The children outnumbered the adults, but we sang together, studied the Word together, and broke bread together in those small rooms and narrow hallways.

That summer, the Lord faithfully opened the doors of Trinity Lutheran Church near downtown Auburn for our family to worship together. For the next year of Sundays, we worshipped there for 5pm services, gathering together in homes during the week for community, and truly understanding what "all hands on deck" means. What a precious time that was.

In the Summer of 2019, the 50 of us landed at 720 E. Glenn Ave, in a building that was once a women's gym. Our church family anointed the space with prayer before embarking on a 5-month renovation. Once, again, the Lord has proved faithful in this space by growing our numbers to the point where most Sundays require folding chairs in the lobby to serve as overflow seating. We've baptized new believers here, dedicated new babies here, and worshipped our God with tremendous joy here. And by His will, after about 6 years on E. Glenn, we'll be moving once again.

Our Future Home on 3325 Skyway Drive was purchased in January of 2024, and after much planning and many revisions to drawings, we are thrilled to have started on construction one year later. In the wake of asking and waiting with our "yes" on the table, our members, staff, and elders are hopeful to move to Skyway in the Fall of 2025.

Ross House, Trinity, E. Glenn....temporary homes that have served us well, and remind us that this world itself is just a temporary home. That this body of believers isn't confined to a building.

We're excited for you to come alongside us as we witness our King work in mighty ways through this process of renovation. Thanks be to God for going before us every step of the way to Our Future Home.