For many years, Joy Reigns Lutheran Church existed as a worshiping community without a permanent home. The congregation gathered in a variety of locations, adapting to changing circumstances while remaining focused on worship, fellowship and service. 

That chapter came to an end when the congregation purchased property that had long been home to Parkwood United Methodist Church. Recognizing the significance of the transition, Joy Reigns intentionally honored the faith community that had come before it. 

Special dedication services marked the congregation’s arrival on the property. Rather than view the property as a blank slate, Joy Reigns embraced its history and sought to continue serving the community through many of the ministries that had already become treasured local resources. 

Among those ministries was a community thrift shop that had operated on the property for years. 

When Joy Reigns purchased the site, the congregation inherited four trailers filled with thrift shop inventory and supplies. The previous congregation had operated the ministry from those trailers, and members of Joy Reigns chose to continue the effort. The shop was eventually renamed Joy Thrift. 

Over time, however, the aging trailers fell into disrepair and could no longer support the ministry. The congregation faced a decision about whether to continue the thrift store and, if so, where it would be housed.

The answer came from an unexpected place.

The congregation’s chapel offered an immediate solution as the congregation reimagined how space could support the congregation’s mission.

“We decided to convert the chapel because God had need for that space,” said the Rev. Sara Yotter, pastor of Joy Reigns Lutheran Church. “Worship isn’t the only holy work that can happen here.”

The chapel’s stained-glass windows and welcoming atmosphere created an inviting setting for the thrift shop. More important, the move reflected a broader understanding of stewardship: that church buildings exist to serve God’s mission and the needs of the greater community. 

The decision proved transformative. Since moving into the chapel, Joy Thrift has continued to grow and deepen its impact throughout the region. 

Joy Thrift welcomes shoppers every Saturday and Monday from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Visitors can purchase gently used clothing, household goods, furniture and other previously loved items at affordable prices. For many shoppers, the store provides access to necessities that might otherwise be financially out of reach. Visitors in need of prayer can also use a prayer wall to share concerns, needs, hopes or joys, knowing the congregation will include them in prayer.

The impact of Joy Thrift extends well beyond its doors. 

Revenue from the store funds all the congregation’s outreach ministries. Proceeds help stock a baby pantry that provides essential supplies for families with young children. They support a Little Free Food Pantry that offers food to neighbors experiencing hardship. The funds also have helped sustain housing for 10 mothers and more than 20 children through women’s and children’s transitional housing located in the congregation’s former parsonage. 

Any additional proceeds are directed to the congregation’s Good Samaritan Fund, which provides emergency assistance to people facing unexpected challenges. 

“How you believe what you are doing matters,” Yotter said. “We weren’t doing the thrift shop to pay the mortgage. We are doing it to support ministry in our community.” 

The reach of Joy Thrift extends beyond financial support for outreach programs. The ministry has become a place where relationships are formed and strengthened across many different communities. 

Students from a local school that serves individuals with disabilities visit the store to gain experience in a retail environment and develop workplace skills. Community members whose primary language is Spanish find a welcoming environment through bilingual volunteers and signage. 

The store has also strengthened the congregation’s connection to the wider church. Because of the ministry’s success, Joy Reigns continues to be a tithing congregation within the Delaware-Maryland Synod and a giver to ELCA Mission Support, funding ministries that extend far beyond Edgewater. The ministry also creates opportunities for people across the synod to serve. Community members from throughout the region donate gently used items and volunteer alongside shoppers and neighbors, creating opportunities for conversation, connection and relationship building.  

Through these partnerships and relationships, Joy Thrift has become more than a store. It serves as a gathering place where neighbors encounter hospitality, dignity and care. 

Joy Reigns likes to shake up worship. Movable chairs, tables and risers in the fellowship hall allow the congregation to adapt the space for different occasions and ministry needs. The flexible arrangement creates opportunities for creativity and experimentation in worship while making it easier to host community gatherings and events. 

Yotter experienced the benefits of this flexibility in a particularly meaningful way during Holy Week this year. On Good Friday, the congregation gathered for worship in the round, creating a more intimate setting for reflection and prayer. The adaptable space also allowed the worship band to share an original song written specifically for the service. Moments like these have helped the congregation recognize that ministry is defined not by fixed spaces but by how people gather to worship, serve and share God’s love. 

As Joy Reigns looks toward the future, members continue to discern how God may be calling them to use their property and resources in new ways. 

The congregation has embraced the understanding that sharing space can be a gift, both for the church and for the wider community. Leaders evaluate opportunities through the lens of the congregation’s mission and values: “Love Joyfully, Connect Deeply, Serve Generously.”

As the congregation seeks to remain attentive to emerging community needs, members stay grounded in who they are. That discernment has given the congregation confidence to decline opportunities and partnerships that do not align with its purpose. By approaching decisions thoughtfully rather than reactively, the congregation remains focused on using its facilities to advance ministry rather than simply generate revenue. 

When asked what advice she would offer other congregations considering a property transition, Yotter emphasized the importance of clarity about mission. 

“Why are you doing this thing?” she said. “Are you space-sharing because you need the money, or are you using the building how God is calling you to use it?” 

For Joy Reigns Lutheran Church, the answer has led to a ministry that honors the past, serves neighbors in the present and remains open to the possibilities God is revealing for the future.   

Property Stewardship Lessons 

1. Effective property stewardship begins with mission. Congregations should ask, “How is God calling us to use this space today?” rather than “How has this space always been used?” 

2. Faithful stewardship balances respect for a congregation’s history with openness to new possibilities. Buildings and property can carry sacred memories while still being adapted for new forms of ministry. 

3. Property stewardship is not only about maintaining buildings. It is about aligning space, resources and facilities with God’s mission, remaining flexible to meet changing needs and using church property to strengthen relationships with the wider community. 

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