about

Our history

In the mid-1990s, a group of men from western North Carolina began dreaming about establishing a church in Hickory, North Carolina,

Through the early 2000s, under the shepherding of Pastor Ray, God continued to amaze Grace Covenant. The church grew in numbers; but, more importantly, she grew spiritually. People were introduced to Jesus, and lives were changed. Men who were lost, were found by God, and some even became deacons and elders! Pastor Ray served Grace Covenant faithfully until his eventual retirement in 2012. He had shepherded the congregation over its first 17 years in existence.
In 2013, Reverend Mike Gordon accepted the call to be Grace Covenant’s second pastor, a position in which he continues to serve faithfully and joyfully to this day. Rev. Gordon (affectionately known as Pastor Mike) has a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and truly desires to move Grace Covenant forward under God’s direction. Here at Grace Covenant, we want to carry on as we began, by making God's name great in Hickory, in our region, and in the world!

within the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) denomination. To assist with this effort, Reverend George Norris from Boone, North Carolina, began leading a small group of local dedicated families in study and prayer. This core group of families from Hickory rallied around the words found in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians 2:7. They desired to be “…rooted and built up in Him [Jesus], and established in the faith...". About a year after Rev. Norris began the work, God called another man, Reverend Ray Kruntorad, to move to Hickory and to serve as the founding pastor of this mission church. In October 1995, Rev. Kruntorad (affectionately known as Pastor Ray) officially became the organizing pastor of Grace Covenant Church.
On November 5, 1995, the first worship service of the new church was held. In those days, Grace Covenant did not have a building or property of its own, and its members worshiped at Viewmont Elementary School. It was a great season for Grace Covenant. Men and women were drawn to Jesus and lives were changed! God continued to bless the work of this local church, and many were filled with excitement and enthusiasm for what God was doing. In November 1997, Grace Covenant became an official member church of the PCA denomination.

In 1999, the elders of Grace Covenant began dreaming about having a building of their own in which to worship. God provided 25 acres of land located on North Center Street; and, on January 2, 2000, Grace Covenant ushered in the new millennium with a ground-breaking ceremony on the construction of a sanctuary and associated classrooms. On November 19, 2000, Grace Covenant held its first worship service in the new facility, and the congregation continues to worship in that same facility to this day.