Margaret (née Medina) Alarcon, age 93, of Elgin, IL, passed away on June 4, 2025. Beloved pastor, mother, and spiritual leader, Margaret was born on August 31, 1931, in San Antonio, TX, to Dionicio and Dolores (née Flores) Medina. She was the second of four siblings, and is remembered alongside her sisters Delia Mora and Elizabeth Alvarado, and her brother Dan Medina.

Margaret married the love of her life, Joe Alarcon Jr., on July 11, 1948, at Templo Cristiano in San Antonio. Soon after, they made their home in Chicago, where they faithfully served their local congregation at Bethesda Church and raised their four children, Joe David, Nancy, Richard, and Danny.

Margaret and Joe devoted their lives to ministry, pioneering Jerusalem Church in Chicago and, in 1965, graduating from the Latin American Bible Institute. That same year, they accepted the call to serve as Assistant Pastors at Bethesda A/G Church while also ministering to the congregation at Templo Ebenezer.

In 1967, Margaret and Joe became Senior Pastors of Bethel Church, where under their leadership, the congregation flourished from 20 to over 200 members. In 1969, Margaret was officially licensed as a minister with the Assemblies of God – a denomination she would serve passionately for the rest of her life.

In 1971, Margaret was elected the Illinois Section Women’s Ministries President, and in 1972, she served for three years as the District Missionettes Director. In 1976, Margaret was elected Women’s Ministry Director for the Midwest Latin American District of the Assemblies of God. For 17 years, she led with vision and compassion, shaping the spiritual lives of thousands of women through annual regional conventions and leadership development.

Following God’s leading once again, Margaret and Joe planted Templo Calvario in downtown Elgin in 1972. For over three decades, they shepherded a thriving, multicultural congregation. Pastor Margaret became a pillar of the community, organizing citywide outreach events, evangelistic rallies, and powerful theatrical productions. Together with Joe, she co-founded J&M Ministries, expanding their work into radio and television through their programs Vida Abundante and Hora de Milagros. They also produced training seminars and traveled the country reaching thousands through their healing and deliverance ministry.

She was ordained with the Assemblies of God in 1979, and in 1984, both she and her husband received honorary Doctorates of Divinity from Jameson Christian College. Two years later, she also earned her Bachelor’s of Biblical Studies from Logos Bible College.

In 1993, after the passing of her husband Pastor Joe, Pastor Margaret was formally installed as the Senior Pastor of Templo Calvario, continuing to lead faithfully until 2005. In 1996, she broke barriers by becoming the first female Executive Presbyter in the history of the Assemblies of God, serving churches across the Midwest Latin American District with distinction and grace for the next eight years.

Pastor Margaret also traveled the world during this time, preaching her message of radical faith in Christ to tens of thousands at rallies, conferences, and churches across North and South America.

Her ministry even reached the halls of the White House, where she was selected from a distinguished group of ministers to have an audience with the President in recognition of her faithful service.

Even after stepping down as Senior Pastor and passing the mantle to her son, Pastor Danny Alarcon, Margaret remained deeply involved in ministry at the newly renamed Discovery Church. She led Pastoral Care and Prayer Ministries, continuing to touch countless lives through her wisdom, compassion, and unshakable faith.

Pastor Margaret Alarcon’s legacy is one of enduring faith, extraordinary service, and profound love for people. For more than 75 years, she mentored, guided, and inspired generations. She was a mother, spiritual matriarch, and role model whose impact will be felt for years to come.

Her spirit lives on through the family she loved, the church she built, and every life she helped transform.

Margaret is survived by her beloved sisters, Elizabeth Alvarado and Doris Medina; her children, Joe David (Janet) Alarcon, Nancy Cummings, Richard Alarcon, and Danny (Laura) Alarcon; her grandchildren, Joe David Jr. (Tina), Deborah (Christopher), Valerie, Victoria (Adam), Timothy (Jennifer), Bianca (Benjamin), Aaron, and Adam; her great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Daniel, Janessa, Blake H., Cadence, Brooke, Scarlett, Rory, and Blake P.; and her great-great-grandchild, Senorah.

Visitation will be 10:30am until funeral service at 12:00pm, Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Discovery Church, 200 Prairie Street, Elgin, IL 60120. Danny Alarcon will be officiating.

A livestream will be available on Discovery Church’s Facebook page for those who are unable to attend in person.

Interment will be private.

Final arrangements entrusted to Symonds-Madison Funeral Home. For more information, call 847-741-1128.