Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Summer Garden Ministry
Join us in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the inspirational Summer Garden Ministry at Anderson Japanese Gardens! This special program, co-hosted by The Salvation Army, has been a cherished tradition for the past 25 years, providing a serene and peaceful setting for worship.
Welcoming individuals of all denominations to come together in song and prayer, the program was initially coordinated by a volunteer of The Salvation Army, Sonja Beach. Since 1998, Sonja has played an instrumental role in scheduling local pastors and musicians from various denominations to speak and perform during the services. Jodi Beach, Sonja's daughter, now works alongside her mother to continue that tradition. Thanks to their efforts, over 50 Christian churches and organizations have participated in the half hour service.
The Summer Garden Ministry is open to the public and FREE to attend. We invite you to join us every Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. from May 30–September 5. After the service, you are welcome to explore and enjoy the beautiful gardens at your leisure. Anderson Japanese Gardens is located at 318 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL.
For those unable to attend in person, we offer the opportunity to watch the services via livestream on the Summer Garden Ministry Facebook page. This online streaming option was introduced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to the present day. People from all around the world have joined us virtually to partake in this inspiring ministry.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Anderson family for their vision of a non-denominational Christian worship experience and to Anderson Japanese Gardens for their continued collaboration and support.
Please mark your calendars and join us in celebrating this special milestone. We hope to see you there!
Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois | Photo by Jeff Anderson