Illinois Churches Thrive Post-Merger

Two United Methodist churches teamed up this year, and it has benefited both the congregations and the Rockford, Ill., community. The new Alpine Center super-congregation has more than 1,900 members, according to the Rockford Register Star. It maintains its two original church campuses, allowing more space for hosting ministries, such as a fall bazaar to benefit local charities.

As their first joint effort, members of the new church waged a door-to-door campaign in Rockford neighborhoods, a bold move for two mainline Protestant congregations not known for aggressive evangelism. Though a huge membership growth isn’t obvious yet, the event helped build teamwork and unity between unacquainted members of formerly different churches.

“[The members] came back talking and laughing,” Pastor Patty Anderson told the Register Star. “At the very beginning (of the merger), there was a lot of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ I don’t hear a lot of that anymore.” Read more here.