Archive: Galloway: He Plays Well In Peoria

By Sara L. Anderson

Even during the Great Depression, Peoria, Illinois was synonymous with middle-class prosperity, thanks to the productive beneficence of the Caterpillar company. But in 1981-82, the heavy equipment industry hit a slump. Suddenly Peoria became noted for recession, unemployment and population flight. But First United Methodist of Peoria, in contrast to the area’s decline, continued to experience steady growth.

Back in 1974 Ira Galloway, former associate general secretary of the UM Board of Discipleship and general secretary of the Board of Evangelism, and his wife, Sally, prayed for direction. “I felt led to ask God to give us a chance to go to a downtown church someplace where the church was large enough to impact the city, but was not so large or so far gone that it would be nearly impossible to renew it,” he says now.

First United Methodist, Peoria, was the answer. The largest church in Illinois was declining—in membership and in structure. Having reached a peak of 5,000 members in 1962, attendance now hung around 800, with 450 in church school. In 1956 the congregation decided to stay downtown instead of fleeing to the suburbs. But by the mid 70’s the building itself was in need of renewal with a leaky roof, frayed carpeting and peeling paint. It was surrounded by decaying skeletons of old taverns and retail stores. Galloway’s first renewal step was a complete renovation ($1.4 million-worth) of the beautiful 1914—vintage, Indiana limestone building.

Then Ira began to develop a program to build attendance. It centered on Scripture. “I became convinced a long time ago that there would be no renewal in the church without Biblical renewal,” Galloway says. Besides strong Biblical preaching, small group studies have enhanced church growth. For 13 years the congregation has used the Bethel Bible Series, and more than 700 people have finished the two-year program. The Stephen’s Ministry program teaches members how to minister to people in the name of Christ and has involved 150 lay people. First UMC is also using the new UM Disciple series which Ira helped develop.

New Sunday school classes have brought young families to the church and have “become vibrant centers of faith, social policy and growth in the church,” Galloway says. The church has started two new singles’ groups and a half dozen couples’ groups which have become the core of renewal at Peoria First. The youth group consists of 100 young people, one-third of whose families do not belong to the church.

Sunday school attendance has reached 600. Worship attendance has grown to approximately 950—in an area where the general population has declined by more than 20,000 in the last five years. Ira’s prayers have been answered in abundance. “I can’t tell you what it’s meant to the town as it was declining and working toward renewal,” he says. “Many of the civic leaders have come to me and said, ‘What you’ve done has really spoken to our whole city.’”