A revival

Now, 147 years later, Lansing’s North Presbyterian Church, seated on the corner of Grand River and Washington Avenues in Old Town, is ground zero for an ecumenical saga plotted on a theme of multiculturalism and diversity. And it’s mostly thanks to a 37-year-old former railroad worker and a 41-year-old Korean-American former commercial art professor at the Pratt Institute.

The church built all those years ago thrived, even necessitating a new building in 1916 — the one that still stands today. But recently, the congregation had shrunk to just 70, said member Shirley Doyle.

Doyle’s parents lived on Massachusetts Street. She attended Presbyterian as a child and married there, twice. Her gay brother had a marriage ceremony there, too.

“The people were loving, caring and supportive,” she said. But the church wasn’t able to attract new, younger members.

“We knew our music was for older people, and we tried making one service more modern,” she said, her voice trailing off.

Sothey began talking with members of Westminster Presbyterian Church atMartin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and West Oakland Avenue, andultimately decided to put the two congregations together.

Theyhired Woong-Sik Chon, or Timothy, to serve over a cooperative parish.Ten months later, on Pentecostal Sunday, May 23, Doyle attended herlast service at North Presbyterian.

“I kept reminding myself it was just a building, but it was a real tear-jerker,” she said.

Parishonerstook the 5-foot-high wooden cross down from the old altar and carriedto its new home while others followed in cars. The service continued atthe newly dubbed North Westminster Church.

It was the only move that made sense, Chon said.There were five Presbyterian churches within a two-mile radius inLansing. The maintenance costs on the old buildings were high, and theywere using up their reserves.

“Somany inner city congregations are struggling. Their members are gettingolder and their buildings are not handicap accessible. But mostchurches choose to die because they won’t give up their identity,” Chonsaid.

NorthPresbyterian was only on the market a month before it was sold to TheEpicenter of Worship Church for $375,000. About $100,000 will go towardimprovements — including handicap accessibility — at Westminster.

“Unless the west side takes ownership, there is no future for this church,” he said.

AdventHouse Ministries, begun 22 years ago to serve the poor and homeless, islocated inside North Westminster Church and has pledged $100,000 towardimprovements.

Harkeningback to the old North Presbyterian’s roots, the new church occupyingthe building is already a missionary church, and it’s only 5 years old.

Epicenter’sSean Holland was working for CSX in Saginaw, helping out with Biblestudy at his church there when a Michigan State University studentasked him to start a group in East Lansing. A handful of people startedmeeting in a classroom, then expanded to a ballroom in the StudentUnion, and grew into a spot in the Kellogg Center. Then, they leasedspace in Christ Community Church at Capitol Avenue and Ionia Street.

“Eachtime we moved, we gained people,” said Tayana Holland, Sean’s wife. Sheestimates their congregation is about 300, averaging in age from 25 to30 years old.

Epicenteralso has ministries. There are Bible study classes Wednesday eveningsat the church, and group meetings at Lansing Community College, CooleyLaw School and MSU. There’s also the Vision Community DevelopmentCorp., a nonprofit formed to work with disadvantaged youth. It offerstutoring, mentoring, summer camp and after school programs.

“That’s what Jesus was all about. You go out and reach others. Transformation begins outside of your community,” Holland said.

Manyprograms started at North Presbyterian will continue: On Saturday andSunday afternoons, refugees from Burundi have services. AlcoholicsAnonymous and Al Anon meet there, too. Resurrection Life Church Easthas services at 10 a.m. every Sunday, and “Women of Change” meet there.

TheGreater Lansing Food Bank had gatherings, and Epicenter wants tocontinue those with a twist. They want to offer fresh produce and bakedgoods. There was also an afterschool tutoring program they are lookingat continuing in the fall.

TheEpicenter of Worship Church-North dedicated its building June 27. Avisiting pastor said he saw there an aspect of the kingdom of God, notjust one race, or one language, but all people together in thatservice, Holland said.