About Northwoods Church
About Us
Northwoods Community Church started in 1990 with a vision to reach the 150,000 people in the greater Peoria area who did not have a relationship with Jesus and needed a church home.
Now, more than 30 years later, Northwoods continues to flourish and impacts thousands of lives every week. Originating in Peoria, campuses now serve the communities surrounding in Canton as well. Online ministry reaches many thousands more through the web, social media, and streaming—not only in Central Illinois but all around the world.
For a detailed look at key highlights and milestones in Northwoods history, check out this timeline.
Vision
Northwoods Church believes that local churches can be the wellspring of hope in every community. To that end, by the year 2030, we will plant 20 regional churches in the United States and 3,000 churches around the world.
Mission
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Inviting broken-world people to experience complete freedom in Christ Jesus
Values
WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?
Evangelistic Heartbeat
We will continue to reach out to broken-world people in an effort to bring them to Christ!
Anchor Verse: Luke 19:10
Word & Spirit Culture
We will uphold the authority of the Scriptures while pursuing the power of the Spirit!
Anchor Verse: Matthew 22:29
Forgiveness & Freedom
We will expect those who are forgiven to walk in increasing freedom from bondage!
Anchor Verse: Luke 4:18-19
Empowered People
We will equip our people and entrust them with opportunities to serve and
lead.
Anchor Verse: 1 Peter 4:10
Grander Vision
We will lead people to live beyond themselves for greater kingdom impact!
Anchor Verse: Matthew 28:19-20
Strategy
HOW DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?
Four Steps and E4 Growth Track
Step One: Start
Encounter God
Encountering Jesus in the fullness of His love and power
Supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ kindles life change in us.
Step Two: Connect
Establish In Groups
Established in God's Word and in loving relationships
The Bible grounds us in God's truth. Relationships with God's people ground us in love.
Step Three: Discover
Equip For Serving
Equipped to share the words and do the works of Jesus
Proper training enables us to effectively share the words and do the works of Jesus.
Step Four: Serve
Engage Our World
Engaged to take God's love and power to a needy world
The goal of God's redemptive work in us is that we might be agents of redemption in our world, taking his love and power to the streets.
Measures
WHEN ARE WE SUCCESSFUL?
Alignment
Am I aligned with God? I am aligned with God.
Anchor Scripture: Proverbs 8:34, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 10:27
Peace
Am I at peace? I am at peace within.
Anchor Scripture: Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:15, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 1:14b
Harmony
Am I in harmony? I am in harmony with others.
Anchor Scripture: Romans 12:18, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, James 2:13, Colossians 3:13-14, 1 Peter 4:8
Freedom
Am I free? I am free from accusation.
Anchor Scripture: Romans 8:1, Romans 13: 13-14, Romans 8:29, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 3:6, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 1:22
Joy
Am I joyful? I am walking in joy.
Anchor Scripture: Romans 12:11, 2 Timothy 1:6, 1 Peter 1:8=9, Ephesians 5:18-20
Courage
Am I courageous? I am courageously taking faith risks.
Anchor Scripture: Mark 11:23, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 3:21
More about Northwoods
Statement of Faith
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2
About Man
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; 59:1-2; Romans 3:23
About Eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; I John 2:25; 5:11-13; Romans 6; Revelation 20:15
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:1-15; I Corinthians 15:34; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 5:1; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26
About Eternal Security
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.
John 10:29; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10-14; I Peter 1:3-5
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:1
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
II Timothy 3:16; 1:13; II Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6
Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26–27) Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18–25) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2–5; Hebrews 13:4) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that marriage ceremonies are Christian worship services that celebrate the covenant made between a man and a woman before God.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matthew 15:18–20; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Northwoods Community Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Northwoods Community Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Northwoods Community Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22)
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19–21; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11)
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Northwoods Community Church.
