Page 163 - Grace150 Devotional

Since the church had decided to join the PCA, there was a shift during this time
in some church practices to align more closely with Presbyterian theology. One
thing that didn’t change was the commitment of the church to the Word of God
and faithful preaching from the Scriptures. The church also continued its strong
emphasis on Christian missions. But the physical appearance of the church
did need to change. The sanctuary was over 20 years old and showing a lot of
wear, and modern church buildings were incorporating video screens into their
worship centers. Pastor Queen initiated a complete remodel of the sanctuary with
a capital campaign called “Forward with Grace” in 1997.
In 2000, Dr. Ben Johnston was called to be senior pastor after the departure of
Pastor Queen, and the church leadership decided the time was right to look at
moving again. The church building was landlocked with little green space for
the children. The church had bought the office building across the street and was
using it for additional Sunday school space, but this meant that attendees had to
cross a state highway to go to and from Sunday school. They wanted a building
where everyone could be together safely with adequate parking and room for
future growth.

Sixty acres of land was purchased on Illinois Route 91 on the north side of Peoria,
and a capital campaign called “Future Grace” was started to raise money for a
new facility. Ground was broken on April 13, 2008, and the church held its first
worship service in its new church home on September 26, 2010.

devotions for the journey A-6