MERGE IS A GATHERING OF CHURCHES
IN THE SOUTHERN WAKE AND NORTHERN HARNETT COUNTIES OF NORTH CAROLINA
HISTORY
Merge began in 2011 with a vision from the Student Pastor at Triangle Community Church in Apex, NC, Kevin Deming. Kevin reached out to local churches to see if they would want to come together, pool their resources, and create a gathering for middle and high school students. Kevin has since left to go on staff at a church in West Virginia, but thanks to his work to make this yearly event a collaborative effort of local churches, Merge continues! Merge is hosted at Triangle Community Church in Apex, but is a collaborative effort from all churches involved.
The aim of Merge is to create an environment where students can worship together in big group (Merge) gatherings, dig deep in the Word through small group (Submerge) gatherings in host homes, and benefit from available one-on-one time with their leaders throughout the weekend. To accomplish this, churches gather at TCC for three big group gatherings while students stay in a host homes for the weekend that are organized by their own church. Questions for Submerge sessions are provided after each Merge session for small group leaders in the homes.
Churches organize and do a mission project or some type of recreation on their own Saturday afternoon. Churches also collect items and an offering for one local ministry each year. In 2016, students gave money and collected books for Christian Library International (CLI). In 2017, Merge churches collected macaroni and cheese and toilet paper for With Love From Jesus Ministries and supported them with an offering of over $1800! In 2018, Merge supported Hand of Hope with an offering and by collecting diapers and baby items for their ministry. In 2019, Merge collected an offering that gave over $1300 for hurricane relief to Baptists on Mission. In 2023, Merge churches collected canned goods for With Love From Jesus Ministries.