Wheaton Bible Church's congregation 'fits right in'

Now that the Wheaton Bible Church has moved into its new home, leaders are focused on sharing their message with even more people.

Several thousand parishioners made their way through the new Wheaton Bible Church Sunday for the first time ever.

After 29 months of construction, the 230,000-square-foot facility on a 47-acre site near Carol Stream opened to the community.

The church, at North Avenue and Morton Road, was filled with people - and excitement - throughout the day Sunday.

"It feels like we're a perfect fit, and I don't think things could've gone any better," Pastor of Local Impact Chris McElwee said. "This has been a 10-year process for us, and it's just unbelievable to finally be here."

Years ago, church leaders realized they had outgrown their 97,000-square-foot facility in downtown Wheaton, especially in terms of parking, which was always at a shortage.

The new, $58 million facility features three worship centers, an atrium, visitor's center, prayer tower, play zone, small group gathering spaces, a bookstore, library and global outreach center. There are five ponds, a 1-mile walking path around the property and 1,372 parking spaces. There's room for 800 more spaces to be constructed when needed.

Leighton Cash of Aurora, who joined the congregation last November, thinks the facility's well done and a lot more accommodating for the size of the congregation.

"It's large enough to meet its needs, but it's not flashy," he said. "It's stylish, but they weren't wasteful with the money."

Wheaton Bible Church originally started in 1929 with 160 people. Now, the congregation has about 4,100 members.

On Sundays there's a traditional service at 8:15 a.m., contemporary services at 9:45 and 11:15 a.m., a Spanish service at 11:15 a.m. and an evening service at 5 p.m.

Dave Thomson, the church's communication director, said Sunday during the Spanish service people carried in 19 flags from 19 different nationalities.

"That's how many nationalities are here," he said. "They've been part of it, but with this move, we're certain more will come."

Thomson looks forward to more growth.

"This gives us a new platform for reaching out to the needy, and reaching out to DuPage County," he said.

Alicia Vargas thought the facility was beautiful.

"The building's much better, and much bigger," she said, "but the preaching is the same."