History
Have you ever believed in something so deeply that you'd mortgage your home to pursue it? That's what a few families did in 1959 to make the dream of North Suburban Church a reality.
The Beginning
In May 1958 six families gathered in a Northbrook home to meet and pray about establishing a new church in the northern suburbs. Over time they met together, prayed together, and in June 1959 formally organized as a church with 24 charter members. Later that year they called their first Senior Pastor, Vern Olson.
In the fall of 1959 two acres of land near Lake Cook and Waukegan Roads became available. Believing that this was God’s perfect location for their new church, some of these families mortgaged their homes to raise the capital to buy this land. There were only 36 members at the time. After the loan was granted one of the bank officials said he couldn’t understand why the mortgage had been approved. The reason, we believe, was that God wanted a new church – North Suburban Evangelical Free Church – planted in this place.
The congregation was still holding their services in a temporary facility, but as attendance continued to grow it was clear that they needed their own building. So an additional building loan was soon secured. The one condition was that the people from the church would commit to 1500 hours of volunteer labor toward the construction of the first church building. And they did.
On March 1961 the North Suburban’s first building was completed.
Building / Expansion History
March 1961: the first building was completed and dedicated.
May 1967: a second building was completed and dedicated.
In 1968 an additional 1.75 acres were purchased.
On July 4, 1976 the third building, and current worship center, was completed and dedicated.
Current Mission
“From the Well, to the Word, to the World.”
This mission provides an easy-to-understand statement describing the discipleship aspirations and programs of our church. We are called to meet people where they are at (the Well), disciple them in the simplicity and profundity of Gospel truth (the Word), and send them out to where they live, work, and play to be transformative agents for God’s kingdom mission (the World).
Connect with people at The Well
Disciple them in The Word
Send them out as empowered Christians to transform The World
