Cary church opens doors to congregation needing temporary home

But in the afternoon, giving thanks to God takes on a more lively approach.

The Baptist church has allowed Greater Life Ministries to worship in their sanctuary on Sunday afternoons after a tree fell on Greater Life’s home during a June storm.

Prior to Westwood opening their doors, Greater Life parishioners attended services at the Holiday Inn on Glenwood Avenue near Crabtree Valley Mall.

“I just felt an overwhelming need,” said Rev. Mike Eddinger, Westwood’s senior pastor. “Call it the holy spirit to call Pastor Baxter and see if there was someway that I could help.”

Bishop Mary Baxter, who leads Greater Life, was surprised by the phone call.

“It was like, overwhelming,” she said. “I could hardly believe it.”

Repairs are still being made at Greater Life’s Chapel Hill Road home in Cary. The space is leased, and Baxter said she isn’t sure if the church will return to the building.

“At least for temporarily, we will be having our services here,” she said.

Along with having services at Westwood, The United Methodist Church in Cary and the Christ the King Lutheran Church have helped Greater Life with their children’s programs.

While Westwood and Greater Life are different, Eddinger says they both have the same mission.

“These are our brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said. “When Jesus gives you an opportunity to love somebody in his name, you really don't ask a lot of questions. You just do it."