God has been moving at First Champaign — and we want you to see the full picture. This page is a celebration of what He's done, an honest look at where we are, and an open-handed invitation to pray with us about where He's taking us next. We believe the best is still ahead. Come see why.
Celebration
We paid off our building debt — completely.
People are being baptized and stepping into faith.
Attendance is growing — and so is our Kids ministry.
Our church came together with other community churches in unified prayer and paid off a medical bill as one body.
The Go Be The Church Podcast launched and is bearing fruit.
A Discipleship Framework is in development to help our people grow intentionally.
The Chapel Venue just celebrated its first birthday.
Growth Realities
Our building is aging — and because we were laser-focused on becoming debt-free, some maintenance was intentionally deferred. That work is now in front of us.
We are running out of room. Chairs are filling up in the auditorium, and we are seeing more people — and more kids — every week.
For at least a decade, every ministry was asked to cut. This year, for the first time, we added back — because we finally had something to add back with.
We have a growing need for volunteers, especially in Kids Ministry.
Men's Ministry is a priority area with real room to grow.
Growth means greater responsibility for staff and better care for people. Much of our current staff serves part-time, and that will need to change as we grow.
We need developed Care Ministries to love and support our congregation through life's hardest moments.
Other churches and community groups use our building — a sign of Kingdom reach we want to steward well.
Financial Realities
Our updated budget reflects where we are: building maintenance is back in, we are preparing to staff for growth, and we have added a quarterly $5K generosity gift as a reflection of what God has done this season.
Our staff coffee meetings aren't just a calendar item — they represent a heart commitment to know, care for, and invest in the people who serve this church.
Volunteers are not a gap to fill. They are the engine of what God is doing here. We want to cast a clear and compelling vision for what it means to serve.
MORE Next Steps
We are actively praying for discernment on building needs, staffing, and ministry growth. Below is a list of specific building needs with cost estimates — such as carpet, parking lot repairs, and more. Pray over them. And if God moves you, act.
