WESTERN SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH | THE VILLAGE CHURCH
WESTERN SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH | THE VILLAGE CHURCH
A MESSAGE FROM
OUR PASTOR
Welcome!
We are delighted to welcome you to worship with us this week. I trust that you will sense the love of Christ here and that you will join us again. Our mission is “To Discover Christ and Display His Transforming Power.” We know that in this endeavor we will always be growing. There is so much to know and experience about Jesus. We are finding that this quest to know Christ is very fulfilling and we would like to invite you to join us.
If you have further questions about our church or about spiritual matters, please give us a call. I would love to get to know you personally and hear what God is doing in your life.
It is our prayer that you may have been strengthened and encouraged by your visit with us. May God bless you and may you experience the great hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Dean Monkemeier
“To Discover Christ and Display His Transforming Power.”
WESTERN SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH | THE VILLAGE CHURCH
OUR PASTORS
Dean Monkemeier
SENIOR PASTOR
Dean became our pastor in June of 2007. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1984. He served for 12 years as the pastor of Hinsdale Baptist Church (now known as Oak Community Church) in Hinsdale, Illinois. He was called to WSBC after ministering from 1996 to 2007 as the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lompoc, California.
Pastor Dean is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and the University of Illinois Chicago (BA History). He received his master’s of divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Dean has been married to Sherilyn since 1977 and they have three grown children: Matthew, married to Tia, Stephen and Ellen.
Steve Wolf
WORSHIP PASTOR
Steve joined the staff in August 2016 as our new Minister of Worship and Music. Prior to coming to WSBC, he had served as the Worship Pastor at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Woodbridge, CT for 23 years. Steve and his wife, Lisa, are originally from Pennsylvania where they met each other at Messiah College and both graduated in 1991. They have 2 sons: Elijah who is in the Army and Ben who is a Student at Lyons Township High School.
Joel Sisson
FAMILY PASTOR
At the heart of his ministry, Joel knows God has called him to faithfully model and teach people of all ages to know and grow in the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to become fully devoted mature followers of Jesus.
Prior to Joel joining our staff and church family as the Pastor of Family Ministries, he serve at Community Fellowship in West Chicago and Pleasant Hill Community Church in Wheaton. Joel is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield IL.
Here are a few things that Joel loves … "My Wife, Rhonda, and Kids, (Josie, Benji & Drew), Michigan football, Cubs baseball, Sunday afternoon naps, Cheering on my boys’ football & baseball teams, planning adventures and traveling with my family, my new puppy (Chocolate Lab, Ruby), sharing a great meal with family and friends, family huddles & hugs, making my award winning chili and sausage gravy, grilling, and creating something out of nothing from the Fridge."
Timothy Abbatacola
YOUTH MINISTER
Timothy and his wife Abigail came to WSBC in January of 2019. They met in Chicago at Moody Bible Institute where they both received degrees in Biblical Studies. Currently, Abi is a student at Rush University, earning her Masters in Nursing. They both love reading and eating and are excited to be a part of the family at WSBC.
WE ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE.
COME VISIT, OR GIVE US A CALL! WE WOULD LOVE TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
WESTERN SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH | THE VILLAGE CHURCH
OUR HISTORY
Our church was founded in 1912 by several resident families. Initially it was a store front meeting place for Sunday morning worship and Sunday School. When the church was two years old, the congregation voted not to join an association, but rather to remain an unaffiliated Baptist church, which it is to this day. In 1927 a basement sanctuary was built.
In 1943 Billy Graham, a recent graduate of Wheaton College, became pastor of the 100 member church. During his 21 months of ministry, "Songs In The Night," a well-known Sunday evening radio vesper service, began broadcasting from the church.
Lloyd Fesmire pastored the church from 1945 to 1965. He continued the radio ministry of "Songs In The Night." During this time, the church's commitment to missions grew. In 1947 an above-ground sanctuary was built. Space for Sunday School, library, offices, and nursery was added in 1954.
Art Brown pastored the church from 1967 until he retired in 1989. His pastorate brought an increased missions emphasis, particularly through outreach to inner city Chicago. Pastor Brown's ministry also strengthened a love and tolerance for other Christians resulting in the current diversity of denominational backgrounds within our congregation. In 1975 a community room/recreational facility was constructed.
Dick Norwood pastored the church from 1989 to 1993. Under his pastorate, an informal contemporary Sunday evening service evolved and a small-group intensive Bible study program began.
John Beukema pastored the church from 1996 to 2005. In 2001 the congregation moved from its current site to accommodate a major facility upgrade. The church returned to the new facility in January 2003 and experienced significant growth. Under Pastor Beukema's leadership, our governing structure was redesigned and our church constitution rewritten. This new structure was approved by the congregation in February, 2006.
Our present Pastor, Dean Monkemeier, has served the church since June 2007.
Billy Graham
In 1943 Billy Graham, a recent graduate of Wheaton College, became pastor of the 100 member church. During his 21 months of ministry, "Songs In The Night," a well-known Sunday evening radio vesper service, began broadcasting from the church.
"My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world." ~ Billy Graham, Former Pastor of the Village Church | Western Springs Baptist Church.