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In recent years, until 2002, St. Matthew was a small congregation being served by interims and fill-in pastors. Slowly, it was fading away. But in 2002, the congregation decided to hire a full time pastor and try, with God's help, to change their direction and to begin new ministry in a neighborhood that was growing by leaps and bounds. The Lord blessed this decision and the congregation's situation began to dramatically change. Attendance, participation, ministries and finances all grew quickly. Planning for their new needs and the future, eight acres of land was acquired across the road and an architect was hired to draw plans for a new facility.
In recent years, St. Paul's was also a declining congregation in a changing neighborhood in uptown Hickory. In 2008 after they had lost their interim, they consulted with the bishop their options. They discussed many things before coming to the decision to investigate a merger with St. Matthew, a congregation they knew of that was growing, had a vision for the future and was planning a new facility. After much debate and prayerful consideration, there was a vote and the momentous decision to move, to rent or sell their buildings, to combine their assets with St. Matthew and join together to form a new congregation was made.
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