Evangelical church expanding to lockport
At a time when many churches are closing and downsizing, one evangelical church is expanding its reach to downtown Lockport, a traditionally Catholic area. Our Ryan Burgess talked to leaders at the Chapel at CrossPoint and a local catholic leader to find out if tension is escalating between the two churches.
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LOCKPORT, NY - The old post office on Main Street in Lockport may look unchanged on the outside. But inside, there's quite the conversion. A rapidly growing evangelical church is leasing the space to expand it's reach.
"We are a nondenominational church, so we don't look for club member cards or anything like that. As a matter of fact, everyone is welcome," said Matt Eisenhower, the pastor at The Chapel at CrossPoint's Lockport location.
The expansion includes the Palace Theatre across the street, which will be used for Sunday service. In a traditionally Catholic area, some wonder if there's tension growing between the churches.
"Is there jealousy? I hope not. I think our behavior at the Chapel has shown that. We've partnered with other ministries," said Eisenhower.
Lorie Duquin is a Catholic author. She doesn't think the Chapel will be able to pry Catholics away.
"My first reaction was that if the Chapel was going in there to try and draw people away, that they were really overestimating their ability to draw people out," said Duquin.
About a ten minute drive from downtown Lockport is the headquarters of the Chapel at CrossPoint. Each week, up to 6,000 people pack the church. Most donate money to fund the expansion.
"We're prepared to, for about the first two years, to actually not make any money. I know that sounds very crass," said Eisenhower.
Eisenhower's point is that people are donating so much money, the church can sustain itself for two years. That type of financial stability still doesn't threaten at least one Catholic leader.
"I think that Catholics who have been Catholic for a long time in Lockport will probably not even be interested," said Duquin.
The Chapel plans on opening in Lockport on Easter Sunday.