North Suburban Mennonite Church (Libertyville, Illinois, USA)
The North Suburban Mennonite Church, Libertyville, Illinois, USA, had its roots in 1983 when Joe and Emma Richards of the Lombard Mennonite Church encouraged four couples who attended their church to be a Mennonite presence where they lived in the far northern suburbs of Chicago. In 1984, the group decided to start a church, and by February 1985, they began worshipping together on Sunday evenings in homes, calling themselves the North Suburban Mennonite Fellowship. With the support of Lombard Mennonite Church, the small church began looking for a building and a pastor.
In 1986 the group met in the Coldwell Banker Realty community room in Mundelein. It moved to Lincoln Elementary School in 1987 but returned to the community room when the rent became excessive. In 1989 the group began to meet in homes. In the 1990s, the congregation met at Faith Lutheran Church (now The Chapel) in Mundelein. From 2000 to 2005, the group met at Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church, also in Mundelein. On 7 August 2005, it moved to the Libertyville Civic Center in downtown Libertyville.
The congregation joined the Illinois Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church (MC) in 1990, the Central District Conference in 1992, and the General Conference Mennonite Church in 1997. In 2005, after the realignment of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church into Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada, the congregation decided to affiliate only with the Illinois Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA.
In 2023 the congregation remained part of the Illinois Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA.
Bibliography
"History of NSMC." North Suburban Mennonite Church. 2021. Web. 5 January 2023. https://northsuburban.org/about/history/.
Rich, Elaine Sommers, ed. Walking Together in Faith: The Central District Conference, 1957-1990. Bluffton, Ohio: The Conference, 2003: 85.
Westing, Julie. "A brief history of North Suburban Mennonite Church." Central District Reporter 38, no. 4 (July-August 1994): 6.
Additional Information
Meeting Address: Libertyville Civic Center, Upper Level, 135 West Church St., Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Phone: 224-600-7740
Website: https://northsuburban.org/
Denominational Affiliations: Illinois Mennonite Conference
Pastoral Leaders at North Suburban Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Visiting Ministers | 1984-1987 |
| Keith L. Espenshade | 1987-1988 |
| Lay Leadership | 1989-1990 |
| David Myers | 1990-1991 |
| Lay Leadership | 1991-1993 |
| Dorothy Kratz | 1993-1995 |
| David Kerner (Interim) |
1996 2002-2005 |
| Robert Shuford | 1996-1999 |
| Lay Leadership | 1999-2002 |
| Mark L. Vincent | 2005-2009 |
| Anne Munley | 2005- |
| Linda Wiens | 2007-2008 |
| Roland G. Kuhl | 2008-2015 |
| James Hamrick | 2012-2014 |
| Ric Hudgens | 2016-2021 |
| Shane O'Leary | 2022- |
Membership at North Suburban Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 17 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | January 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "North Suburban Mennonite Church (Libertyville, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2023. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=North_Suburban_Mennonite_Church_(Libertyville,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178247.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (January 2023). North Suburban Mennonite Church (Libertyville, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=North_Suburban_Mennonite_Church_(Libertyville,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178247.
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