A Long Heritage on Old Grand Avenue
Gurnee Community Church sits at 4555 Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee, Illinois, and traces its roots to February 11, 1860, when twelve charter members formed the Church of Christ at Gurnee. It was the first church in Warren Township and for ninety-three years the only one. Early worship services were held in the District 1 Schoolhouse along the Des Plaines River in the town of Wentworth, now Gurnee, and baptisms by immersion were performed in the river itself, even in winter when the ice had to be broken first.
In 1879 the congregation built a simple one-room Meeting House at a cost of about $1,200 in materials, with all the labor donated by the leader of the group and members and friends of the church. Services began there in 1880. Not until 1900 did the word "Pastor" enter the records, since many earlier leaders were seminary students rather than ordained ministers. In 1919 the church left the Disciples of Christ denomination and became a community church. By 1920 forty families belonged out of 247 in Warren Township, with average Sunday attendance of about seventy.
In 1923 the original building was moved by teams of horses about a half mile to the present Old Grand Avenue location. Additions brought the total to nine rooms. In 1961 the original structure was razed and the congregation worshiped in a new Fellowship Hall, by which point attendance had grown to more than 400 families across two services. A Sanctuary and Community Room were dedicated in 1976, both of which still function today as a gym and meeting room. Construction of the current Sanctuary began in the early 2000s and was dedicated in 2002, with an unfinished portion deliberately left as a gift to the next generation of believers who will call Gurnee Community Church home.
Two Sunday Services, One Sermon
From Labor Day through Memorial Day, the church gathers twice on Sunday morning in the Sanctuary, with both services carrying the same sermon. At 9:00 a.m. the music leans traditional, mostly hymns, and the service is livestreamed. At 10:45 a.m. the style shifts to a more contemporary worship band; that hour also includes a children's message and TruKids Sunday School for children from birth through fifth grade. Both services last about an hour. Coffee and snacks are served in the lobby between services, where families and friends mingle before and after worship.
During the summer, the schedule simplifies. From the Sunday after Memorial Day through the Sunday before Labor Day, the church holds one blended service at 10:00 a.m., indoors in the Sanctuary, with a children's message and children's Sunday School after dismissal. A recording of the morning's contemporary service is posted online by 3:00 p.m. each Sunday for those catching up later.
First-time guests are told to come as they are; there is no dress code. The East parking lot is the most convenient place to park, with stairs or a handicap ramp to the entrance. The south lot has access through the Bell Tower (entrance C1), where a ramp leads into the Sanctuary. The Welton Plaza to the west also offers parking. The Sanctuary is wheelchair-accessible.
TruKids: Birth Through Fifth Grade
TruKids is the children's ministry of Gurnee Community Church, serving children from birth through fifth grade. Families worship together at the 10:45 a.m. service, beginning in the Sanctuary, until the children's message, after which TruKids are released with volunteers to their assigned classrooms. Nursery and two-year-old children are dropped off in their classrooms and picked up there, while preschool through fifth grade are picked up in the gym.
The curriculum for two-year-olds through fifth grade is Gospel Project, a Christ-centered, chronological Bible study that focuses on God's plan to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Check-in takes place at tables in the lobby from 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. The ministry vision is that every child will fall in love with God's Word and live it out in everything they do.
Safety is built into the program: every staff member and volunteer has completed a background check, and the computer check-in system prints matching name tags and claim tickets for safe pickup. TruKids currently meets only at the 10:45 a.m. service. Special family events round out the year, including an annual evening at Kroll's Farm with hay rides, a corn maze, a petting zoo and a small pumpkin for each child, plus a church-wide Trunk or Treat on the Saturday before Halloween.
Student Ministry for Grades 6 to 12
Middle and high school students gather for Sunday school from 9:00 to 9:50 a.m., meeting in Room 101A near the main office. They share a light breakfast, study a chapter of Hebrews together using the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer), share requests and pray for one another, and then head into the Sanctuary together in time for worship. Students who can only join for part of the hour are still welcome.
Outside of Sunday school, the youth group aims to host at least two fellowship gatherings and one service opportunity each month. Past service projects have included packing meals at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. Fellowship events take students to places like Viking Park, Independence Grove, and the annual Pool Party at the Hunt Club Aquatic Center in Gurnee. The ministry is led by Pastor Stacie Hintz, with permission slips, a rock wall waiver, and an open gym waiver available to download.
Adult Education Built Around the "Next Step"
The church organizes adult learning around the idea that every follower of Jesus has a next step on their faith journey. On Sunday mornings there is an adult Bible study at 8:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (the same class repeated) in the Community Room, with a Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person. Past studies have worked through the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Proverbs.
Monday nights bring the Lake County Bible Study from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., led by Keith and Tracy Kreb. The group meets in person in the Fellowship Hall from September through December and April through May, then shifts to Zoom for January through March. Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. are set aside for the women's Bible study in the Community Room. Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Pastor Brian and Pastor Paul co-teach an eight-week course on prayer in the Community Room.
Several men's groups meet throughout the week: Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. in Room 109, Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at McAllisters in Gurnee, Thursday mornings at 6:30 a.m. at GCC (with Zoom), and Saturday mornings at 7:00 a.m. The Thursday morning Moms Group meets from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the nursery during the school year. Starting Point, a nine-week introduction to the Christian faith and to life at GCC, runs Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in Room 138, and is geared toward seekers, new believers, those returning to faith, and anyone new to the church.
What Gurnee Community Church Believes
The church's statement of faith teaches that there is one God, infinitely perfect and eternally existing as three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, without error in its original writings, sufficient for salvation and to be believed, obeyed and trusted. Human beings, created in God's image, fell into sin and are reconciled only through the saving work of Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man, born of the virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, raised bodily, and seated at the right hand of the Father.
Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. The Holy Spirit regenerates sinners, indwells believers, and empowers them for Christ-like living and service. The true church is made up of all who are justified by faith, and is manifest in local congregations whose membership is composed of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, which visibly express the gospel without being the means of salvation. Christian living joins justification with sanctification, calling believers to love God supremely, serve others sacrificially, and make disciples in word and deed. Christ will return bodily, the dead will be raised, and each person will spend eternity either with the Lord or under condemnation.
A Mission Built on Loving Neighbors
The mission of Gurnee Community Church is to lead people to a growing faith in Jesus Christ. Three key values shape that mission. First, the church strives "For Our Neighbors," meeting the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of people near and far through sacrificial giving and compassion. Second, the church seeks to be "Known by Our Love," functioning like a healthy family that cares for, encourages and motivates one another through worship, prayer, Bible study, community, service and stewardship. Third, the church values "Worshiping in Community," recognizing that faith is best formed together, empowered by the Holy Spirit with gifts to benefit those who gather.
Reaching Out Locally
Several ongoing outreach efforts connect the congregation with the wider community. Each year the church supports Operation Christmas Child by packing shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse. Coats for Clearview invites the congregation to purchase new coats, hats and gloves for students at Clearview School in Waukegan. Through Kid's Hope USA, mentors from the church walk alongside children at River Trail School in Gurnee.
Twice a year the church sends volunteers to Park City for outreach events with the kids of that community, including the Park City Harvest Party held at Betty Limbrunner Park in Park City. On Thanksgiving morning, the church hosts a Thanksgiving Day at GCC event that brings together recruits from Great Lakes Naval Base and members of the local community for a full home-cooked meal, afternoon tea, and a chance to call home and play games. The congregation also helps run the Gurnee Turkey Trot that same day, with part of the proceeds supporting the youth mission trip fund.
Ministry Partnerships Around the World
Gurnee Community Church supports a wide network of ministry partners both financially and through active participation. In Kenya, the church partners with Abba's House (Simon and Margaret Muhota), a home for about forty children founded in 2013; with Paul and Leah Manyara through International Gospel Missions; and with Little Lambs Orphanage, which serves almost 100 children made vulnerable by poverty and HIV/AIDS. Overseas, the church supports Jon and Bianca Fowler with Word of Life in Panama, Carlos and Suzanne Tejada with ReachGlobal in Costa Rica, the Colburn family with Pioneer Bible Translators in North Africa, and Zac and Kimmy Wille with the Navigators in New Zealand. Amy Deming, who serves with both Reliant and Perspectives USA, is also supported by the church.
Closer to home, the church partners with Kindred Life Ministries, a local ministry to teen parents and their families; BiG Great Lakes, a local organization serving adults with special needs (which uses GCC's facilities for its programs four days each week); and Love INC of Lake County, which unites local churches to help neighbors in need.
AbuseCare
AbuseCare is a 25-week support class meeting Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a Zoom option available. Led with curriculum by Charlene Quint, the class explores what the Scriptures say about healthy relationships versus toxic ones, the patterns behind why women stay in abusive situations, safety planning, financial and legal preparation, spiritual warfare, the Armor of God, lies women believe and the truth that sets them free, healthy boundaries, and rebuilding life after abuse. Participants purchase a workbook and companion book. The views expressed through AbuseCare are those of AbuseCare.org and its contributing authors, not necessarily those of Gurnee Community Church or its Board of Elders.
Weddings and the Wedding Guide
The pastors of Gurnee Community Church welcome the opportunity to officiate weddings and offer the Sanctuary and Chapel for couples being married by their own Christian pastor as well. A wedding brochure outlines expectations and policies for those considering the church for their ceremony. After reviewing the guide, couples contact the church office to discuss dates and details.
Daily Readings and Online Resources
The church uses the Life Journal Reading Plan developed by Wayne Cordeiro, which walks through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year. Many in the congregation study using the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer). Both worship playlists are shared on Spotify and Apple Music, and the church provides access to RightNow Media, a library of thousands of video-based Bible studies for teens, adults and children. A free devotional study of Psalm 23 featuring teaching by Pastor Matt Chandler is available through RightNow Media to anyone with an account.
Giving and the Endowment Fund
Tithes and offerings can be given through the church's secure online giving site, and instructions are provided to help first-time givers set up an account. Two additional funds are available online: a Memorial Gift fund and the GCC Compassion Fund, which assists congregation members facing special financial circumstances. The GCC Endowment Fund, managed by a ministry team, supports the church's long-term mission.
Getting Connected
Visitors can fill out an online connection card to request information or share a prayer request, and an email newsletter keeps the wider congregation informed of weekly news. The church uses the Church Center app, which gives access to directories, event registrations, and online giving. New users can request access to the directory by emailing the church office after setting up their account. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the phone answered at (847) 336-2392 and email at gccoffice@gcchome.org.