Two Services, Two Styles on East Route 36
Antioch Christian Church sits along East U.S. Route 36 on the east side of Decatur, Illinois, just past Long Creek. From that location the church has served Decatur and the surrounding Macon County communities for decades, and today it draws a multi-generational crowd for two distinct Sunday morning services.
At 9:00 AM, the sanctuary fills with a traditional service. At 10:30 AM, a contemporary service takes over with a different feel and a different band. Both meet at 5409 East U.S. Route 36, and both open the same way: a friendly welcome, authentic worship, and teaching that aims to apply the truth of the Bible to everyday life. Visitors are invited to come as they are.
For those who cannot be there in person, services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and recorded messages are available afterward.
ACC KIDS: From the Nursery Through Sixth Grade
Children are a major part of Sunday at Antioch. ACC KIDS runs during both the 9:00 and 10:30 AM services for children from birth through sixth grade, and the whole church, including the adults in the sanctuary, studies the same story each week so that families can talk about it together on the way home.
The nursery cares for children from birth through age three with toys, videos, and music time, staffed by volunteers who love their work. Wee Worship welcomes three-year-olds through first graders in a setting built around engaging Bible stories and caring teachers. Junior Church gathers second through sixth graders for deeper connection and faith formation.
The curriculum used across all three rooms is The Gospel Project, which walks chronologically through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Sunday School classes run at both the 9:00 and 10:30 AM services for all ages, reinforcing the morning's lesson with verse memorization, a craft, and an activity. Throughout the year, families look forward to Family Night Live events and holiday gatherings. First-time families can pre-register online to make check-in quicker.
ACC Youth: Middle and High School
ACC Youth is the church's ministry for students in seventh through twelfth grade, led by Youth Minister Jennifer Love, who has served in children and youth ministry since 1997 and has been at Antioch since 2015. The goal is straightforward: prepare students to continue their faith after graduation, help them discover their spiritual gifts, and encourage Christ-centered lives.
During the school year, the youth group meets on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Nights include fun activities, engaging discussion, and time with peers from the broader Decatur community. Beyond Sunday nights, the group takes trips, runs service projects, and hosts family events. Adult leaders are background-checked, and a Youth Activities Consent Form is available from the church.
Life Groups and the Rooted Journey
For adults looking for community beyond Sunday morning, Life Groups meet both on and off campus, on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. Life Groups are the best place to meet people, experience community, and grow spiritually. A current list of groups is available from the church, and interested visitors can text GROUPS to (833) 452-3386.
The flagship small-group experience at Antioch is Rooted, a 10-week discipleship journey built around seven rhythms: Daily Devotion, Prayer, Repentance, Serving the Community, Sacrificial Generosity, Sharing Your Story, and Worship. Rooted is designed to connect people with God, with the church, and with their purpose. The next Rooted experience is set to begin in January 2027.
Men, Women, Seniors, and a Community Garden
Personal Growth at Antioch takes many shapes. The Personal Growth Ministry runs seasonal classes on everything from car basics and canning to cooking, art, gardening, parenting, and marriage.
Men's Ministry centers on a men's breakfast held at the church on the second Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM. It is a time for food, fellowship, and a short devotional. A separate (MEN)toring Men's Fellowship Group hosts events for men and boys ages twelve and up, focused on fellowship and mentorship.
Women's Ministry offers occasional Bible studies, ladies' craft nights, and a few annual events including a December Christmas gathering. The Ladies' Card and Prayer Ministry meets at the church every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM to send cards of encouragement, sympathy, prayer, and appreciation. Mothers receive a special gift on Mother's Day.
The Seniors' Ministry is a fellowship of retirees that gathers for monthly luncheons, bus trips, and other events listed on the church calendar.
The Garden Ministry grows both people and vegetables. Volunteers maintain the church's Community Garden and help provide food and Sunday morning snacks. The Property Ministry handles maintenance and monthly inspections, while the Safety and Security Ministry conducts risk assessments, trains medical responders, and provides active coverage during Sunday services.
Care in Hard Seasons
Two ongoing ministries walk alongside people in difficult places. H.U.G.S. is a support group for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one. Its goal is to make sure no one feels alone in grief, surrounded instead by friends who understand first-hand. H.U.G.S. meets weekly on Thursdays at 4:00 PM at the church.
A Cancer Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:00 to 6:00 PM in the ACC Library, offering a safe and encouraging space for cancer patients, past and present, to share their experiences. Questions about either group can be sent by texting SUPPORT to (833) 452-3386.
The Servant Ministry supports families during times of sickness, need, or bereavement, organizing funeral dinners and other church functions.
What We Believe
Antioch Christian Church holds to a classical evangelical statement of faith. The church teaches that the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority for Christian faith and life. There is one God, Creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now serves as High Priest and Advocate at the right hand of God. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates the believing sinner, and indwells, guides, and empowers believers for godly living.
Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. The church practices believer's baptism by immersion as part of the confession of faith, and members are received through confession of faith in Christ, baptism by immersion, and a personal commitment to the church's beliefs.
The church also affirms the bodily resurrection of the dead: believers to everlasting blessedness with the Lord, and unbelievers to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. The church teaches that heterosexual intimacy within marriage is a gift of God, alongside the broader biblical standards of chastity, monogamy, and fidelity.
Connect217 and Global Missions
Connect217 is the church's outreach arm, with a name that nods to Decatur's 217 area code. The aim is simple: establish connections with people inside and outside the building, and with God. The church's working rhythm is to Love, Grow, Serve, and Go, and to keep going, taking the love of Jesus Christ into the wider community.
Missions giving is a significant part of life at Antioch. In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the congregation gave over $82,000 to missions around the world. Supported ministries and organizations include Child Evangelism Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), Deaf Missions, Fellowship Associates of Medical Evangelism (FAME), God's Shelter of Love, International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES), Johnson University, Just 4 Them, Lincoln Christian University, Little Galilee Christian Camp, Mathetes Philippines Mission, Oblong Christian Children's Home, Pioneer Bible Translator, and White Fields Overseas Evangelism.
Leadership
Steve DeVore has served as Lead Pastor of Antioch Christian Church since October 1994. He holds a B.A. and an M.Div. from Lincoln Christian University and lives in Decatur with his wife, Kerry. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.
Nate Nicol joined the staff as Worship Minister in spring 2022. A graduate of Millikin University with a Bachelor of Music, he brings years of experience as a music producer, audio engineer, and technical director across multiple genres. He and his wife live in Decatur with their two children.
Jennifer Love is the Youth Minister. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from Lincoln Christian University and has served in children and youth ministry since 1997. She and her husband, Todd, live in Decatur and have two grown children.
Angie Rushing leads ACC KIDS as Children's Minister. She holds a B.S. in Education from Indiana University and lives in Mt. Zion with her husband, two kids, and two dogs. She began her role at Antioch in 2014.
Getting Here and Getting Connected
The church is located at 5409 East U.S. Route 36, Decatur, IL 62521. The phone number is (217) 864-3444, and the general email is antiochc@comcast.net. Sunday worship times are 9:00 AM (traditional) and 10:30 AM (contemporary).
Visitors can fill out a Connection Card online, follow along with services via the church's YouTube livestream, or download the Church Center app for iOS and Android to stay connected throughout the week. Giving is also available online through Church Center. Antioch maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram, where updates and Connect217 stories appear regularly.