Worship Weblog

RNS on Churches using shuttered stores

Posted by cicw

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

From Religion News Service:

At Prime Outlets in Huntley, Ill., a former Mikasa fine china store will soon become the home of Christian Life Church.

“This provided an opportunity, from moving from being kind of a homeless church, if you will, to find a home,” said Pastor Daryl Merrill, whose church had been renting space weekly at a local hotel as it started an off-shoot of the main congregation based in Mount Prospect, Ill.

The tough economy may have shuttered some retail stores, but the vacant spaces aren’t necessarily sitting empty: some are becoming new locations for worship. Churches have considered former big-box sites, closed auto dealerships and mall locations, all of which have room for their congregants to worship and places for them to park.

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Tags: buildings, congregations, economy, News