Our Story from Embrace Church on Vimeo.

The Journey of Embrace Church from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.

This fall Embrace Church in Sioux Falls is climbing to a new level of growth.  Outreach magazine named Embrace as one of the fastest growing churches in the United States in September 2014.  Embrace will launch a new campus in early 2015 at Summit Avenue in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

How it all started

Embrace averages a weekly attendance over 2,000.  The church has three campuses: one at 57th Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, one in Tea, South Dakota, and an online campus. 

The idea of a new church came to Roger Spahr, the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Watertown, South Dakota.  Although there was an endless number of churches in Sioux Falls, the city was growing and it became clear that there might be a need for another.

“There were a lot of young people from Cornerstone that were moving to Sioux Falls.  Many were not going to church. Others were not really finding a church that spoke to them,” explained Spahr.

Embrace began in 2006.  “32 of us got together and worshiped for the first time on September 4, 2006… To be honest, we had no clue what the future held (or what we were doing), but we sensed God asking us to follow Him,” described Adam Weber, Lead Pastor at Embrace.

This group would end up becoming Embrace.  Soon after that service, small groups began gathering in homes and we began to meet for worship once a month… seeing new faces each time.

Named one of the fastest growing in the United States

Embrace was recognized as one of Outreach Magazine's fastest growing Churches in America for the second year in a row! This year, Embrace was named the 58th Fastest Growing Church in America and led by the youngest Senior Pastor (Adam Weber).

In 2013, Embrace was named the 40th Fastest Growing Church in America (and 4th fastest percentage growth) and led by the youngest Senior Pastor (Adam Weber).

Weber states, “We're so thankful for what the Lord is doing in and through Embrace!”

Embrace is the only United Methodist Church in the United States to make the list according to Lifeway Research, the group that conducts the research for Outreach.

"God continues to move in ways we can't explain,” said Adam Weber, Lead Pastor at Embrace. 

Launching another campus in 2015

Sunday, September 15, 2014 Embrace announced the launch of another new campus in early 2015.  The Summit Ave Campus will be located at the Sioux Falls Seminary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

"Our hope through this new campus is to continue reaching the next person for Jesus. We're hoping to reach countless people in central Sioux Falls along with students at Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls,” said Adam Weber, Lead Pastor.

The Summit Campus will meet for worship on Sundays (service times TBA) in central Sioux Falls. (e)Kids children’s church, (for kids ages preschool through 5th grade) and nursery,(for kids ages 6 months through 3 years old) will be offered during each service as well.

Embrace worship services last around 55 minutes.  Worship is geared to believers and non-believers alike. Contemporary, uplifting music and prayer are a key to the worship experience.  The message is drawn from God’s Word and made relevant, useful and alive. At each Embrace campus worshipers experience the same message along with live music, a casual vibe, and coffee.

Learn more about Embrace Church on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

Our Story from Embrace Church on Vimeo.