Projection system displays and modern music are part of the attraction at the Journey Church.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Tim Pallesen
The older members of Grace Community Church wanted to see more children when they gave their church away two years ago.
The church at 715 S. Federal Highway in Boynton Beach was given to the Journey Church, a growing congregation of young families who had been worshiping on Sundays at a west Boynton Beach high school.
After two years and a $1.7 million makeover to raise the roof and become more kid-friendly, the grand opening of Journey Church East was celebrated by nearly 700 people on Aug. 24.
“Isn’t this fantastic? You must see the children’s church,” Elwood Holley, a former Grace Community member, greeted old members as they arrived for the first Sunday.
Holley had been Grace Community’s spokesman in 2012 to explain the giveaway. “We want to see a happy, growing church instead of one that is shrinking,” he said at the time.
The former Grace Community members experienced that happiness Aug. 24 as new faces — many of them young families with excited children — poured through the doors.
“It’s a blessing to see what God plans for this community,” Gladys Whigham said. “All things are possible with God.”
“A lot of us are coming back. I’ve seen some of our ushers, ladies from the nursery and people from our band,” said Staci Holloway, another Grace Community member who left before 78 remaining members voted to give away the church.
“We were going down the hole. The Journey Church came in and saved us,” Holloway said. “This is amazing.”
The remodeled Journey Church East is unique whichever way you turn when you walk through the door.
To the right is a beautiful Starbucks-style coffee shop with a fireplace where families can enjoy breakfast before church.
To the left is the elaborate Journey Kids arcade built by volunteers to look like a miniature village. Herbie the life-sized Volkswagen sits in one doorway. Elwood’s Barber Shop (named in honor of Elwood Holley, who was at the church every day during construction) has a real revolving barber pole.
“We are all so excited to be back in our home church and to see it so filled with new members,” Holley said. “We definitely look forward to seeing all the kids and excitement.”
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