The Peak Church is a testimony of not only God’s ability to do something new but to resurrect and rejuvenate something in need of a new direction. Over 10 years ago, The Peak Church was originally launched as “Acts UMC” here in Apex, NC. The congregation did fantastic work; however, the pastors and lay leaders eventually discerned that God was calling us to join the work of Apex UMC as one of their four campuses. This led to several years of even more fruitful work; but after an infusion of growth and a fresh vision for the future, The Peak spun off once again to become an independent congregation chasing after God’s new plans for us.
While the form and methods of ministry may have changed over time, our mission has remained the same. In fact, The Peak has always tried to embody graceful hospitality being that our mission is “Gathering all who feel disconnected to encounter a compassionate God, grow in faith, and transform our communities.”
On the other side of the pandemic, there are countless stories we could share of God sending people in our direction who were searching for a safe, non-judgmental place to re-engage faith. We’ve been able to welcome skeptics, wanderers, the theological homeless, and members of the LGBTQ community who have been waiting for a safe space to emerge in their community.
One particular story is that of Megan and Stacey (their names have been changed). This couple started coming to The Peak midway through 2022, along with their two girls. After visiting our church several times, their family walked into the sanctuary one Sunday after service and asked our Associate Pastor if she wouldn’t mind taking their picture up on the altar. They said, “This is the first time our family has ever had a church home, and we wanted to capture this moment.”
The truth is gracious hospitality can change someone’s life. Furthermore, it can resurrect a dying church. The only question is are we willing to undergo the transformation necessary in order to become vessels of hospitality, rather than defenders of the norm.
Rev. Kyle Meier serves as the pastor of The Peak Church in Apex, NC.
Our theme for this year’s Lenten reflections is Graceful Hospitality. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ten Dollar Club, now known as the New Room Society. We give thanks for our Conference’s ongoing commitment to co-creating new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ and extending graceful hospitality to all of God’s children.