On January 7, 2024, Grace Church in Independence, MO, pastored by Joey Candillo, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The day was highlighted with multiple baptisms and included several special guests. Missionaries, pastors, and Fellowship leaders sent in congratulatory videos that were shown during the service. Candillo reminisced on the four “eras” of Grace Church, looking back at the four locations where the church had met. It began on Independence Square and quickly grew to capacity, averaging over 300 in weekly attendance. Two years later, the church moved to a mobile location meeting at Chrisman High School. After only one year, they took over a former Napa Auto Parts store on Noland Road and remodeled it for church purposes. The church again outgrew its capacity and searched for a more permanent location. Four years later, Grace Church merged with Calvary Baptist Church and began meeting at the former Calvary Baptist location. This is where the church currently meets. During the special anniversary service, members of the church who got saved and/or began attending during the various eras shared testimonies.
Candillo is a 2001 graduate of Baptist Bible College. He married his wife, Megan, in 2005 and they have five children. Candillo also planted Milestone Church in downtown Kansas City and pastored there for twelve years, from 2002 to 2014.
