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319 East 7th Street
309-747-2432
Mission of the Church
The mission (purpose) of the church is fourfold: 1) to present to the lost the Gospel message of salvation based on faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and a true repentance and conversion1 ; 2) to teach and nurture the believers toward a sanctified life and to faithfulness by God's grace and through His Word;2 3) to preserve sound doctrine by "contending for the faith";3 and 4) to offer loving, humble deeds of service to fellow believers and all mankind in the name of Christ.4
By teaching and obeying the Word in its simplicity, the church and the individual are guided into living in a Christ-like manner. Giving pre-eminence to God's Word for all instruction enhances the church's efforts to "contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints."5
The believer is nurtured through participation in humble worship and is encouraged and strengthened by intimate fellowship with supportive brothers and sisters in Christ. A warm, loving environment in the church provides a sense of security and consolation in the midst of a troubled world. Personal accountability to the church Body6 and frequent exhortation to live a sanctified life7 help each believer remain faithful.
Numerous outreach opportunities exist, including material aid for the needy (World Relief) as well as promoting the Gospel message to the lost (Mission). World Relief efforts involve many self-help, material aid and work projects throughout the U.S. and abroad. Missionary efforts have seen the opening of many new churches in the United States, Japan, Mexico and Canada, together with preaching and teaching sessions among church brethren on university campuses. Church mission work is also active in India, with a gospel and medical mission.