Minn. Megachurch to Meet in High School Until Economy Improves

A Woodbury congregation of the Eagle Brook megachurch in Minnesota has delayed construction of its new worship center until the economy improves and will meet in a rented space in the meantime.

With weekly attendance of close to 16,000 in four campuses, the Eagle Brook Church congregation of East-Metro will start its weekend services at Woodbury’s East Ridge High School beginning Sept. 10, according to the church’s website.

The megachurch will pay over $200,000 annually to rent the space to relieve overcrowding at Eagle Brook’s other churches, Star Tribune quoted Executive Pastor Scott Anderson as saying. Many church members live in the Woodbury, Lake Elmo and Oakdale areas.

About 500 to 800 people are expected to attend the first services at the school auditorium which has a capacity of 940. The church will meet at 4:05 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 9:05 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. on Sundays.

Eagle Brook Church had not abandoned its plan to build a worship center on a 40.5-acre site at Settlers Ridge Parkway and Brookview Road in Woodbury’s northeast corner, but the work was expected to begin only after the economy improves, Anderson said. “We have lots of dreams. We’re just blessed to take small steps forward.”

The delay is partly due to a recently opened campus in Blaine, which cost $10 million, twice the amount originally earmarked for it, Anderson added. To read more, click here.