Our History
Founding Pastors
Luke and Edna Weaver
Reverend Luke Weaver, Sr. was born in 1926 to a young Pennsylvania Dutch couple in Weaverland, PA. As a young boy brought up in the “Black Bumper” Mennonite tradition, he had never experienced an altar call, but was intensely interested in God. For his twelfth birthday, he was given a German-English Bible, which he began reading. He became quite competent at locking the steering wheel between his knees and reading as his tractor executed its methodical trips across the fields. He soon acquired a little New Testament which made his tractor exploits somewhat easier.
This 12-year-old boy read his Bible through from cover to cover for the first of what was to be many times. Soon several other books were added to his tractor-riding maneuvers – among which were: “A Hand book on Prayer” by E. M. Bonds and “How To Live The Victorious Life” by an unknown author. Soon young Luke Weaver added to his tractor-riding accomplishments “preaching” to the cornstalks as he imagined them as parishioners. As this teenage continued, he came to struggle with whether it was “right” to carry on this preaching fantasy. He reasoned that it may be presumptuous, and thus displeasing to God. However, he continued and also added to is reading accomplishments “Touching Instances and Remarkable Answers to Prayer” as well as Carnage’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.
On July 14, 1945, at the age of 19, Luke Weaver and Edna Maiden name were married. In June 1955, while on the tractor cultivating corn, a distinct word came to Luke’s spirit – “Leave the farm and go into missions work.” Very soon they began to travel every two weeks with their five (5) children to a Mennonite Mission on Fox Street in the Bronx, New York City to assist with that missionary effort. In March 1956, the farm equipment and supplies were sold.
On September 30, 1962, a group of families (approximately 40 people), most of whom had been attending the Friday evening home fellowships, met in the basement of Charles Felter’s home to worship and begin a continuing Body of Christ – Grace Chapel. During this time, the Spirit-filled worship service began to evolve. The fellowship grew to about 75 persons and it was obvious that larger facilities were necessary. In February 1964, the fellowship moved to a storefront at 6530 Derry Street in Harrisburg. The 13 years on Derry Street might best be characterized by: a steady flow of well known visiting speakers which blessed, strengthened, and challenged our hearts for a great outpour of the Holy Spirit which brought to the Harrisburg area, for the first time, a vital Charismatic Outreach, Pastor Luke’s vibrant “Glory” and a continual reminder to “Press into God”; as well as a vision for missions.
Having to squeeze approximately 190 parishioners in at the Derry Street facility until it hurt, our little church was too small. God spoke to Pastor Luke Weaver to build among the Mulberry Trees. At the same time Charles & Sarah Forney felt led of God to give some of their land to the church. This land was located in the country in Londonderry Township which just so happened to included many Mulberry Trees.
Grace Chapel was completed and dedicated, on July 17, 1977.
In 1980 Grace Chapel Christian Academy established. In 1984 the gymnasium was added to the facility. The academy gave the church the opportunity to mentor many children in the ways of the Lord. The academy operated through 1987.
In 1987, Pastor Luke Weaver passed the Baton to his son, Pastor Melvin Weaver. Pastor Mel and his wife Rosemary continue to foster the missionary mindset at Grace Chapel for 39 years. During their tenure, Grace Chapel continued to support many missionaries both through monthly monetary donations and designated giving around the world. The church also provides support to many local missions with prayer, mentoring, and special offerings.
1987 – 2025 Many Changes have taken place, to state a few, the Senior Saint ministry with monthly meetings and a Food Pantry Ministry where we ministered to over 20 to 40 families each week.
Pastor Luke had been involved in full-time ministry for over 60 years and had imparted a great understanding and desire for the church and its missionary endeavors. He traveled extensively throughout the world, ministering in 26 nations of the world. He and his wife have been a tremendous encouragement to many pastors and missionaries.
Both he and Edna resided in Elizabethtown, PA, and until their 90s, were involved at Grace Chapel, under the pastorship of his eldest son and daughter-in-law, Mel and Rosemary. The Weavers have a daughter in Oregon, a son in Canada, a son in Florida, and a son and daughter in Pennsylvania, all of whom are involved in the ministry.
To know more of the Life of Luke and Edna Weaver, and the early history of Grace Chapel, purchase their book, "He Laid His Hand Upon Me."
Former Pastors
Mel and Rosemary Weaver
Pastor Mel grew up as a Mennonite on a farm in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. His parents Luke & Edna Weaver would take him to prayer meetings and to mission works in New York City and Harrisburg, Pa. In High School he was involved in “Youth For Christ” Club. He was in leadership. This Club had a powerful witness for Christ in the Central Dauphin High School.
In 1966, during his first year at International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas, he was asked to write a paper stating what his life’s goal would be. He wrote his goal was to pastor a great Missions-minded church.”
He met Rosemary that same year and the summer of 1967 they became engaged. She graduated in 1968 from the Trumpeter Class and on June 8th they were married in her home state of Colorado on the front-range! That was 55 years ago! They returned back to San Antonio for two more years. Rosemary played the piano with the Bible College’s traveling ministry team ‘The Waymark Quartet”and Mel studied 2 more years, completing and graduating from his fourth year of Bible College with the Burden-bearer Class in 1970 he was the VicePresident of the class. After graduation they returned back to Harrisburg, PA where they assisted in the ministry at Grace Chapel on Derry Street. They worked with the Youth Ministry and assisted in the Worship and Music Ministry.
In 1972 Mel and Rosemary took their first pastorate at 23 years old, at Faith Temple in Spindale, North Carolina where they pastored and established many life-long friends in the church and community as well as net-working with other pastors and ministries such as Pat Robertson, PTL, CBN, Billy Graham Evangelistic Ministry, Ridgecrest Conference Center etc. The Church in 4 years grew from 12 to 75. All Praise to Jesus!
After four years, at Pastoring Faith Temple in 1976 they returned back to the Harrisburg , PA where he was hired by Abram Hurst construction company to built Grace Chapel. He served Grace Chapel, assisting Mel’s Dad and mother, Senior Pastors Luke and Edna Weaver, as associate pastors for 10 years.
In July of 1977, shortly after moving into their new facility here in Elizabethtown, Grace Chapel had it’s first missions convention. That effort has continued annually. These conventions reflect one central theme...WORLD MISSIONS! The program has grown from 2 missionaries in 1966 to many more over the years. Presently we are helping to support 10 missionaries. Our goal is: “lives being touched and changed for God’s glory through men and women committed to the redemptive purpose of God on this earth. Only eternity will reveal the real growth of that part of God’s outreach as He measures it in terms of His eternal plan and purpose. May we be found faithful!
In 1986, under the direction of the Holy Spirit and the oversight of Pastor Luke and the Elders of Grace Chapel, Mel and Rosemary were placed in as Senior Pastors of Grace Chapel and have served for the last 40 years making our ministry a total of 55 years.
God was faithful as we took the challenge and continued to serve Grace Chapel this time as Senior Pastors and we continued to encourage the Missions Program both locally and around the World. Praise the Lord! We can say that the Grace Chapel family has given more to Missions and are touching more missionaries in different countries of the world than the average church does in America. This has come about all because of the faithful giving of people like you. Thank YOU for helping us, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to fulfill the vision that we had over 50 years ago!
We are so glad that you can be a part of what the Lord is doing on the earth today! The vision, heart and desire of all of us here at Grace Chapel is to see the nations who still have not heard the Gospel come to worship Jesus. The Bible says that people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation will be standing before the throne of God worshipping Him (Rev. 7:9,10). But how can these people worship God if they have never heard the truth about Him? And how can they hear about Him, if no one goes to them (Rom. 10:14,15)? We desire to hear the precious sound in heaven of people from every tribe, praising the Lord in their native language. We pray that you will allow the Lord to speak to your heart as well.
Thank you for all that you are doing to help send this glorious Gospel to people who have never heard before.
Current Pastors
Justin and Laurel Vargas
Pastors Justin and Laurel are indeed two peas in a pod with their love for Jesus and desire to seek the Kingdom of Christ advanced within the lives of believers. They share the joint effort of equipping followers of Jesus to grow unto maturity and go unto divine destiny in all that God purposes them the come into and lay hold of.
Starting the life of every individual, to relationships, families, occupations, and beyond, whether pastoring here at Grace Chapel or ministering abroad as part of their travel ministry, Kingdom Generation Ministries, Justin and Laurel never wavered from their commitment and call to see heaven invade the earth at every level of humanity.
It was the latter end of the summer of 2008 that Justin and Laurel first met at Harrisburg Area Community College. Together they led the Christian Student Fellowship group, holding worship meetings, prayer and praise gatherings, impacting the lives of some students for the Lord. Since that time, Justin was being raised and discipled under the mentorship of his uncle and spiritual father in the faith, Philip Cappuccio (one of Grace Chapel's Apostolic overseers). Justin was also sent to serve under a well-seasoned minister, the late Dr. Eldon R. Wilson. During his tenure in 2011-2012, Justin assisted Dr. Wilson around the world to many Church ministry appointments, while also being further trained and mentored in the ministry. This opportunity enabled Justin to have now been to 48 of 50 U.S. states and over 30 nations within 6 out of 7 continents, as he circumnavigated the globe. Since his early years in the Lord, Justin grew in his calling to preach the Word and minister in the prophetic.
After this initial season of travel, Justin and Laurel had wed in 2013 and together assisted in pastoring for a season, a church formerly known as Kingdom Life Covenant Church in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Some time afterwards, Justin and Laurel visited Grace Chapel in 2017. Confirmed by a prophetic dream, their visit led to their attendance for six years. During the last two years of that time, Justin served as one of the elders while he and Laurel were maintaining their growing family and side businesses. Next, as being led by the Lord, Justin and Laurel served at Threshold Church in Lancaster, PA, for two years, while maintaining their relationship and ministry at Grace Chapel. Then, in the summer of 2014, the Lord spoke to them that He was bringing them back into the forefront of church ministry, laying upon them both a greater sense of responsibility for their generation. Eight months later, and now with five children of their own, in April of 2025, Justin and Laurel were asked if they would take on the pastorate of Grace Chapel, to which they wholeheartedly accepted and have been leading together with the church ever since.