06/03/2024
Here's the text of yesterday's announcement regarding the pending merger between the Northside and Sunrise churches.
After much prayer and careful consideration, and based on many discussions with the members and ministry teams of both congregations, the elders of Sunrise and Northside are excited to pursue a merger. It is apparent to us that God will accomplish much more through us together, rather than separate, when it comes to reaching new people for Jesus, serving our neighborhood and schools, shining a light in our community, and increasing the effectiveness of our ministries.
Although our congregations did not start working together and hosting joint events with a merger in mind, God has made it evident that He has more in store for us than that. We have sensed the Holy Spirit’s leading, and we know that the unity of believers is biblical and critically important to Jesus.
Merging will bring the complementary strengths of two congregations together. In many areas of ministry, where Sunrise might have weaknesses, Northside has strengths, and vice versa. As we discussed during the Q&A forums on May 19, here are just some of the many benefits of becoming one combined body:
1. Twice as many volunteers for ministries and responsibilities in the church.
2. Instant doubling of the number of elders and deacons.
3. Sufficient staffing for adult and children’s Sunday School.
4. New friendships along with our vitally important existing friendships.
5. Many more participants in services and events, creating a more exciting, inspiring environment that’s attractive to new and return visitors.
6. Multiplication of Northside’s effective outreach into our shared neighborhood, with the added involvement of Sunrise’s members, which will not only increase the current outreach, but will also enable additional efforts in the future.
7. A tremendous witness to the world of two churches deciding to join forces.
Big steps of faith are followed by tremendous blessing. Many stories of church mergers bear this out, as they have overwhelmingly produced significant growth. We know this process is difficult and uncomfortable in some ways, but we truly love each one of you, and we want all of you to come along on this adventure with us.
As we read in the book, Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work: “As long-established churches merge, many enter a growth cycle marked by fresh vitality, new spiritual energy, intensified community engagement and joyful momentum—and most important, an increase in newcomers, in decisions to follow Christ, and in baptisms.”
With all of that in mind, we are planning to have our first service together, as one congregation, on Sunday, September 8 at the Northside church building. We recognize that we are doing something that none of us has done before, and while we believe that we will do many things right, we also know that there will be ways in which we will swing and miss. Here’s our request from all of you: Give it a chance. Stick with us, pray for us, give us feedback, be involved, and help us. Get to know new people, serve in new ministries, worship in old and new ways, and invite others to be a part of this experience.
In Christ’s love, The Sunrise and Northside Elders
