Elgin City Church expands to weekly services this month

A new church in Elgin is launching weekly services beginning Sunday, Feb. 21, in downtown Elgin. Elgin City Church has been holding monthly "preview" services since last September to get the word out and allow the Elgin community to come and get to know the pastors.

Future services will include fresh Dunkin' Donuts coffee, refreshments, intimate worship, friendly people and a relevant message that applies to every day life.

"We like to keep things simple," says Russell Wimberly, pastor of Elgin City Church. "While there are many great churches in Elgin, we are a different type of church that exists for people that desire an outward focus, authentic relationships and passionate worship."

Russell, a Judson University alumni, and his wife, Sarah, have been Elgin residents since 1996. They have served the Elgin area through a number of outreach events including a spring community cleanup, family events and free food and activities for children.

"We really love the city of Elgin and desire to build bridges with the community in ways they see relevant."

Elgin is now becoming a hot spot for a new category of churches called "multisite campuses." A multisite campus is identified as one church that meets in multiple locations, following the example of the university and college campus model. Churches began to use the multisite church model in the mid-1980s. Former church Highland Fellowship Church was recently taken over by another church, New Life Covenant Church, a Chicago church with an Elgin campus. Another resident church, Elgin Bible Church on Route 19, was also recently inherited by a similar church, New Life Community Church, also headquartered in Chicago. There have been rumors of other Chicago area mega churches opening up campuses here in Elgin as well. Today's approach usually involves transmitting a sermon by video to multiple locations.

Though some modern churches have embraced the idea, many church leaders stress some concern over problems with underdiscipled church members because of the lack of relationship between the pastor and congregants.

It doesn't bother Pastor Russell. "We don't necessarily need more churches in Elgin, but we do need healthy churches that understand the community and can be effective in reaching those who don't know Jesus. We welcome any and all new churches in Elgin."

Elgin City Church starts meeting weekly on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. They are currently meeting at 51 S. Spring St., Suite 125A in downtown Elgin, across from Al's Cafe. You can find out more information about the church at their website, www.elgincitychurch.com.