Some words carry along the baggage that is often associated with them.  The word “merger” paints the picture of a giant company taking over a smaller company and essentially absorbing its identity.  For that reason, it is a word that I hesitate to use when two churches combine.  Perhaps marriage is a more fitting term for a couple of reasons.  No marriage is possible without Christ.  With Christ’s love engaging souls, each puts the other first and the marriage is blessed.  I am grateful to share the story of such a marriage.[slideshow=3]

In 1998, Crown of Life Lutheran Church began as plain words on a white label, “Pueblo West Exploratory.”  Ten miles away, Grace Lutheran Church in Pueblo assisted Crown of Life by sharing members of its established church family with the upstart congregation.  As time went by, Crown of Life grew to become established as a mission congregation while Grace’s growth had them in pursuit of property on which to build a new facility.  Down the road, questions arose in the futures of both congregations.  Crown of Life’s dependence on “Mother WELS” was decreasing, but mom would have to cut the strings eventually.  Grace’s growth was stunted by a small facility on a land-locked parcel, but there wasn’t enough money coming in to fund a building project.  A church needs growth to fund a building and a building to accommodate growth…the all too common “Catch 22” among churches.

Two churches with less than ideal circumstances for their futures were also two families with like-minded goals.  Both shared a common mission to reach the lost with the Gospel.  Both had plans to build a house for God to carry that mission out.  Could this marriage work?  In an outreach-minded church body, opening churches seems preferable to combining them.  And yet, when our preferences don’t match circumstances, God often has blessings in mind that we could never have anticipated.

After a great deal of discussion, the marriage was finalized in August of 2007.  A marriage with Christ in the center has each “spouse” looking out for the other.  Grace patiently entered into a new family with no desire to impose traditions or any wish to take over.  Crown of Life humbly sought out ways for Grace to become part of the family in every way.  Identity crisis?—Not at all, when both already share the same identity in Christ.

Lord willing, Crown of Life will open the doors of its new Christ-centered home this fall.  As God has blessed our two church families by making them one, we pray that He will add to our family more sheep who do not yet know Him.

Pastor Mark Hayes
Crown of Life Lutheran Church