What Do We Believe About GOD?

God hears the cries of individuals and families laboring under many crushing pressures today. He wants us and the people around us to experience the divine grace that is greater than this gravity and that can raise all of us toward life abundant and eternal.  

 

What Do We Believe God Wants His CHURCH to Do?

We believe God is calling Christ Church in the season ahead to help LIFT 10,000 toward their God-given potential.  Together, we aim to lift…

• 10000 individual each week to a higher level of thriving
• 10000 communities around us to a better quality of life
• 10000 groups (or more) to greater missional impact
• 10000 families to a higher level of health and influence
• 10000 people toward their God-given potential

 

What Does This Require on a PERSONAL Level?

To fulfill God’s call, we think there are three crucial spiritual movements needed in our hearts and lives. We pray that each of us will…

• LIFT up our eyes to God, making His character and kingdom our ultimate fascination
• LIFT up Jesus, with a passion to help others find His transforming power and community
• LIFT up people in His Name, caring about doing that as the measure of our lives

 

What Does This Require on an Organizational Level?

To fulfill God’s call, we think there are four practical measures we need to undertake to strengthen our church’s relational infrastructure and capacity for long-term influence.  In these next years, we seek to… 

• Foster a Leadership Revolution that further unleashes the giftedness of our church
• Build an Invitational Culture that helps many more along the path to Christlikeness
• Multiply Flourishing Groups that extend life-changing love into our wider world
• Provide Tech Touchpoints that build relationships & resource people in a digital space

Authentic Worship

We delight in authentic worship. Exalting and enjoying God is life's great purpose and pleasure.

Intentional Growth

We pursue intentional spiritual growth. Becoming like Jesus is an adventure worth every effort.

Generous Service

We go all in for generous service. Giving our gifts to help others is how we imitate God.

Attractive Witness

We seek to be attractive witnesses. Living to draw others to Christ is our personal daily mission.

Genuine Community

We invest in genuine community. Doing life together is how we live the Christian journey.

Life-Changing Love

We are all about life-changing love. Loving people extravagantly is the power and priority of God.

 

Christ Church pursues an enduring purpose, derived from the Bible and the call of Christ, that serves as the North Star by which our life and work are guided. Following the ancient model of the Christian church, we:

Gather communities of disciples who worship, grow, and serve; and
Go into all the world as witnesses of the life-changing love of Jesus.

This rhythm of gathering for communion with God and in community with one another, followed by going forth to fulfill Jesus’ great commandment and commission, defines our life together (Matthew 22:37–40; 28:18–20; Acts 1:8).

As we live on mission within our church community, neighborhood, and the wider world, we partner with over 70 mission organizations to:

• Lift women and children to their full potential
• Transform communities
• Relieve suffering
• Multiply disciple-making churches
• Develop thriving Christian leaders
   

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Discover Christ Church

 

Christ Church was founded in 1965 by Rev. Arthur and Gladys DeKruyter and a small group dedicated to creating “a church for the community” in the new Village of Oak Brook. The journey began in the DeKruyter’s basement, with services starting on Easter Sunday 1965, and soon moved to the gymnasium of Butler School.

In January 1968, with just 82 families, the congregation pledged $217,000–some members even took out second mortgages–to build a church to welcome the community. Despite an average attendance of only 450, they constructed a Sanctuary to hold 1,200, believing God had big plans for this church.

They were right. From the opening of the Sanctuary on Palm Sunday 1970, the church grew rapidly, grounded on “Six Pillars of Ministry”: strong preaching and teaching, excellent worship music, effective children and youth ministries, advanced communications, competent caregiving and mission outreach to a needy world.

In January 1997, Rev. DeKruyter retired, ushering in a fruitful “second season” under Rev. Dr. Daniel and Amy Meyer. Strategic initiatives renewed the church’s intergenerational character and expanded its global outreach. The original Six Pillars evolved into a commitment to “Worship, Grow, and Serve,” encompassing numerous ministries that impact thousands of lives.

The church celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015 and soon after embarked on its most significant mission expansion since its founding. In 2018, a second location opened in Butterfield (formerly Downers Grove), alongside a major renovation and expansion of the Oak Brook campus. In 2019, Christ Church acquired the former Fountain of Life church in Lombard, relocating the Butterfield congregation to this seven-acre campus.

Today, Christ Church continues to thrive at its Oak Brook and Butterfield Corridor locations. We invite YOU to join us and help shape the next exciting era of Christ Church.