About Northwoods
Who We Are
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.
Inviting broken-world people to experience complete freedom in Christ Jesus
Values
Evangelistic Heartbeat
Your Subtitle Goes Here
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
Your Subtitle Goes Here
We will uphold the authority of the Scriptures while pursuing the power of the Spirit! Anchor Verse: Matthew 22:29
Forgiveness & Freedom
Your Subtitle Goes Here
We will expect those who are forgiven to walk in increasing freedom from bondage! Anchor Verse: Luke 4:18-19
Empowered People
Your Subtitle Goes Here
We will equip our people and entrust them with opportunities to serve and lead. Anchor Verse: 1 Peter 4:10
Grander Vision
Your Subtitle Goes Here
We will lead people to live beyond themselves for greater kingdom impact! Anchor Verse: Matthew 28:19-20
Four Steps and 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
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
Statement of Faith
About God
Your Subtitle Goes Here
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. Anchor Verse: Luke 19:10
About Man
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
About Eternity
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
About Jesus Christ
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
About Salvation
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
About Eternal Security
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
About the Holy Spirit
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
About the Bible
Your Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce placerat finibus diam eget hendrerit. Pellentesque ac urna fringilla, malesuada arcu quis, varius sapien. Nullam vitae justo in turpis efficitur fringilla sagittis fringilla dui. Maecenas pretium erat eu tempus mattis. Nullam faucibus consequat massa ut vulputate.
Our Associations
Northwoods is part of the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches.
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.