Allow me to introduce myself to you.  I grew up in the home of an independent Baptist pastor.  I was saved at the age of 9 at a camp in the Rockies when I realized that not only was I a sinner in need of God’s salvation, but that I couldn’t get to heaven on my parents’ coattails.  I was baptized by my father the next Sunday.  After that I found that I actually enjoyed going to church and serving the Lord, whether it be mowing the grass, helping with VBS, or whatever.

 I attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and majored in Business.  I actively participated in the spiritual outreach activities of my literary society while there.  I received my B.S. in Accounting in 1978 and entered into a business career, still actively serving the Lord in our home church in Schaumburg, IL as a youth sponsor, deacon, and Sunday School teacher.

 In 1990 the Lord called me to preach, and I gladly accepted the call.  Bethel Baptist of Schaumburg licensed me to preach, and Pastor Bumpus started me on an internship program to learn the various aspects of ministry.  I also began taking courses toward a Master’s degree.  In 1994 I accepted the call to Somonauk Baptist Church as Assistant Pastor and Principal of Somonauk Baptist School.  In 1998 I felt the Lord’s leading to step into the pastorate, and the Lord opened the door to a new work just forming in Sandwich, IL as a church plant of the Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Illinois.  I accepted the church’s call as their first permanent pastor in May of 1999.  The church called an ordination council and based on the recommendation of the pastors on the council ordained me to the gospel ministry in January 2000.  I completed the work for my Master of Ministry degree in 2004 and received the diploma in 2005.   

 Allow me to extend a cordial invitation to you to visit and worship with us.  Faith is a young church and not “tradition-bound,” as churches tend to become, yet we are purposely traditional in our order of service and style of worship.  We believe in the primacy of preaching and make everything, including the music, point toward the time in God’s Word.  We are not as concerned with having our people experience a range of emotions and leave feeling good as we are with feeding them the Living Bread that will sustain them in the testings and temptations they will certainly face during the week.  We know we can’t be all things to all people and do not try.  Rather, we worship the way we do because we believe it is what pleases the Lord.  We may very well be the only church in town that doesn’t use contemporary worship to some degree.  If what you’re looking for is a conservative, Bible-centered place to serve, please consider whether the Lord would have you settle here.

If none of the above makes any sense to you and all you’re really looking for is a place to go to church that doesn’t seem fake or have a “catch,” then let me assure you that we would welcome you to simply visit and check us out.  We won’t harass you or visit you without your consent or request.  We certainly won’t try to get into your pocket, since our offerings are freewill and private.  We don’t sell anything at Faith, not even CD’s of the sermons.   We would be honored to have our folks pray about a need your family has or counsel you about a difficult situation you’re facing.  Most importantly, we would love to show you from the Bible how you can fill the God-shaped hole in your soul that nothing else seems to satisfy.

You can find a spiritual home among the friendly folks at Faith.  Come grow with us!

Pastor Steve Rogers