Check back often to learn how God is working through our Bold Compassion, Bold Discipleship and Bold Growth initiatives.
April 2019 Update July 2019 Update October 2019 Update March 2020 Update June 2020 Update October 2020 Update
Unleashing a fresh wave of help and hope through our local and global mission partners.
Nearly every month in 2020, volunteers at West Side delivered care packages to widows, widowers, and older senior adults in our community. What a fantastic way to show love and...
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In a season where many schools aren't able to gather in person, we wanted to do everything we could to support and encourage kids, students, and educators. Westsiders, because of...
289 lives were saved through two blood drives at West Side! A big "Thanks!" to everyone who donated. We are grateful for the chance to give back to our community...
On May 22, we participated in a themed parade for our local mission partners and friends with special needs. Since the shutdown began, we’ve been unable to serve our friends...
1580 cards were dropped off at local care facilities on May 14! Residents were unable to visit their friends and loved ones for weeks during the coronavirus pandemic. These notes...
On May 1, Westsiders delivered 350 bouquets and invites to TCO and 250 care packages for senior adults throughout the Springfield area! These flowers acted as a reminder that there...
Springfield’s homeless communities were hit hard by the pandemic. When we learned Washington Street Mission’s Transitional House was in need of beds, we couldn’t let the need go unmet. Purchasing...
More than six weeks into the shutdown, the need for food persisted, so we hosted a porch pick up food drive to help feed those who could use a hand...
On April 8, over 400 DOZEN donuts were delivered throughout Springfield and surrounding areas, along with an invitation to Easter at West Side. What a fun way to invite others...
Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic we made additional financial donations to our mission partners for each person who completed a Connection Card for the first time on Sunday mornings. This effort...
Westsiders quickly mobilized to donate and prepare over 300 boxes of food for families in our community. Every box was delivered by local educators and principals, bringing help and hope...
Because of the collective generosity of Westsiders in this season, we released additional gifts to Missions of Hope International (Kenya), My Hope Christian Mission (Myanmar), and Central India Christian Mission....
The FEARLESS generosity of Westsiders enabled us to make a $10,000 gift in December of 2019 to local organizations that serve the under-resourced to purchase winter coats, hats, and more....
We shined a light on some of the tremendous kingdom work being done by our local and global mission partners in December of 2019 by sending some extra financial support...
A group of Westsiders traveled to New England to serve alongside Restoration House Ministries, a church planting organization serving the New England area. The group completed painting and light...
Every month, dozens of Westsiders serve alongside our mission partner organizations, bringing a wave of help and hope through painting, landscaping, cleaning, organizing, and more. Serving sites include Contact Ministries,...
In partnership with Christian Dominican Medical Mission, this group of Westsiders served in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in August of 2019. The team assisted Dominican churches by hosting VBS events,...
From June 12-15, West Side junior high and high school students served alongside Love The Lou and Oasis International (both non-profit ministries based in St. Louis, MO) to bring the...
From June 5-15, a team of 28 Westsiders shared the love of Jesus with those living in the Mathare Valley. While in Kenya, they served alongside our mission partners...
April 12 was one for the books! Our friends with special needs walked the red carpet and enjoyed a night of dancing, food, photos and “royal treatment.” Thanks to all...
1.4 billion people live in India, but only about 4% have a growing relationship with Jesus. On Easter Sunday, Central India Christian Mission (one of West Side’s strategic ministry partners)...
On Easter Sunday (April 21), three Christian churches in Sri Lanka and several hotels in the capital city of Colombo were targeted in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks, resulting...
In December, funds were sent to construct a new prison ministry in Myanmar with construction scheduled for completion in June! In this region of the world, family members often travel...
Fueling West Side’s ongoing ministry to kids, students and adults.
In October, fifteen high school students began a new Apprenticeship Program at West Side. This crew is volunteering 10+ hours EVERY WEEK at West Side through Hospitality, Care, Communications, Worship,...
On Sunday, June 28, we reopened our campus for in-person worship! Obviously, things were not "back to normal" when it comes to how we do church. However, we are celebrating...
Our newest session of Rooted kicked off in September of 2020, with dozens of Westsiders choosing to invest in this next step of their spiritual journey. This session also marks...
Junior High and High School Groups, environments that exist to provide students a place to make friends and grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus, kicked back off this fall....
West Side is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday! In September of 2020, we started using YouTube LIVE on Sundays in addition to TryChurchOnline.com. Check out our page & subscribe at...
Summer wasn't canceled in 2020! Even though students at West Side were unable to attend their typical summer camp experience, Night Camp proved to be an incredible experience where students...
Westsiders who were eager to worship alongside one another but not ready to be on campus organized "Watch Parties" in their garages. What an incredible, life-giving way to connect in...
In many ways, 2020 has not been awesome. Yet when the world seemed to encourage us to grumble and complain, Westsiders continued to choose joy and bring hope, even when...
West Side’s students made an impact during the stay-at-home order! In a season where teens could easily justify boredom and discontent, these students decided to flip the script and bring...
We quickly learned that even small groups were unable to meet during the shelter-in-place season. Many of our Rooted Groups and Small Groups soon realized they could remain connected through...
Parents took the lead on providing kids church at home using resources provided by West Side’s kids and student staff. Even while apart, Westsiders have participated in age-specific worship activities...
Over a hundred high school students and their leaders joined together on Zoom for “HSM Online.” During the pandemic, these students also shared inspiration through daily devotions on Instagram. In...
In January 2020, nearly a hundred Westsiders committed to growing in their connection to God, the church, and their purpose through the Rooted experience. Groups shared their stories, stepped out...
Big Give Sunday in 2018 and 2019 were lead opportunities to give toward Fearless. Westsiders, your incredible generosity not only enabled us to move forward quickly on construction, but also...
From December 2018 to September 2020, we've gotten to participate in 234 baptisms! God has given us the task of telling EVERYONE what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God...
In November of 2019, we celebrated our fall session of Rooted, a 10-week discipleship experience. We also recognized a significant milestone - we've had over 1,000 people experience Rooted at...
SEVENTY-NINE people went all-in with Jesus on Baptism Day at West Side, one of our favorite days of the year.
Beginning September 1, 2019, over 20,000 Bible studies and resources were made available for free to EVERY Westsider. If you don’t have a RightNow Media account yet, visit wschurch.org/RNM
On July 29, 6th-8th graders from West Side began the BEST week of their summer at CIY Mix! What’s better than blacklight dodgeball, amazing food, zip lines, giant water slides,...
Suffering. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” It’s inevitable. For ALL of us. Fortunately, STRENGTH can be found in the midst of SUFFERING. On Mother’s Day, Katherine Wolf...
Rooted is a 10-week experience designed to catalyze life transformation. In January 2019, nearly 200 Westsiders participated in Rooted for the first time.
Over 200 students from West Side experienced the BEST week of their summer at CIY MOVE, a 5-day event for high schoolers designed to amplify the call of Christ on...
In February, 255 kids and students attended Believe and Superstart, high-energy weekend events designed to help the next generation grow in their relationships with God, friends and caring adult leaders....
Expanding our campus to make room for EVERYONE who does not yet know the love, hope and freedom of Jesus Christ.
Construction was temporality paused during the stay-at-home order. Thanks to the AWESOME generosity of Westsiders, construction resumed at the beginning of June!
The exterior of Phase Two is nearly complete! Once this section is dried-in, the remainder of the construction project will be comprised of interior work.
Thanks to the continued generosity of Westsiders, construction on the exterior portion of the final segment of our new building began on June 1. We nicknamed this section “the connector”...
In February 2020, walls of our new Worship Center were erected in a week’s time. While construction slowed during the shutdown, the roof was completed in May. We’re confident God...
Construction on West Side’s new worship center, café and additional concourse space began on December 16, 2019. With God’s help, our goal is for West Side to impact 10,000 people...
The new Main Entrance at West Side opened on Sunday, December 15, with the Multi-Purpose Room and Kids Wing following soon after!
Construction on West Side’s new kids wing and concourse addition kicked off on March 4. This space will include over 12,000 sq ft of additional children’s worship & activity space,...
The foundation is complete and the construction of steel beams has begun on the new kid’s wing and main entrance at West Side! Join us as we continue to boldly...
Even as buckets of rain have poured on Central Illinois, construction crews have stayed hard at work on West Side’s campus. You can now see the walls of the expanded...
Construction on West Side’s new kids wing and concourse addition kicked off on March 4. This space will include over 12,000 sq ft of additional children’s worship & activity...
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