BEGINNINGS IN MINONK ILLINOIS
On October 20, 2019, Redeemer Community Church held the first Sunday morning services in Fieldcrest High School’s Gym in Minonk, Illinois. This was the culmination of an idea that was born when a group of area pastors began meeting in 2016 to pray about reaching the surrounding communities.
While those pastors were meeting and discussing the possibility of planting a church in Minonk, God was training a young pastor to lead it. Erik Johnson, an Illinois native, was serving on staff with Crosspoint Community Church in Eureka, Illinois, in 2016. That year, he took on an associate role, having also led student ministries and worship during his 15 years there. When the plans for a church plant in Minonk began to take shape, they turned to Erik. In March, 2018, Erik and his wife, Bree, were asked to consider taking that step of faith. God had already been at work in their lives, leading them to ask, “What’s one next step of faith we can take? Are we holding our lives loosely and not tightly?” They prayed about the opportunity to lead the plant in Minonk and jumped in.
Since that first Sunday, over 90% of Redeemer’s regular attenders are people who live or work in Minonk or one of the other small towns in the Fieldcrest school district. The young church continues to grow as the original launch team of almost 40 people (adults and kids) continue to serve faithfully each week. Redeemer participated in the Minonk Parade of Lights in December. This is a community-wide event. Redeemer had a float in the parade while volunteers walked alongside the float handing out invites to the Christmas Eve service and “What is the Gospel?” booklets. Through simple community involvement opportunities like this along with faithful Bible centered teaching, Redeemer continues to see the community grow in their understanding of the gospel and its impact on everyday life!
