Spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming. Birds are singing, and two new churches are coming to the Sun City and Huntley area. Willow Creek Huntley will be based at the Huntley High School, and the Community Christian Church will be based in the Oak/Elm Room of the Meadow View Lodge in Sun City.
Faith: Non-denominational
Where: Oak/Elm Rooms Meadow View Lodge
Opens: Grand opening April 10, 10 a.m.
Services: 10 a.m. Sundays
Phone: 815-210-0600
Email: huntley@communitychristian.org
Web: communitychristian.org/huntley
Willow Creek Huntley
Faith: Non-denominational
Where: Performing Arts Center in Huntley High School
Opens: Grand opening April 24
Services: 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays
Phone: 847-765-5000
Email: info@willowcreek.org
Web: willowcreek.org/willowhuntley
Marcus Bieschke has been the pastor at Willow Creek McHenry County for the past 3 years and will be operating as the interim pastor for the time being at the Huntley Location.
“We think that we have a fantastic opportunity to have a multi-generation church…. It is a pretty extraordinary thing,” said Bieschke. “There are some incredible opportunities for the older generation to speak into the younger generations lives…. [Sun City residents are] an untapped treasure trove.”
The Christian Community Church had the same feelings. Perry Martin of N. 1 will be the pastor for the Sun City Christian Community Church, heretofore referred to as CCC. Their main focus is small groups. “[We want] to build relationships with people,” said Martin. “I got a heart for ministry [for Sun City Residents]. [The church has] been about a year and a half in the making.”
Both churches have a strong desire to help others in any way that they can.
“Our volunteer army would love to swoop in and build [a] community [with the Sun City residents],” said Bieschke.
“We have a love for people and outreach,” said Martin.
This outreach has taken a very similar form for both churches.
“We are trying to solve the problem of the ‘un-churched,’ and we want to be a different kind of church,” said Bieschke.
“[We want] to help people find their way back to God…. [We are] helping people in any way that we can,” said Martin.
Community Christian Church’s grand opening will be April 10 at 10 a.m. in the Oak/Elm room at the Meadowview Lodge.
Willow Creek Huntley will have an Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. at Huntley High School on April 10. April 17 will be home to their “Celebration of Hope,” at 10:30 a.m., which will involve volunteers packing vegetable seeds to help people in Africa. Willow Huntley’s grand opening will be on April 24 at Huntley High School. Services will be held at 9 and 10:30 a.m.
