Grace Church, pastored by Joey Candillo, is one of our BR-KC churches in Independence. Joey grew up in Independence and used to sell drugs there as a young adult. He went to prison at age 22 and received Christ while in Booneville Correctional Center. In 2014, God called Joey back to the community where he sold drugs to plant a church. Many of his old acquaintances began coming to church. They met in a rented storefront on the Independence Square and they grew to 300 people. After two years they moved to the local high school for about a year. Then they moved to another rented storefront for four years. But all of those rented places lacked the permanence and adequacy they longed for in a place to worship and call home.
Meanwhile, Calvary Baptist Church of Independence was having the perfect storm of hardships. Several members passing, declining attendance and offerings due to Covid took their toll. They were struggling and praying for the Lord’s direction. Calvary invited the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Resound Revitalization Team in to help them. The Resound Revitalization team leads the church to assess themselves in several key areas including building and grounds, finances, baptisms and attendance, community demographics, and the readiness of the church and pastor to do what is necessary for revitalization. After looking at all data and the recommendation of the revitalization team, Calvary made the decision to look for a partner church who could bring vibrant leadership and healthy methodology to adopt them. That is what brought them to begin a conversation with Grace Church about being that partner.
Pastors Joey and Chuck Wheeler along with some of the staff and key lay leaders from Grace Church met with the members of Calvary Baptist in a few “town hall” meetings to answer all questions and concerns and to communicate honestly what doing church together with Grace Church would look like. Calvary members prayed about and discussed the decision thoroughly and voted to become one church known as Grace Church of Independence. They had their grand reopening as Grace Church of Independence on March 21st. In the time since merging God has really blessed. The attendance of Grace has doubled over that time. Many people who left Calvary through the years have begun coming back. There has also been a number of people who left Grace Church and have now returned. The offerings have increased dramatically. Many improvements to the building were made in an attempt to modernize it. Other upcoming plans include building a multipurpose gymnasium.
Pastor Joey says that the people of Calvary have been amazing to work with. They are great people who just needed some guidance and direction. Both churches have come together in an amazing way and are excited about the future. The best is yet to come!
The Lord has truly brought Joey Candillo full circle. The house across the street from Calvary is where Joey used to sell drugs. The guy who lived there was Joey’s supplier and he has given his life to Christ and brings his family to church every week.
