SUGAR GROVE CHURCH
Last Saturday Linda and I drove to Columbia City, Indiana and spent the evening and overnight with Bob and Deb Eatherton. They are such gracious hosts! We enjoyed the time together talking “church” and catching up on recent events like the National Pastor’s Conference which Bob attended the previous week. He generously gave me a stack of books from the conference. Sunday morning Linda and I attended the Sugar Grove Church of God located a few miles north of Churubusco, IN. Several weeks ago Dean Trumbull, one of the elders, invited me to come speak as Pastor Tim Grable and his wife, Cheri, were to be on vacation. I readily accepted since one of my goals is to get to know our pastors and people whenever-wherever. My only regret in this call was that I would miss meeting Pastor Tim, but that will happen someday soon I hope. My first impression of the congregation and their ministry is decidedly positive!
Sugar Grove Church "Then"
The church began meeting in a school house during the Civil War and organized as a congregation in 1865. By 1879 they decided to build their own bethel which was completed the next year at a cost of about $2500. That may sound like a bargain but it represents a cost of about $320k in today’s money. The church prospered at first, but by the 1920’s it was struggling and from 1926-1928 was closed. In 1928 the Indiana eldership sent Marion Shroyer to restart the work. Thankfully the closure wasn’t permanent! Although there were ups and downs, like a destructive fire in 1948, the church work prospered over time. The old school house property across the road was purchased in 1954 and used as a fellowship hall for the next forty years before being demolished in 2000 to create more parking spaces. In more recent years the congregation made significant improvements to the facility: an annex in 1970, a new fellowship hall in 1994, and a new worship center/sanctuary in 2004. The congregation now worships about 250 on average in two services each week and in 2006 reported 36 conversions and 16 baptisms.
Sugar Grove Church "Now"
What a story (from 24 charter members in 1865 to today) but there’s much more! Last year the church “adopted” an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya and sent a support team over to help.
This effort was spearheaded by Brent Morris and the church is currently in process of raising funds to send a return team in June this year. They’re also raising funds to supply shoes for the children. If you want to know more about this project or help with funding, call the church office at (260) 693-1718 or email sugargrove@cnonline.net.
The 2007 team to Kenya with the orphanage children
I was also impressed with the church’s outreach to children and youth which is coordinated by Lory Norden, their director of youth ministries. Visit the church web-site (www.sugargrovecog.com) to get a better idea of their overall ministry.
I attribute the ministry success at Sugar Grove to the fact that pastors and people over the years kept the gospel of the cross central (John 12:32). The front of the old and the new sanctuary bear witness as both contain its image. Providentially my sermon text came from 1 Corinthians 1 and focused upon the power of Christ’s cross (v.1:18). I reminded the congregation of the scandal of the cross and stressed that in all we do as Christians, whether as individuals or as the Church, it’s essential that the message of the cross remain central. For eight decades since their reopening in 1928, Sugar Grove Church has held up the cross to its community and the world and God has blessed them. While praising the Lord for everything accomplished, I reminded the congregation that God has more and even better things in store for them. He always has more, but they must keep the good news of the cross foremost. So must we all!
Ed
