Gospel Grace Church has been renovating a building (pictured above) in Woodstock, Ill., since last year, preparing for their official launch this spring. A statewide stay-at-home order March 21 halted in-person gatherings for the new church, and most across Illinois, until further notice. “Everything’s on hold,” said Pastor Nate Praytor, “but we also realize this […]
Church Planting
The church planters among us
Years ago while I was working in Christian publishing, I was also a Sunday school teacher, and a young deacon. I had also been a youth minister, and a worship leader. But I did not have Bible college or seminary education. So I was a little intimidated when I learned that the new couple in […]
Growing church breathes new life into historic building
Grace Fellowship is a new church with a lot of history. Their building was constructed in 1858 and launched as a Baptist church. Billy Graham even preached there in the 1950s. But to its current congregation, it’s brand new. At a building dedication in October, the Grace Fellowship congregation was bubbling with excitement. “God opened […]
Partnerships breathe new life into northern Illinois community
The year after Redemption City Church closed its doors, a new church is preparing to use its building as a hub for outreach and ministry in this community 60 miles northwest of Chicago. Gospel Grace, a church plant headed by Nate Praytor, has spent the summer meeting neighbors and gathering in two Bible study groups: […]
200 & Counting: Anniversary sparks Baptist focus on spiritual need in Illinois
Settlers arriving in the Illinois territory in the early 1800s didn’t know what to make of what they found. History tells us many of them moved north from areas that were heavily wooded. They trusted land that could support so many trees. The Illinois prairie offered no such reassurance. “The prairies posed a new set […]