May 01st, 2014

   The Zion Bible Church, located on the corner of Emmaus and 27th, has been in Zion for many years. That is about to change. The Cancer Treatment Center has recently acquired the property after mutually agreeing to terms. It seems to be a "win-win" situation. The hospital is eager to start work on the property. Mike Lambert, Chairman of the Zion church, said that "the timing was right". Merging with another church in the area didn't work out but they did find a church in Antioch... Northbridge Church. It seems to be a perfect fit. Mike went on to say that, "God had His hand over the whole process."
   The last service at the Zion Bible Church will be at 10 am, on Sunday, May 25th. Following the service, a reception  will be held at the Market Square Hotel. All who wish to reserve a spot must respond by email (zionbible@gmail.com), no later than May 16. After merging with Northbridge Church, they will continue to meet at the Antioch High School  until hopefully breaking ground for a new church building on 173, just west of 94. Mike Lambert, who is also Reg. Vice President for Primerica, in Winthrop Harbor,  was very optimistic.
   In other related news, the YMCA closed its doors over a year ago to the disap-pointment of many people. It was forced to close because of a lack of memberships, and also because they were millions of dollars in debt. Questions on who will acquire the building have been put to rest. The News Sun has reported that The Church of Joy, located on the corner of Elisha and 27th, has acquired the former YMCA building, located on Western Avenue. 

---

   What will happen to the Zion building is unclear. Unable to get information from the Church of Joy or the Cancer Treatment Center when the Town Sound went to print, I can only speculate that the hospital will acquire that as well. And why not? It just makes too much sense. I see it as a "win-win"  - for the hospital and for Zion!