New Church, Historic Faith
At Grace Gatineau, we embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, and encourage one another on the path of faith.
For us, this looks like doing what Christians have done for two thousand years: we gather on Sundays to pray, sing praises to God, to study his Word, to give back from what God has given us, and to observe his sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. During the week we meet together less formally, for study and to minister to one another and this city.
We long to see Gatineau reached with the good news of Jesus, and be reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sins. We believe that God's grace can change our lives.
Our faith is rooted in the gospel preached during the Reformation, and summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith.
"Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, [the church] multiplied." --- Acts 9:31
Discover the Heart of Grace Gatineau: Our Story, Vision, and Beliefs
Grace Gatineau opened its doors in January of 2024, under the leadership of pastor Franky Garcia, with the goal of supporting the Christian church in our region by reaching the anglophone or bilingual population. However, Grace also seeks to care for francophones through offering live in-ear translation, through including French songs and scripture readings in the service, and through offering small groups that operate in French. We are happy to reflect the mixed-language nature of our city.
The vision of the church is focused on the Grace of God. As a community, we seek to Learn Grace, that is, know the "riches of his grace" (Eph. 1:7) seen in the forgiveness of sins Jesus has given us through his sacrificial death on the cross. This gospel is not just the 'front door' of the faith that we enter and leave behind, but rather the heart of faith that nourishes us and grows us in godliness. Secondly, we seek to Practice Grace, that is, we want to put into practice the knowledge of the gospel we receive (Phil. 4:9) so that the good news bears fruit both in our lives, and the life of the church as we love one another. Thirdly, we want to Share Grace in the neighbourhoods of Gatineau. Jesus wants his people to be involved in their communities, living out the gospel, responding to others with the same grace with which God has given us, and evangelizing (2 Tim. 4:5) them with the truth that there is a gracious God who has made them, and has offered them reconciliation through Jesus.
The beliefs of Grace Gatineau come from the Reformed and Presbyterian branch of the church, and are summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith. In short, we believe in the Trinity (including the divinity of Jesus), the inspiration and inerrancy of scripture, the sinfulness of humanity, the need to repent and turn to Christ to receive forgiveness of sins, the existence of Heaven and Hell and the New Creation to come), the sovereignty of God, the church as the body of Christ on earth, to whom God has given certain men as officers (elders and deacons), and that salvation is by faith in Christ alone.
Understanding our denomination: The Presbyterian Church in America
Grace Gatineau is a mission church of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), whose purpose is to be "faithful to the Scriptures, true to the reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission."
The PCA was started in 1973 in response to the increasing theological liberalism of the PCUS (Southern USA Presbyterian Church), which had drifted away from teaching that the Bible was God's inerrant and authoritative word. Today, there are roughly 2,000 PCA churches, and the denomination continues to grow despite downward trends regarding church attendance in North America.
In 1982 the first Canadian churches joined the PCA, and now there are close to thirty congregations spread across Canada, with the plan to plant more churches.
Our Staff
Grace Gatineau is overseen by Resurrection Church (PCA) in Ottawa.
Franky, from Mississippi, USA, felt God's call to move to Québec shortly after meeting his wife Alaina, who is from Montreal. After graduation (M.Div, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS), the two moved to the Ottawa area for Franky to work at Resurrection Church (PCA) to prepare for planting a new church in Québec. During that time they discovered the beauty of the Outaouais, and chose to devote themselves to the spiritual care of the region. They began the church plant in their living room in 2023, and officially launched public worship in January of 2024.
We're Hiring!
Join our team and make a difference today!
Join Us This Sunday!
Experience a caring community and an encouraging service. We can't wait to welcome you!
