Local Missions

Your Chance to Create Lasting Change!

Together, we’re building a stronger community! Northwoods has partnered with exceptional organizations that are transforming lives right
where we live. Our neighbors face real challenges—and together, we’re meeting those needs with compassion and dedication.
When you give your valuable time, or contribute financially, you become part of something bigger than yourself. The Northwoods Church
community doesn’t just talk about making a difference—we roll up our sleeves and make it happen! Every hour volunteered, and every dollar
donated, creates ripples of positive change that touch countless lives.
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Local Partners

Parachurch Organizations

Local Missionaries

Upcoming Events

Local Partners

Northwoods partners with local ministries in order to help people in the communities around us. Through financial support and volunteer
service, the people of Northwoods are making a difference! Find out more about each ministry below.

Ready to Serve Ready to Give

Dream Center Peoria

Volunteers engage in a variety of high-impact ministries and meet practical needs in the city center, including serving in the emergency
shelter, thrift store, youth programs, and summer programs.

MINISTRY HOMEPAGE

Donate to the Dream Center Hope Store

The Hope Store is part of the DCP Cares initiative to provide free clothing and household items to people in need in the Peoria area. We are
excited to partner with them to bring hope and healing through the provision of these physical needs.
The Peoria Campus is a drop-off location for Hope Store donations.

Needed Items

Adult & Teen Challenge: Greater Midwest

Volunteers can help ATC evangelize and disciple men facing the life-controlling issues of addiction by serving in a thrift store or as part of the
annual fundraising banquet team.

Ministry Homepage

Midwest Food Bank

Help Midwest Food Bank alleviate hunger and poverty by gathering and then distributing free food and relief to different groups and disaster sites.
Volunteers also prepare meal packets and package other items

Ministry Homepage

South Side Mission

Through giving of their time and compassion, volunteers can serve through multiple initiatives that offer food, shelter, and clothing as well as
spiritual guidance and life mentoring. There are home repair projects to join, too!

Ministry Homepage

Pathway Ministries

formerly Peoria Rescue Ministries

There are a range of roles to serve in that provide emergency services for men, recovery ministries for men and women, pregnancy and
parenting services, counseling, and even vocational assistance.

Ministry Homepage

Operation Christmas Child

There are two dedicated volunteer groups committed to advancing the mission of Operation Christmas Child. The first group, comprising
members from Northwoods and several other churches, meets monthly at M.H. Equipment to pack shoeboxes in preparation for National
Collection Week and the Northwoods Collection. The second group volunteers during October and November to set up and collect
shoeboxes at Northwoods.

More Information

Parachurch Organizations that Northwoods Supports

A parachurch organization is a Christian faith-based organization that focus on a specialized ministry. They operate alongside and serve the
local Church without being under the oversight of a single church.

LifeWise

LifeWise is a nonprofit that provides Bible education to public school students during school hours through released-time religious instruction
because they believe each student should receive the opportunity to hear the Gospel and learn about the Bible. Lifewise Academy now
serves over 150 school districts nationwide.

Ministry Homepage

Good News Club

Good News Clubs, after-school Bible clubs for children, are active in Peoria, IL, and are organized by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) of
Illinois. These clubs, which typically meet in schools or community centers, offer Bible lessons, games, songs, and other activities. Good
News Clubs aim to share the Gospel and provide children with a positive, faith-based environment.

Ministry Homepage

Safe Families for Children

Safe Families exists to support families in crisis. Safe Families surrounds families in crisis with a caring and compassionate community of
volunteers who are vetted and approved. They work quickly to connect children with a volunteer family, who can care for them while the
parent works on goals and the environment stabilizes. The goal is to keep kids safe and families intact. Once a parent has achieved their
goals, they work with parents to reunite the family as soon as possible. They can support families (upon volunteer availability) in McLean,
Livingston, Dewitt, Peoria, Knox, Bureau, Marshall, Woodford and Tazewell counties.

Ministry Homepage

The Christian Center

The Christian Center proclaims the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a safe environment to people of all ages. They encourage
spiritual growth and character development through quality athletic programs, recreation, and activities.

Ministry Homepage

Peoria Christian School

At Peoria Christian School, faith is at the heart of learning. Teachers integrate Scripture into every subject, and students grow spiritually
through weekly chapels, discipleship groups, and service opportunities.

Ministry Homepage

Local Missionaries

Bill & Stacey Allison, Cadre Missionaries

Bill and Stacey are dedicated disciple-making missionaries with Cadre Missionaries, committed to helping individuals find and follow Jesus.
They offer engaging and interactive disciple-making training experiences to local churches and ministries, aiming to cultivate a community
where disciples continuously make more disciples, thereby expanding the body of Christ.

Ministry Homepage

Mickeisha Armstrong, Young Lives

Mickeisha serves Young Life’s program called ‘Young Lives’, which offers hope to at-risk pregnant teens and teen moms in central Illinois.
Their mission is to support pregnant and parenting teens through mentorship, community, and a life with Christ.

Ministry Homepage

Sadey Rose, Youth for Christ

Sadey serves with Youth for Christ, providing leadership to the Chillicothe, Illinois area. Their mission is to reach young people by working
together with local churches to raise up life-long followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the word of God, and
prayer.

Ministry Homepage