January 2025 will mark ten years since Grace City Church launched their Sunday services in Waterloo. Now, they have outgrown the building they have been meeting in and getting ready to move down the road to a new site in Rosebery.
Just as the lease negotiations were nearing completion, Sydney Anglican Property (SAP) was able to step in and help at a crucial moment to make sure that the lease could go through.
The need and opportunity
Grace City started as a fellowship of Sydney Anglicans Evangelism & New Churches and became formally recognised by the Diocese in 2021.
Rev. Tim Clemens planted Grace City after finishing up his studies at Moore Theological College in 2014. He is married to Emma and they have two young biological children and one foster care baby.
Rev. Clemens says, “Planting Grace City straight out of college meant I was very green and had a very rapid learning curve as I learnt to be a church planter and lead pastor.”
Grace City’s story is a testament to God’s grace from the very beginning. What started as a small gathering of ten people has grown into a vibrant church of over 500 men, women, and children. Through God’s kindness, Grace City has seen more than 100 people make first-time professions of faith in Jesus.
During this time, Sunday attendance has steadily increased, with an average growth rate of 22% annually. In response, new services were launched in 2018 (9am and 11am), in 2020 (6pm), and in 2024, a team was sent out to plant a new campus in Rockdale.
“The site we have been meeting in has been an excellent facility for us. But the auditorium feels full at 150. So, we have been working hard on some more creative solutions over the last few years, and Rosebery is our next step.”
Their journey has been marked by remarkable generosity. For the past decade a generous Christian patron has graciously provided their Waterloo building rent-free, enabling the church to reach many with the gospel. Now, Grace City sees it as their turn to continue this legacy of grace and generosity by finding a new ‘Home for the Harvest’.
“We’re not seeking a new space simply to make ourselves more comfortable. We are creating A Home for the Harvest. In John 4, Jesus tells His disciples, “Look at the fields, they are ripe for harvest.” He wasn’t talking about crops, but about a town full of people who needed to meet Him and experience His love.”
Strategic planning and decision making
Sustainable Development Group (who also partner with SAP on projects which are part of SAP’s Urban Renewal Pilot Program) have been working closely with Grace City as the project management consultants supporting the church through the process of finding a new site, going through the application process, and helping make recommendations about what to do with the site once acquired.
SAP’s Manager Insurance Services, Cindy Wong, also stepped in to help with insurance in the last stages before the lease was signed. Rev. Clemens shares, “In order for us to move ahead, the existing public liability policy wording and policy schedule needed to be worked out between the landlords and us. Cindy was able to help in an instrumental way in getting us over the line! Peter Sakirman, Director of Operations at Grace City and I agree that we couldn’t have done it without her.”
After receiving Cindy’s invaluable expertise and advice in a timely manner, the lease was signed! “At the end of November we officially signed a lease on 5/5-15 Epsom Rd, Rosebery, with an initial term of 5 years and options for 1-year, 1-year and 3-year extensions. The new site is 1, 200 square metres, with two levels, and plenty of space for big gatherings, kids and youth ministries, and a café space too.”
Building ‘A Home for the Harvest’
Reflecting on the process thus far Rev. Clemens says, “It has been enormously helpful having people like Cindy involved who do this as their day job, know the relevant questions to be asked, know what the steps in the process are, and can just help move things along.”
Currently, Grace City is running a fundraising campaign called ‘A Home for the Harvest’ where congregation members are being asked to contribute to renovations at the new site to make it fit for ministry purposes.
You can learn more about ‘A Home for the Harvest’ here and check out what the new site looks like too.
It is a great joy to see churches in our midst growing and seeking new ways to use the gifts and resources that God has provided to continue growing his kingdom. If you have questions regarding leasing, licensing, insurance or any other parish property matters, don’t hesitate to contact your SAP Regional Property Manager.