Savannah Christian Church and Rincon United Methodist Church may be close to a deal that would pave the way for Savannah Christian’s planned Effingham campus.

Savannah Christian Church has made a new offer to purchase the Rincon United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center on Fort Howard Road, and church trustees voted to accept the offer.

Savannah Christian Church’s Lyle Wood said that since they were just beginning their 60-day due diligence period before closing on the property, it would be best if they held off making an official announcement until they were further along in the process. Wood said they were excited at the possibility of having a new home for the church in the county and that, in terms of size, this had come to the top of their list as the best fit for their start here.

Savannah Christian Church, one of the area’s largest with over 6,000 members, has been making plans to locate a west campus somewhere in Effingham for several months now. Wood has been chosen to be its Effingham pastor.

Wood said that when they realized that there were about 500 people in Effingham County who were making the drive into Savannah each week, the church started taking a look at whether the time was right for an Effingham campus.   

Rincon UMC consecrated its Family Life Center in February 2009. Ground was broken for the 16,500 square foot building in November 2006.