A large number of our regular attenders live near the church, on the south side of South Bend. We also have neighborhoods with members in the northwest and central parts of South Bend. Then there are those who live scattered in all directions outside of South Bend/Mishawaka. Some people drive a distance to be part of our church... for various reasons. Those most often named include our sense of community, our belief and practices of peace, justice, and service and our global commitments. All these are pretty important to what we understand to be central to living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Folks attend from LaPorte, Bremen, Granger, Lakeville, Elkhart, Goshen, Mishawaka, Osceola, Bristol, and points in between. The farthest households travel from near Angola and Valparaiso. A handful drive from Michigan--from Niles, Edwardsburg and Berrien Springs.
As a geographically scattered congregation, we try to find ways to be a gathered community. Some events, conversations and activities intentionally occur regionally. This encourages closer geographical connections, saving energy and building intergenerational community in various regions of Michiana. These groups also provide input to congregational leaders and are used as part of the congregation’s decision-making process.
