About Beth Eden
About Beth Eden
At Beth Eden UMC, we believe that God is at work in our lives, using the Church to change the world. This starts with us! Wherever you are in your life or faith journey, we welcome you to participate in the mission and ministry of this diverse community of faith.
Our Mission
“Beth Eden United Methodist Church
is a house of new beginnings where
we strive to enlighten, educate,
encourage, and evangelize all
people for the glory of God."
Meet Rev. Sarah Hong, Senior Pastor
Pastor Sarah Hong loves swimming, walking, and watching romantic comedies. She is passionate about bringing new people to Jesus Christ and offering fun activities for all ages.
Before coming to Beth Eden, Pastor Sarah served churches in Minooka, New Lenox, and Dixon (IL) and in Atlanta, GA and New York City. She was ordained in the Northern Illinois Conference in 2010. She has been on more than 25 mission trips around North America, including four in Yucatan, Mexico.
Pastor Sarah is married to Pastor Caleb of Christ UMC (Rockford). They have two young adult daughters, Lydia and Abigail. Pastor Sarah received a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University (Atlanta, GA) and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ).
More About Us
Our History
The Beginning of the House of New Beginnings
One spring day in 1950, a young pastor named Harvey Gabel walked the streets of northwest Rockford with several seminary students. The Illinois Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church decided that this was a promising location for a new church, and the mission board purchased a 2.5 acre tract at the corner of Huffman and Pierce Avenue. A house was erected on the land to serve as a personage and chapel.
A Growing Congregation
45 people attended the church’s first service on March 18, 1951, and Sunday School began on April 1.
Membership continued to grow, and by 1952, the need for larger quarters was apparent. That year, planning began for the first unit of the church. Funds were secured through loans, grants, and local subscriptions, and ground was broken for the new church the following September.
On November 14, 1954, the new sanctuary was used for the first time, and the building was dedicated November 21. By that time, 180 people had become members, Sunday School enrollment had grown to 272, and there was a staff of 26.
Beth Eden's First Chapel: The Parsonage (1952)
Beth Eden Expands
Sanctuary Construction (1967)
Sanctuary Construction Almost Complete (1968)
A New Home
On April 29, 1962, ground was broken for a new addition to the church. This area, used primarily for Sunday School, caused enrollment and attendance to increase immediately by about 20 percent.
Soon, a new building fund was stablished to save for a new, larger sanctuary and fellowship area, and ground was broken in April 1967. Upon completion of this expansion, a service of dedication was held on May 19, 1968.
With the union of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist churches in April of 1968, the church became Beth Eden United Methodist Church.
In 1997, Beth Eden adopted an official motto “The House of New Beginnings”, and mission statement “Beth Eden United Methodist Church is a house of new beginnings where we strive to enlighten, educate, encourage, and evangelize all people for the glory of God.”
Today, Beth Eden has been loving, serving, and worshipping with the people of Rockford for over 73 years. We invite you to become a part of the history we’re writing today.
Contact Us
Have a question for us? We’d love to hear from you!