Power couple

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David and Lisa Grainge formerly lived in Philly two decades ago. However, the couple relocated from Buffalo, N.Y. back to Philly two years ago and headed further south to Lower Moyamensing in December. Proving that time is no barrier, the Grainges already are being recognized for their community work.

“We’ve always loved Philadelphia. We’ve loved the city,” David, an ordained minister, said. “We wanted to come back and find a church that was meeting the needs of the community [and] reaching out to the neighbors in the vicinity of the church, so we came back not knowing exactly where we would go.”

The pair started in Kensington before settling at Eighth and Winton streets about nine months ago. Soon after, David, who earned his bachelor’s in German at Vermont’s Middlebury College before obtaining his master’s in divinity in exegetical studies at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., became the associate pastor at Snyder Avenue Congregational Church, 300 Snyder Ave., which hosts various ethnic congregations, including Cambodian, Spanish as well as Laotian and Nepalese. But before that, the pair began volunteering at Mifflin Square Park, 500 Wolf St.

“I think the park was one of the first things that caught our attention [in the neighborhood],” Lisa, 50, said.

They attended monthly Friends of Mifflin Square Park meetings and participated in cleanups and events, like the annual summer Neighborhood Festival. Last year, they started a Kids’ Club in the park, which teaches good character lessons and the love of Jesus. In a few weeks, they will embark on ESL classes – taught by Lisa, an Indianapolis native who has a degree in paralegal studies from the University of Indianapolis.

“We’re all immigrants – some are newer than others,” David, 52, said. “You really need to know English to live in this complex society – even order a cheesesteak! The whole thing is to help them become citizens. This is their new country. This is their home.”

But the Grainges aren’t just making a difference for neighbors. They’re making a difference within their own home that they share with their six youngest children (Their two oldest children – Abby, 25, and Cassie, 22, call Buffalo, N.Y. home.). Their local brood includes David Jr., 20; Annie, 18, and Rosie, 14, as well as three children (Elsa, 20; Eyob, 14; and Rachel, 9) whom they adopted from Ethiopia.

“We felt compassion for AIDS orphans,” Lisa said, noting they adopted the two younger children after they lost both their mother and father in 2008, and upon learning they had an older sibling the following year, they adopted her as well.

While David’s vocation may be serving as a pastor to those who attend church each week, he wanted his and his wife’s work to include all of those who reside in this neighborhood.

“We’re attempting to follow Jesus and live as he has commanded in the Bible,” David, said. “It’s also what is good for this community. Showing kindness to strangers that live among us is commanded, but it’s also a good thing for people.”

Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.

2014 Difference Makers

/ L. Jay Agnes / Christine M. Beady / Jessica Calter / Mikki Capo /

/ Barbara Capozzi / Giovanna Cavaliere /

/ Christopher DiCapua / Marlo and Jason Dilks / Marie DiStefano / Beth Dougherty /

/ Cornell Drummond / Maureen Fratantoni / Etrulia (Trudy) Gay / Jess Gould /

/ David and Lisa Grainge / Richie Lazer / Tim Lidiak /

/ Shane Martin / Laura McColgan / Akhenaton Mikell / Russell Shoemaker / Lionel Simmons / Tom Wyatt/

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