Candidates General

Information Packet

General Information Packet

Emmanuel Bible Church 6630 W. Ogden Ave.

Berwyn, IL 60402 708-484-1528

Fax 708-484-8441 email: ebcoffice@ebconline.net

web: www.ebconline.net

Table of Contents

History of EBC ............................................1

Overview of EBC Ministries ................... 2-3

Our Purposes ............................................ 4-5

EBC Values ..................................................6

EBC Government .........................................7

Berwyn Community Overview ....................8

History of Berwyn........................................9

Berwyn Area Amenities ....................... 10-12

mailto:ebcoffice@ebconline.nethttp://www.ebconline.net/

1

History of Emmanuel Bible Church (EBC)

In 1899 nineteen members of the First Bohemian Baptist Church saw an opportunity to birth a new ministry to Czech immigrants in the Pilzen settlement of Chicago. Emmanuel Bohemian Baptist Church of Chicago was established at the corner of 24th Street and Marshall Boulevard. This original space quickly proved to be too small for the growing church. A larger lot was purchased at Albany and 26th Street where a new house of worship was built and dedicated in December of 1900. But once again, by 1905 the church had outgrown its space. A new church was built at Trumbull Avenue and 26th Street which would meet the needs of the growing congregation. In 1938, after 32 years of growth, the church purchased a building at 2520 South Lawndale Avenue which was better suited for expanding ministry to the community. For the first time, services in English were offered in addition to the regular Czech services. As the demographics of the neighborhood continued to change, Czech services were discontinued in the early 1950’s. Accompanying this change in adult worship services was a growing desire to minister to the unique needs of children and teenagers. This expanded vision quickly became a hallmark of EBC for the years to come. To house these growing ministries, a new church was built at 6630 West Ogden Avenue in Berwyn, approximately 4 miles west of its previous location. Shortly after the dedication of the new building in September 1965, the name was changed to Emmanuel Baptist Church. And in 1983, the name was changed to its current name, Emmanuel Bible Church. In the past decade, EBC has purchased additional property for parking and completed a building expansion project featuring an enlarged foyer, new offices and classrooms to more effectively minister to the Berwyn Community. Over the years, Emmanuel has grown from a church with a single teaching pastor to a multi-faceted staff with pastors and ministers dedicated to serving in the areas of worship, adults, children, youth, and counseling. Today the demographics of our community are changing once again. As increasing numbers of Hispanics have moved into the area, we have recently expanded our staff and begun to offer worship services and classes in Spanish to allow us to minister to yet another language group now residing in our area. Although the message of the Word of God and salvation in Christ alone never changes, we continue to seek new ways to present His message to a growing and diverse community.

Our Senior Pastors Vaclav Hlad 1899-1920 Dr. Vita 1920-1929 John Fort 1929-1943 Frank T. Brdlik 1944-1952 Richard A. Sanford 1952-1960 Richard E. Wager 1961-1987 Louis Goldberg (Interim) 1987-1989 Larry Pilkington 1989-2012 Gary Hollinger (Interim) 2012-2014 Don Yates 2014-Present

2

Overview of EBC Ministries Emmanuel Bible Church (EBC) is located at 6630 West Ogden Avenue in Berwyn, Illinois, 60402, and has been serving this Chicago area community for over 110 years. We are a friendly, outgoing, and ethnically diverse congregation. At EBC you will discover who Jesus Christ is and how much He loves you. We will do all we can to make sure your time with us is a building and growing experience. Guests have remarked, “I felt at home the moment I walked in the door.” Our Mission Statement is “To love God and love people by making disciples who make disciples.” In the effort to serve God and people, we provide worship services in English and Spanish on Sunday, as well as disciple-making growth groups and small home study groups throughout the week. In all these settings you will learn more about God, His Word, His provision for you and your response to Him. Teaching and preaching God’s Word is a central focus. The messages will impact your life and help you grow. Each Sunday service focuses on experiencing God through Bible preaching that reveals who God is and provides truth for daily living.

Vibrant, celebratory worship is a hallmark of Emmanuel. Since Scripture commands us to “sing a new song” our worship style is deliberately modern utilizing drums, guitars and electric keyboards. But because we desire to maintain a connection to the historic roots of our faith, we still include traditional hymns in our repertoire, although we often “modernize” them to better fit in a contemporary service. The Worship Minister leads a group of dedicated volunteers serving as the Worship Team. This team includes vocalists, instrumentalists, and technical support staff. Their goal is to encourage and facilitate worship among the congregation both corporately and personally. Reaching out beyond the walls of the church building with the love of God in Christ is the second half of EBC’s commitment to love God and love people. We reach out to the surrounding community through special Christmas and Easter services, concerts and dramas, participation in the Route 66 Car Show, and hosting Vacation Bible School and AWANA. EBC supports missionaries in the United States and throughout the world. Many of these missionaries are people who came to know Christ at Emmanuel and are now going to other cultures to serve Him. Recently, groups from EBC ministered on short term trips to Australia, South Africa, Bolivia, Guatemala, and South Dakota. Our long-term missionaries are scattered from Mexico to Taiwan, and Canada to Venezuela. Being a guest at a new church can be intimidating and uncomfortable. When guests come to EBC, they will find ample parking spaces in front of the church building and people who warmly welcome all guests with a smile and a handshake. Our Welcome Center provides current information about all EBC ministries and upcoming events. First-time guests receive a free gift and a personal invitation to return. One person said, “Here at EBC a person prayed with me on my very first visit. It was so encouraging”.

3

Overview of EBC Ministries (cont.) EBC encourages people to gain a fuller and more detailed knowledge of the scriptures and fellowship in a more personal setting; therefore we offer numerous Christian Growth Groups from preschool to adult on Sunday mornings. Connections Small Group ministry is another place where this happens. It’s not unusual to hear a host say, “We have a room full of people who can’t wait for our Bible study. This is where we all grow to a new level.” We realize men and women have unique needs, therefore, we offer separate ministries for men and women. “Take-A-Break” is a Women's ministry that meets on Tuesday mornings for worship, prayer, Bible study and fellowship. For men, the “Advance” ministry meets twice a month on Saturday mornings for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. Both men and ladies groups emphasize accountability groups, retreats, and conferences. Dozens of men and women say that these ministries have been life changing. We live in a bilingual community; this is reflected in many ministries. The noon worship service on Sunday provides a Spanish language worship service complete with contemporary and traditional worship music. Classes and Home Bible studies in Spanish are available on Sunday and throughout the week. Free Bible-based English as a Second Language Classes serve both as an outreach for EBC Hispanic Ministries and a way to minister to an important need in our changing community. Emmanuel is dedicated to teenagers. A Pastor to Students oversees special clubs and classes for both Junior High and High School students. This ministry includes an annual mission trip to people of a different culture, discipleship training, small group studies, and summer and winter camping. It is not unusual for a teenager to say, “I have learned a lot about walking with Christ from the youth ministry. In fact it has changed my life.” Many feel that our youth ministry is a distinctive of EBC. We are also committed to younger children, from the birth to the 6th grade. Over 70 volunteers strive to help our children discover who Jesus Christ is and how to walk with Him. The Children’s Ministry includes age-specific, traditional classes and a unique “Breakout” discipleship ministry. Trained care-givers staff our nursery on Sunday mornings and during many other events. Weekly “Stars Club” and yearly “Summer Spectacular” Vacation Bible School are key outreach components of our ministry to families in the community. Many parents have expressed their delight that the goal at EBC is not just babysitting children but rather teaching children how to walk with the Lord. Emmanuel Bible Church is a family of believers. We hope that everyone attending chooses to learn, grow and serve Jesus Christ with us. We see God’s design in orchestrating life so that we can accomplish more together than we could individually. In all that we do, we are striving to “love God and love people by making disciples who make disciples.” Join us and become part of the Emmanuel family. Together with you we can reach out to others with the good news of Jesus Christ.

4

EBC Purposes The overriding purpose of Emmanuel Bible Church is “To love God and love people by making disciples who make disciples.” A disciple is simply a Christian who seeks to obediently walk with the Lord. This purpose was set by God Himself in the Great Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” and the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” There are five expressions of our purpose that we believe are vital to every Christian and the Church as a whole: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Service and Outreach. WORSHIP – At Emmanuel, we Exalt, Magnify and glorify the One True and Living Triune God. We believe that worship is not a one-time-a-week event, because worship is at its heart an expression of value. We spend our time, talent and treasure each day pursuing and celebrating whatever is most valuable to us. So for a Christian, God should be the most valuable thing in our life. When we are constantly aware of God’s presence in our lives and consistently strive to honor Him with every decision, we enter into a lifestyle of worship. From that kind of lifestyle flow weekly services and gatherings that are a celebration of God at work in our lives throughout the week. Our services tend to be upbeat with time spent singing God’s praises and being challenged from the Bible. We invite you to come and celebrate His goodness with us. FELLOWSHIP – At Emmanuel, we Encourage believers to commit themselves to loving, supportive relationships, to regular participation in church life, and to formal Membership at EBC as the local expression the Body of Christ. We believe that caring relationships are vital. God created us to be in relationship with Him and to be in relationship with all those whom He has adopted. The old song said it well: “We all need somebody to lean on.” So we strive to be there for one another. Together we share the triumphs and tragedies of life so that no one has to “go it alone.” This is what it means to be a part of the family of God: a helping hand when you need it, a shoulder to cry on and sometimes even a kick in the pants. We invite you to come and be a part of a caring community of believers.

5

EBC Purposes (cont.) DISCIPLESHIP – At Emmanuel, we Equip believers with the tools and knowledge they need to grow and reach Maturity in Christ. We believe that God has clearly commanded that we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior so that we become more and more like Him. Growth is not optional, though we recognize it is not always easy either. Being a disciple takes some discipline and we delight in helping people along the way to maturity. We offer a variety of opportunities to learn and grow: Invest small Home Groups, Sunday morning Growth Groups, Men’s Ministries, Women’s Ministries, My Beloved Marriage Ministries, Youth groups and Children’s Ministries. We invite you to come and take the next step in your walk with God. SERVICE – At Emmanuel, we Employ believers in Ministry by helping them identify, hone and use their individual spiritual gifts. We believe that God has uniquely shaped each individual to serve a particular purpose in His kingdom. The Bible teaches that God has prepared good works for each person to do and He has formed everyone with specific talents, abilities, gifts and skills. There is no one like you! And, each Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift for the purpose of building up and serving the Body of Christ. We try to help each Christian find a place of service that matches their interests, passions and gifts. True significance and a real sense of self-worth can be found by fulfilling God’s design for your life. We invite you to come and find your place. OUTREACH – At Emmanuel, we Evangelize those without Christ as our Mission both at home and around the world. We fervently believe that the only real cure for the pain, misery and suffering in this world is a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s our privilege and priority to share the Good News of what He has done with our friends, families and co-workers. Emmanuel is a church where members are always inviting someone and that enthusiasm results in a constant stream of first-time guests. Emmanuel also supports missionaries all over the world and has a long history of members entering full-time Christian service. We invite you to come and be a part of God’s plan to redeem the world.

6

EBC Values

Our values are important to us. They reflect who we are as well as how and why we do what we do. We believe that we are called to glorify God by facilitating growth and health in each of the four relationships we have as Christians:

Our relationship with God • GOD ABOVE ALL – Loving Him with “all our heart, mind, soul and strength.” • THE BIBLE – Believing that God has spoken to us through His Word, we hold the Bible

as our ultimate authority. • VIBRANT, CELEBRATORY WORSHIP – Worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. • THE GOSPEL OF FAITH – Believing that salvation is only by God’s grace through

our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal savior. • SPIRITUAL MATURITY – Reflecting the character of Christ as an inward, Spirit-

produced life rather than conformity to an external set of standards.

Our relationship with our Families • GOD ORDAINED MARRIAGE – Strengthening husbands and wives to live out God’s

plan.

• MINISTRY TO PARENTS – Equipping and supporting parents to train their children to walk with Christ because spiritual nurturing is best done in the home.

• MINISTRY TO CHILDREN – Teaching children to walk with Jesus and honor their parents.

Our relationship with the Church • SPIRITUAL GROWTH – Discipling believers to become fully devoted followers of

Christ.

• TEACHING & PREACHING – Recognizing that spiritual maturity is not only a function of knowledge, but of understanding, application and life change.

• SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Discovering and using our God-given gifts to serve the church and the world.

• FELLOW BELIEVERS – Encouraging healthy community through accountability and authentic relationships.

Our relationship with the World • LOCALLY - Loving our neighbor by serving our community and sharing the Good

News in culturally relevant ways.

• GLOBALLY – Spreading the Gospel by supporting cross-cultural missions and sending Christian workers.

• SALT AND LIGHT – Equipping individuals to engage the culture and confront societal issues with God’s truth.

7

EBC Government

Emmanuel Bible Church is an independent, non-denominational Bible church currently averaging nearly 600 in attendance during three services each week. We are a congregationally ruled church with Godly men elected to an Elder board in order to govern and guide the church in a representative fashion. The Lead Pastor is “first among equals” on this board. Multiple paid staff members handle the day-to-day operation of the church at the direction of the Elders with substantial latitude to find the most effective ways to minister. We also have both Deacon and Deaconess boards whose primary duties center on meeting the spiritual and physical needs of the people.

8

Religious Affiliation

None , 42.37%

Catholic, 39.93%

Protestant, 6.77%

Latter Day Saints, 0.17%

Jewish, 4.36%

Islam, 1.78%

Other, 5.02%

Racial Profile

White, 44.70%

Latino, 48.00%

African American,

5.20%

Asian, 2.10%

Berwyn Community Overview

Berwyn, a near-west suburb of Chicago, is a community on the move – growing and changing to provide for its residents while preserving traditional values. Berwyn is a suburb with big-city appeal and unique, small-town charm. The community maintains an uncommon bond of resourcefulness and a strong work ethic and continues to be a stable, safe, and family-oriented community. Berwyn began and remains an ethnically diverse community. Families with Czech and Bohemian roots, together with many Italian-Americans, Greeks, Lithuanians, Poles, Yugoslavians and Ukrainians, have been joined in recent years by families of Hispanic, and African and Asian American origin, all calling Berwyn home. The community is also experiencing a significant influx of young families and professionals who are attracted by its convenient location, well-built, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods. Add to this: good schools, convenient living, and a good sense of community and it’s obvious why Berwyn is a thriving community. (see http://www.berwyn.net/berwyn/demographics.asp) Emmanuel Bible Church is located near the southern city limits. Berwyn is located in a suburban area of Cook County which contains many surrounding communities are packed closely together. Traveling to the next town is often only a matter of crossing a street. While Berwyn’s current population is nearly 60,000, there are nearly 300,000 residents living within a three-mile radius of our church. Emmanuel is blessed with a tremendous opportunity to make an impact for the Gospel since less than 1% of the population in the area are affiliated with a Bible-believing, evangelical church. The median household income in Berwyn as of the 2000 US Census was just over $50,000 per year and the average home value was $255,000.

9

History of Berwyn

In 1890 Charles E. Piper and Wilbur J. Andrews, two Chicago attorneys, purchased a 106-acre plot of land bounded by Wesley, Kenilworth, 31st Street, and Ogden Avenues. Piper and Andrews wanted the railroad to a build a station in their development, but when railroad officials refused, the developers decided to build a station on their own and the railroad agreed to stop there. The name they chose was “Berwyn,” after a beautiful subdivision outside of Philadelphia similar to the community they envisioned. Early development included the importing of thousands of maple, ash, cedar, poplar, and pine trees, which were planted throughout the area. After 1901, all settlements in the area were known as Berwyn.

On June 6, 1908, Berwyn became a city, receiving its official charter from the State of Illinois. The 1910 census recorded Berwyn’s population as 5,841. Large numbers of Czechs moved from the Pilsen area on Chicago’s near West Side to Berwyn and its neighbor on the east, Cicero. Literally thousands of new homes were built each year.

Berwyn’s construction boom continued into the “Roaring Twenties”, as farms and fields gave way overnight to new homes. Entire blocks were built at once, with contractors digging all basements simultaneously, and then bringing in crews to lay foundations, followed by carpenters, bricklayers and plasterers. Block after block of bungalows rose as Berwyn’s population swelled; from 14,150 in 1920 to 47,027 in 1930.

Today, Berwyn has the most significant collection of Chicago-style bungalows in the nation. Traditionally, Berwyn Bungalows are one-story buildings with basement and attic, two to three bedrooms, and a living and dining room. Decorative details included oak woodwork and stained glass windows. The finances of the owner at the time they were built determined the specific design of the windows, roofs, and interiors. These bungalows, built between the 1920’s through the 1940’s, range in style from smaller one or one-and-a-half story units to the larger, “super” bungalows, with two full stories, glazed brick exteriors and tile roofs.

During those years, Berwyn boasted of being the fastest growing city in the United States. Even as recently as 1991, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that “Berwyn has the highest concentration of financial institutions in the world - a tribute to the frugality of its forebears.” Cermak Road, Berwyn's primary business corridor was once known as “The Bohemian Wall Street.”

Now, just as in those early times, Berwynites are justly proud of “Beautiful Berwyn.” With its tree-lined streets, sturdy brick bungalows, and Victorian "painted ladies," Berwyn continues to be a stable, safe, and diverse community. With the continuing efforts of its homeowners, business community, civic organizations, and city government, Berwyn looks forward to its “second century” as it celebrates its rich and varied past.

(condensed from: http://www.berwyn.net/berwyn/history.asp)

10

Berwyn Area Amenities

Medical: The Chicagoland area boasts some of the finest medical facilities in the nation:

• Mac Neal Memorial Hospital – Berwyn

• Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital – LaGrange

• Loyola University Medical Center – Maywood

• West Suburban Hospital – Oak Park • Rush University Medical Center –

Chicago • UIC Medical Center – Chicago

Elementary Education: Berwyn is served by two K-8 public school districts:

• Berwyn North School District 98 - Havlicek Elementary School - Prairie Oak Elementary School - Jefferson Elementary School - Lincoln Middle School

• South Berwyn School District 100: - Emerson Elementary School - Hiawatha Elementary School - Irving Elementary School - Komensky Elementary School - Pershing Elementary School - Piper Elementary Schools - Freedom Middle School - Heritage Middle School.

• Lyons, Riverside, Brookfield, Oak Park, Cicero and other surrounding communities each have their own school districts

Secondary Education:

• J. Sterling Morton High School West - Berwyn

• Morton East High School – Cicero • Riverside Brookfield – Brookfield • Lyons Township – Lyons

Christian Schools:

• Timothy Christian – Elmhurst • Walther Lutheran High School –

Melrose Park

Colleges & Universities:

• Morton Community College – Cicero • Moraine Valley Community College –

Palos Hills • Northwestern University – Evanston • University of Illinois – Chicago

Campus • DePaul University – Chicago • University of Chicago • City Colleges of Chicago • North Park College – Chicago • Loyola University – Chicago

Christian Colleges:

• Moody Bible Institute – Chicago • Trinity International University –

Deerfield • Concordia College – Oak Park • Judson College – Elgin • Northern Baptist Seminary – Lombard

11

Berwyn Area Amenities

Berwyn has a growing arts community with a professional equity theater, an Arts Council and top notch music and entertainment venues. The area has become haven for artists who enjoy a vibrant and affordable alternative to Chicago. Berwyn is a very diverse community with many larger homes on its south side, and many smaller, bungalow-type homes on the north side around Roosevelt Road and Cermak Road. In addition, Chicago and its many suburbs are just minutes away with world class dining, shopping and entertainment venues all within a short drive. Parks and Recreation: Proksa Park comprises approximately 15 acres and is located between 29th and 31st streets. It contains numerous flower beds, 64 species of trees, 85 species of shrubs, as well as a small pond and stream. Recreational facilities include 3 tennis courts, 2 softball fields, and a large playground. Just off the street East Avenue is a large park called Janura Park. It has three baseball/softball diamonds and a hockey/basketball arena. Picturesque Lake Michigan is as little as 15 minutes away with beaches, fishing, boating and sailing. An 18 mile walking/biking trail runs the length of Chicago’s lakefront connecting its many beaches, museums and other attractions. In addition, the Chicagoland area boasts many Forest Preserve areas throughout Cook County. These areas have been left open so that residents can enjoy nature. Over 200 picnic groves, more than 100 miles of paved bicycle trails, over 200 miles of multi-use trails for equestrians, hikers and cross-country skiers, 10 golf courses, 4 driving ranges, 5 toboggan slides — the Forest Preserves offer an endless resource for recreation and pleasure. www.fpdcc.com Local Attractions

Historic Route 66 (Chicago to California) Ogden Avenue is part of the Historic Route 66 in Berwyn. An annual Vintage Car Show has been taking place in early September since 1990. Eight blocks on Ogden are “shut down” and hundreds of car enthusiasts come out to celebrate the spirit of Route 66. This presents a tremendous opportunity for Emmanuel as tens of thousands of people are walking right by our front door throughout the event. (We are located just behind the Auto Zone sign in the right-center of the picture.) Emmanuel

12

participates by opening our restrooms, passing out free popcorn and coffee, providing shaded tables and seating, setting up booths with ministry information, and performing live music with members of our worship team playing and singing outreach oriented material. Brookfield Zoo (4.2 miles) Located in Brookfield, Illinois; opened in 1934, is known for its extensive use of open-air, unbarred enclosures. It is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and is operated by the Chicago Zoological Society. Brookfield Zoo receives some 2 million visitors annually. The 216-acre zoo features more than 2,500 specimens comprising some 425 different species. Special attractions include the dolphin shows in the Seven Seas exhibit, a children’s zoo, and Tropic World, a vast enclosed exhibit of mixed species from the three main rainforest habitats of the world (African, Asian, and South American).

Museum Campus, Chicago (9.1 miles) Museum Campus Chicago is a 57-acre lakefront park in Chicago that surrounds three of the

city’s most notable museums, all dedicated to the natural sciences: the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History. Among the city’s top cultural draws, this scenic pedestrian-friendly area is landscaped with greenery and flora as well as jogging paths and walkways.

The Chicago lakefront and surrounding areas also offer world class museums like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, the Museum

of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Notebaert Nature Museum. Also nearby are Lincoln Park Zoo and Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.

Sports Teams and Stadiums

Major Leagues: • Chicago Bears, NFL – Soldier Field • Chicago White Sox, MLB, AL – U.S. Cellular Field • Chicago Cubs, MLB, NL – Wrigley Field • Chicago Black Hawks, NHL – United Center • Chicago Bulls, NBA – United Center

Minor Leagues: • Kane County Cougars, MWL – Elfstrom Stadium (Geneva) (Single A affiliate of

Oakland As) • Schaumburg Flyers, NoL - Alexian Field, (Schaumburg) (independent minor league) • Chicago Wolves, AHL – Allstate Arena (Rosemont) (Developmental league affiliate of

the Atlanta Thrashers)