Construction is underway on the former sanctuary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rockford, Ill., April 2, 2024, to become a gym in the future Good Shepherd YMCA. (RNS photo/Bob Smietana)ROCKFORD, Ill (RNS) — In early April, just a few days after Easter, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was filled with sounds of new life.
And hammers.
Two years ago, the church, which has shrunk from a congregation of 400 to a few dozen worshippers, decided to donate its building to the YMCA of the Rock River Valley in hopes the building could be reborn as a local Y. After months of planning and fundraising — the project will cost about $3 million — the rebirth of Good Shepherd finally got underway in late March 2024.
On Tuesday, April 2, the Rev. Eric Lemonholm, pastor of Good Shepherd, and Brent Pentenburg, CEO of the YMCA of the Rock River Valley, took a tour of the 1950s-era church, which is being transformed into Good Shepherd YMCA.
There were smiles all around as a long-anticipated dream was becoming a reality.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church meets in Dec. 2019 in Rockford, Ill. (Photo courtesy Good Shepherd Lutheran)
“We were once a big congregation in a big building,” said Lemonholm. “Then we became a small congregation in a big building for decades. The congregation knew something had to change.”
In recent years, the people of Good Shepherd, like thousands of congregations nationwide, found themselves dealing with the new math of American religion. In 2000, the median-sized congregation in the United States had 137 people, while today that number stands at about 60, according to data from the Faith Communities Today study. That has left congregations like Good Shepherd with buildings they can’t fill or afford to keep up.
Rather than closing its doors, the congregation at Good Shepherd decided to find a partner to share their space and continue the congregation’s work in the community. When the renovations are complete, the church’s former classrooms will house a fitness center and changing rooms, and the boxy sanctuary will be a brand-new gym.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will continue to meet in a chapel when the rest of the property becomes the Good Shepherd YMCA. (RNS photo/Bob Smietana)
The congregation will …
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And hammers.
Two years ago, the church, which has shrunk from a congregation of 400 to a few dozen worshippers, decided to donate its building to the YMCA of the Rock River Valley in hopes the building could be reborn as a local Y. After months of planning and fundraising — the project will cost about $3 million — the rebirth of Good Shepherd finally got underway in late March 2024.
On Tuesday, April 2, the Rev. Eric Lemonholm, pastor of Good Shepherd, and Brent Pentenburg, CEO of the YMCA of the Rock River Valley, took a tour of the 1950s-era church, which is being transformed into Good Shepherd YMCA.
There were smiles all around as a long-anticipated dream was becoming a reality.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church meets in Dec. 2019 in Rockford, Ill. (Photo courtesy Good Shepherd Lutheran)
“We were once a big congregation in a big building,” said Lemonholm. “Then we became a small congregation in a big building for decades. The congregation knew something had to change.”
In recent years, the people of Good Shepherd, like thousands of congregations nationwide, found themselves dealing with the new math of American religion. In 2000, the median-sized congregation in the United States had 137 people, while today that number stands at about 60, according to data from the Faith Communities Today study. That has left congregations like Good Shepherd with buildings they can’t fill or afford to keep up.
Rather than closing its doors, the congregation at Good Shepherd decided to find a partner to share their space and continue the congregation’s work in the community. When the renovations are complete, the church’s former classrooms will house a fitness center and changing rooms, and the boxy sanctuary will be a brand-new gym.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will continue to meet in a chapel when the rest of the property becomes the Good Shepherd YMCA. (RNS photo/Bob Smietana)
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