Exciting Exchange in Rockford

Small congregations can do BIG things. Just ask the Rockford First Church of the Brethren. As a small congregation with minimal and declining financial resources, Rockford First wondered what to do with the beautiful facility where they worshiped each Sunday. Just maintaining the building would deplete their resources in a matter of a few months. One option, which was tried, was selling the property and moving into smaller facility. Because a potential buyer was unable to produce the funds to make the purchase, Rockford opted for another solution — gifting their facility to Rockford Community Church of the Brethren, the new church plant in the Rockford community led by church planters Samuel and Gretchen Sarpiya. Rockford Community was meeting in the facility for worship and providing help with maintenance and upkeep anyway. Conversations ensued leading to an agreement being reached for this gifting to become reality.

The responsibilities for property upkeep and maintenance will shift to Rockford Community. Rockford First will not have to move, either. They will continue to meet for worship in the building. Another group meets in the building for worship as well. These arrangements have helped to keep an existing property for Church of the Brethren purposes. Kudos to Rockford First and Rockford Community for working together to reach an agreement of significant importance for Church of the Brethren ministry to continue in the Rockford area and the IL/WI District.