Ever wonder how a church grows from a basement to a multi-site community hub? The story of Christ Church of Oak Brook is quite inspiring. Founded in 1965, Christ Church began in the basement of Rev. Arthur and Gladys DeKruyter. They envisioned “a church for the community” in Oak Brook. Services soon moved to the Butler School gymnasium.
In 1968, with just 82 families, Christ Church took a leap of faith. The congregation pledged $217000 to build a permanent church. Some members even took out second mortgages. They built a sanctuary to hold 1200 people despite an average attendance of only 450. The members believed God had big plans for Christ Church.
Indeed, they were right. From its opening on Palm Sunday 1970, Christ Church grew rapidly. It was grounded on six pillars. These included strong preaching, excellent worship music, and effective children’s ministries. Advanced communications, competent caregiving, and mission outreach also played key roles.
In 1997, Rev. DeKruyter retired. A new chapter began under Rev. Dr. Daniel and Amy Meyer. Christ Church renewed its intergenerational focus and expanded global outreach. The six pillars evolved into “Worship, Grow, and Serve”. This encompassed numerous ministries impacting thousands of lives.
Christ Church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. Soon after, it embarked on significant mission expansion. In 2018, a second location opened in Butterfield which was formerly Downers Grove. A major renovation and expansion of the Oak Brook campus also took place. In 2019, Christ Church acquired the former Fountain of Life church in Lombard. The Butterfield congregation relocated to this seven-acre campus.
The recently renovated Christ Church of Oak Brook features modern amenities. It boasts a 1100-seat contemporary service space. This complements its 1100-seat classic worship sanctuary. The new auditorium includes three 19- by 11-foot LED screens. It also features state-of-the-art sound and lighting. Multiple seating arrangements are available. You’ll find traditional chairs, theater seats, couches, cafe tables, and bar-height tables with outlets.
Renovations included new entrances and glass sanctuary doors. A hospitality atrium and lobby improvements were added. Accessibility was improved with a raised parking lot. New outdoor light fixtures use less power. Stone pavers help manage rainwater. Landscaping improvements complete the picture.
Christ Church is unique. It is a nondenominational church offering both contemporary and classic worship styles. These fit a myriad of faith backgrounds. Today, Christ Church thrives at its Oak Brook and Butterfield Corridor locations. It offers six weekend worship services. These services have various expressions. A rich range of spiritual growth resources is provided. The church offers a selection of services aimed at changing the world for good. Christ Church invites everyone to join them. They want you to help shape the next exciting era of Christ Church.