2020 Annual Report

DISCOVER GROW I MPACT

2020

ANNUAL REPORT

DISCOVER GROW IMPACT

2020

ANNUAL REPORT

Table of Contents Pastors and Directors 2

Senior Pastor Josh Moody

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Executive Pastor John Seward

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Director of Administration & Finance Nancy Singer

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College Pastor Ben Panner

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Director of Children’s Ministries Cheryce Berg

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Director of Communications Wil Triggs

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Director of Disability Ministries Julie Clemens

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Director of Women’s Ministries Mindy Rynbrandt

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High School Pastor Zach Fallon

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Junior High Pastor Dan Hiben

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Missions Pastor Curt Miller

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Pastor of Congregational Care and Family Ministries Eric Channing

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Pastor of Discipleship Josh Stringer

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Pastor of Worship and Music Erik Dewar

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Technology Director Tim Hollinger

The Council, Boards and Committees 28

Council of Elders Chair Mark Taylor

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Board of Deaconesses Chair Gail Pflederer

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Board of Deacons Chair Anson Johnson

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Board of Missions Chair Brad Bailey

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Capital Campaign Committee Chair Jeremy Taylor

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Culture Impact Committee Chair Daniel Bair

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Discipleship Committee Chair Jeff Oslund

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Evangelism Committee Chair Rich Howard

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Hospitality Committee Chair Katie Nussbaum

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Serving and Engagement Committee Chair Jan Jones

Other Leaders 40

God Centered Life Ministries Executive Director Stann Leff

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Head Usher Michael Bare

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Keenagers President Bob Wick

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Librarian Lisa Kern

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Missions Prayer Fellowship Coordinator Ann Deckert

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STARS Family Services President Tom Paulsen

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STARS Resale Shop Manager Becky Cook

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Twice is Nice Resale Shop Managers Mary Quiggle & Beth Gunther

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Meeting Minutes

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Slate of Nominees

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Leadership List

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Ways to Give to College Church

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Financial Pages

Josh Moody

Senior Pastor

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harles Dickens’ famous introductory line—“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”—has rarely seemed more apropos. Let me use that quotation to frame my report this year.

First, “the best of times.” This last year we have seen God’s remarkable faithfulness to us in many ways. The pastoral team that the Lord has put together is really extraordinary.

I see what they do on a daily basis and marvel at their commitment to Jesus and to you the church. You are well served by godly staff.

Similarly, the Elder Council is a very high-level

group of servants who lead on their knees with passion for Jesus and the wisdom of maturity and experience. I am very grateful for Mark Taylor and his excellent chairmanship of the Council. The Deacons and Deaconesses have served with commitment as people filled with the Spirit and wisdom. The Missions Board is also ably led and has continued to dive into the work of missions globally with real insight and ongoing gospel focus. My thanks to Anson Johnson, chair of the Deacons; Gail Pflederer, chair of the Deaconesses; and Brad Bailey, chair of the Board of Missions, for their work

during an amazing year. On and on I could go—College Church, you are well served by your leaders. Honor such men and women and respect them for their service among you.

In addition, the church as a whole seems to be thriving. One data point, though certainly not the only one, that has indicated this is the above-and-beyond generosity of God’s people this year. Throughout the year (up until COVID-19 hit), we have been above budget.

Our giving levels have been higher and better than at any time in the last twenty years. This bespeaks a love for the Lord beyond mere material possessions, and it tells a good gospel story of God’s work at College Church.

But then, we must also be real and frank, for we have faced not only the best of times but also “the worst of times.” Who could have predicted that we would be in an ongoing (as I write) global lockdown because of the pandemic?

Our bylaws, our structure of our ministries, our predictions and plans, have all been tested by the unforeseen challenges related to this virus.

Yet God is sovereign. And in the midst of such challenges, his light shines brighter against the darkness. Our tech team has done wonders bringing us all online. I see what they do, how hard they work, and with what expertise.

Similarly, our pastors, directors, and volunteer lay leaders have brought their ministries online too. Thousands of people are watching our streaming services, and thousands more are visiting our website and engaging with the gospel through our online ministries. When the world is on lockdown, God’s Word is not chained! In his mysterious sovereignty, God weaves together crisis with Christlikeness, uses pain and suffering to lead to renewed vigor and flourishing, and from death brings new life through the resurrection power of Christ. Who knew that we would be facing this pandemic? But also, who knows what God will do through it to cause people all around the world to turn back to him! May it be so.

I write to you as your pastor, with prayers and love, as we together “proclaim the gospel.”

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John Seward Executive Pastor

The past 12 months have been extraordinary.

We have seen many changes since my last report was written. And there are changes on the horizon as well. One of the coming changes will be our updated website, which is being constructed around three core headings: Discover, Grow and Impact. In keeping with that paradigm, I will fashion this report around those same three points.

Discover First, and foremost, we have discovered that we have an extremely resourceful and persistent ministry staff. When confronted with the reality that we would no longer be able to meet together as a church, we were forced to go to an alternative plan. We needed to find a way to continue to “gather together” while respecting social distancing and sheltering at home. We have moved the church online, and we have also structured ministries that are now designed to work on a screen. Now, being in our Sunday morning services, seated on a couch in the family room, is our temporary norm. But though only temporary, our worship team, our technical team, our entire pastoral staff has managed to structure morning services to give us a feeling of closeness despite the lack of physical presence. We have sensed a unique leading of the Spirit during this time, and each of our congregants contributes to making the service meaningful, knowing that we are together, despite physical separation.

This resourcefulness extends to our weekday ministries as well. Our Bible studies, small groups, student groups, prayer meetings, committee meetings, children ministries, congregational care and missions all continue, thanks to the perseverance of this church. We so appreciate the flexibility and understanding as we develop ways of ministering effectively without physically meeting.

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Second, we have discovered that our church leaders are committed to leading well in a new and different environment. We’ve watched meetings become more frequent than ever before to keep up with the rapidly changing situation around us. We’ve all learned to Zoom or Skype or Meet on Google. Our leaders are leading us well. I am thankful for their dedication to this church and their willingness to lead us by example.

Third, the resourcefulness, the creativity and the desire to serve has never been more evident than we’ve seen among members of the church body. All of us looking out for each other.

Making calls. Delivering groceries. Praying. Caring.

Singing together. Laughing together. Finding fun in the challenge. What a wonderful joy watching the body of believers caring for one another.

I hope you all have discovered the changes in place since our last annual meeting. We have an updated logo. We have new exterior signage. We will soon have a new website. We have refined and improved our child protection policies. We have purchased properties to help us carry our ministries forward for years to come. We have added access to a vast array of online resources to help each of us minister at home and in our community more effectively.

And, most importantly, we have Diane Jordan’s successor on board, and we are so very thankful for the addition of Cheryce Berg to our ministry team as our director of children’s ministries.

Grow Usually, when we think of grow, we think of numbers. We tend to want a tangible measurement of what growth looks like. But we are primarily interested in our spiritual growth. Are we becoming more Christlike? Are we maturing in our faith? From our youngest to our oldest, we want to be a continual catalyst for spiritual growth. Through prayer, Bible study, sound teaching and access to strong, biblical resources we want to build on our core commitment to know the Word of God. We want to encourage one another as we grow.

And, during this pandemic, we have seen much of the fruit of those efforts as we see people helping one another, and as we reach out to neighbors with gospel truth.

In the coming year, we will see continued emphasis on individual growth. Based on a survey that many of us took, we are seeking to shape

programs and ministries to more effectively engage each of us in growing stronger spiritually, gaining greater understanding of Scripture, learning how to spur one another on to greater maturity, enabling the more spiritually mature to mentor those seeking to grow, sending our spiritual roots more deeply into the Bible and into the body of believers, in establishing prayer opportunities for all ages, becoming a church known for its rich environment which fosters biblical maturity.

Increasingly, we want to be agents of gospel truth. Not only do we want to be growing ourselves, but also, we want to be leading others to gospel truth. We want to grow in our commitment to evangelize and readiness to defend truth, to grow in our biblical worldview and to grow in our love for others.

Even during this pandemic, we have seen the fruit born of spiritual maturity, and we have

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seen new ministries blossom in the virtual realm. Despite the environment around us that seeks to choke growth, it has been heartening to see a redoubling of commitment to spur one another on in becoming mature in Christ.

Impact Testimonies abound of how this body of believers has impacted lives of others, young and old, through prayer, support, feeding, clothing, counseling, teaching, caring and coming alongside during difficult journeys. We pray for a deeper impact here locally. To bring the light of the gospel into the ever creeping and deepening darkness. To see new life being breathed into many in this community. We also purpose to encourage, train and raise up men and women in our midst who are willing and called to journey to destinations geographically distant from our homeland. We seek to support and strengthen them, to provide resources needed and to uphold them in prayer and financial support that they might impact individuals and communities with life-giving Scriptural truths, bringing life from death and eternal hope into hopeless situations.

This coronavirus pandemic has shown how quickly and completely a tiny virus can wreak havoc and destroy life. But, just as this virus has impacted each of us, we are ever more aware of how sin has impacted this world.

And, while we still seek a remedy for the coronavirus, we know the remedy for sin. May the gospel of Jesus Christ— the understanding that there is a Savior for our sin, that

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there is light that overcomes the darkness—be proclaimed loudly and clearly by each of us as Christ in us impacts the lives we touch.

Together may we shine the light of discovery and provide the catalyst for growth as we become conduits bringing eternal impact into this fallen world.

Nancy Singer

Director of Administration & Finance Praise God for his faithfulness, steadfastness and goodness. Praise God for the gift of his Son and his work on the cross, reconciling me to himself and granting forgiveness of my sins and eternal life. Praise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives inside me today and every day until Jesus comes again or calls me home.

If I had written this letter in January or even early February, I would have started it with the words above. That would have been before the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease that it causes. I am writing this letter during the first week in April with hundreds of thousands of cases around the world, and thousands of deaths, and the words above are just as true and God is forever worthy of praise.

How we do church has greatly changed. I am thankful for so many of our support people who work behind the scenes every day of the year to make it possible for us “to do church.” Since we had been livestreaming services for some time, we were able to quickly provide for the higher volume of viewers and other churches that were livestreaming for the first time. Our services are available through our webpage, our Facebook page and even YouTube. We’re learning that livestreamed services have the advantage of no limit to the number of people who can view the service and

certainly more than we could ever fit in our building. We are praying for that very thing— that this would be a period when many who don’t already know him would, by “accident,” find our livestreamed services, hear the gospel that Pastor Moody clearly proclaims every Sunday, and be drawn to Christ. Many thanks to Pastors Moody, Channing, Stringer and Dewar and Ruth Gregornik on the piano and so many others behind the cameras making these truly edifying and joyful services. And as ever, one of our Life Safety Team is ever vigilant to protect against an outside intruder’s desire to disrupt worship even in these strange days.

Thank you for your continued faithful giving to support College Church by mailing your check or giving through our webpage. Through your giving, we can continue to support our staff as they continue to do ministry with the participants in their ministries, whether children, students or adults. Through your giving, we can continue to support our missionaries locally and all our mission partners who are impacted by the virus in their various surroundings around the world.

Through your giving, we can continue to maintain our buildings and disinfect the areas which are being used. I want to give a special

thanks to our accounting team, Deb Carlburg and Cindy Schuerman, who are two of the folks who must be in the building during the week to process your contributions and pay the bills.

Likewise, Lorraine Triggs, our receptionist, has been present in the office every day, with all precautions taken, so that callers are greeted warmly and not by a voicemail.

All of us on staff are just like all of you–learning to work from home, staying six feet apart from each other, wearing masks and gloves, and yet continuing to have our hearts knit together through our love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria

Ben Panner College Pastor

Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:7) Repentance. If I could describe a dominant theme from our semester in College Group, it would be that. The prophet Malachi shares stinging words from the LORD to a discouraged yet hardened Israel. God calls them to return 7

to him with repentance of sin, remembering his word and rightly fearing him. Each week our college students gathered to sit under words like these as we studied the book of Malachi.

God’s Word was at work.

Students came each week into College Church family homes to experience genuine hospitality and love. Students rubbed shoulders with mentors who exhorted them in the faith. Students learned to grow in fellowship with other students who didn’t always run in the same circles on their campuses. But students came together to hear from God in his Word. The fruit of this was heart repentance for many.

Students were confronted with placing other things above their allegiance to God. They were confronted with sexual sin, greed and a general lack of reverence and fear of the LORD. Malachi brought strong words each week, but they were built on the foundation that God is faithful and loves his people (Malachi 1:2). Students were called out of sin in various ways and called to obedience. But they were reminded each week of the deep love of God demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Our second semester ministry led to a similar emphasis as we taught on the theme of sex and sexuality. In a broken world full of confusion, pain and sin, we wanted to bring the clarity of God’s Word and the comfort of the gospel to bear in the lives of these students. As in the fall, many students were confronted with the sin in their own hearts as it related to God’s design for sex and responded with repentance.

Students were striving in weekly conversations and discipleship relationships to rightly align their desires and lives around the truth of God’s Word. God’s Spirit was awakening hardened hearts to sin that was blinding them and renewing discouraged hearts of those who needed assurance of the forgiveness that is found in Jesus.

John the Baptist said, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” (Matthew 3:8). Many students were turning back to God through

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repentance this semester. But the journey is not complete. We are all seeking to bear fruit for the Lord as we continue to repent of remaining sin, trusting in the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. Through him, we truly find forgiveness and refreshment for our souls!

Midway through the semester, we all faced unique challenges due to COVID-19. Students were quickly forced away from their campuses, and their semester changed dramatically.

Seniors grieve the loss of their final weeks on campus with friends. We have been praying for the Lord’s comfort and strength for all students as they adjust to these new rhythms and learn to trust in God’s sovereignty. Students are still eager to study the Bible in weekly online discipleship groups and are also seeking opportunities for training in how to study the Bible with an online Simeon Trust course for students.

The Word of God is not bound (2 Timothy 2:9), and we trust that it will continue to bear fruit in the lives of our students (Isaiah 55:10-11).

The Lord has been gracious to us this year as he has reminded us of his grace and forgiveness and strengthened us to live by the Spirit in increased obedience. Praise God!

Cheryce Berg

Director of Children’s Ministries This year I’ve felt a little like Gideon in my new role as director of children’s ministries. The Lord called me to this giant task of serving the precious young families in our church, and then greatly increased my dependence on him as everything changed with COVID-19. As the props on which I depended were removed or restyled one by one (resources of space and people and money), we as a ministry spent

more time praying for wisdom and testing new ways of sharing the truths of the Bible. Praise him for his grace to cover all! Praise him for being at work in ways seen and unseen! Praise God alone for loving the children of this church so deeply that nothing can stop his Word from being proclaimed to them!

WOW (Julie Sohmer) Each Sunday morning, we gather—seven adults, six student leaders and 40 children (Kindergarten to third grade)—to worship our great God and learn more about him. As a group this year, we memorized Psalm 96 and explored the truths we believe in as we studied the meaning of each phrase in the Apostles’ Creed.

What a joy to spend our Sunday mornings with this energetic bunch!

Children’s Church (Lisa McKenna) This year in children’s church, we have focused on worshiping God and wondering at what we learn about him. The children’s ministry staff has put together new props for storytelling that draw the children’s attention beautifully. After we introduced this new routine, one of the twoyear-old boys asked, “Teacher, next week when we come back, can we hear more stories from the Bible?” We are thrilled to see them interact with the truths of the Bible this way.

Preschool Bible School (Christina Samuell) Who makes it possible for nine preschool Bible school classrooms to open their doors to 105 children at 9:30 a.m. each week? They are couples, single adults, retirees and students just like you who have responded to God’s call to share his Word with his children. As they joyfully play, sing, pray and teach from the Bible, they are fulfilling the promise we all make when children are baptized and dedicated in our church: We will, God helping us.

Boys Brigade (Terry VanSomeren) In Brigade we had the largest group of boys we’ve ever had, including just under a hundred boys on a few nights. We looked at brothers in the Old Testament this year and how to treat siblings at home. It was a good year, and we’re sorry it is getting cut short.

Elementary Bible School (Dan Burden) This year we welcomed several new teachers into our rotation. They acclimated well, and the Lord has used them to proclaim the gospel in both small and large group teaching settings.

We remain a blessed body with many people who are gifted teachers. The overall numbers in the elementary program remained constant, with a teaching team of 64 and between 200250 students each week. Flexibility and creativity characterize the staff, as they seek ways to pivot during the isolation of the pandemic,

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while delivering lessons from God’s Word and maintaining connection with students. We have a faithful God who promises to be a truthful and unchanging rock during tumultuous times.

“Good morning,” the man said to me.

We exchanged greetings. He told me that he was homeless, and he asked me if I knew the Seelyes.

Pioneer Girls (Judy Ford)

“Yes, I do,” I replied, “but they aren’t here yet.

It’s too early.”

As I visited the classrooms these past months I saw girls dressed in costumes acting out Bible stories, learning how to make yummy granola, creating mini homes and gardens, learning their weekly Bible verse, writing in their journals, playing fun games in the gym and being loved by the wonderful leaders God has blessed us with. It’s a joy to see it all unfold every Wednesday evening, and I’m glad to be a part of it!

Wil Triggs

Director of Communications More than a few years ago, I came into the Commons early on a Sunday morning. I must have been one of the first ones in the church that Sunday. It was just me, it seemed, but no, there was a noise. I turned around and met a stranger, a rather bedraggled man, on the steps going down to the tunnel level.

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The man explained that he knew them from years before and was hoping to meet them that Sunday, but, he said, “I really wish I could take a shower.”

Tedd Seelye was one of the first people I met when I moved here. He was a radio communicator who welcomed me to Wheaton with a relaxed warmth. And then I met his wife Joyce, and well, together they were so kind and welcoming. I could see why he wanted to connect with them.

What to do? I couldn’t bring myself to call Tedd and Joyce with a request for an early morning shower from a homeless man, even if they did know him. Unbeknownst to him, they were battling illnesses that would eventually take their lives.

I explained that I was at church early to get some things ready, but I had to go home and pick up my wife and son. “If you wait,” I said, “you can come with me and have a shower at my house, then come back with us for church.”

No, he said, he couldn’t do that. No. But he really wanted one. So, when I was ready to go

home, he got in the car with me, and we headed home. I tried calling my wife, but there was no answer. She was probably in the shower herself, I thought. You can imagine the look of surprise when I walked into the house with this stranger and explained the situation.

While he showered, Lorraine made him a makeshift breakfast and then the four of us went back to church for worship.

This year reminds me of that long-ago day. It would be easy to rush right to the pandemic, but we’ve worked to communicate that College Church is for the newcomer and the visitor, not just those who are already here. And the potential for visitors is greater than ever.

Some good pre-pandemic memories of that include Natalie Casey beginning her summer communications internship with us at the Taste of Wheaton event and the many Bibles that people took from our display. The launch of our

new logo was a reminder that we want to be true to our past but also adapt to be as friendly and appealing to newcomers as possible.

Greeting some newcomers at the bookstall, including some internationals who eagerly took Bibles in their own languages—Mandarin, Swedish, Russian, Korean. Or when I was meeting with John Seward, and we agreed to pray for revival just a few days before the pandemic hit. That’s still a prayer, and one I’m hopeful might bear fruit in the days and weeks ahead.

With online worship our only choice for several weeks since the stay-at-home order, we’ve had some strangers in our church. They haven’t even stepped into our buildings, but they are in our church. Maybe a friend invited them, or they heard about us or they used to come here. Maybe, metaphorically speaking, they’re really just looking for a shower. Let us pray with thanks and anticipation because “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy,

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“Our classrooms have grown over the years, but it became a very good problem. The spaces weren’t big enough to accommodate our growing classes. Our adult and teen classes now meet in the former HYACKs room.”

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by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

(Titus 3:5-7) Our current situation with COVID-19 reminds us that God is a communicative God—communication is in his very nature. In times like this, he can use us to speak into the hearts of people who might never consider College Church in a more normal situation. When we get through this pandemic, it will be good for us to remember that online services will continue for those who for whatever reason cannot walk through our physical doors.

Lorraine and I ran into a church member at the grocery store. Lorraine asked if she had seen the new Jesus banners for Easter (hats off to Dave for putting them up twice in two days).

She said that she was expecting the usual multi-colored banners of the past. But if there was ever a time for us to put JESUS big and upfront, this is the year.

Moving all of our church efforts online in a week and a half was no small feat. It involved so many in our church spilling well beyond the confines of our communications staff. From the Hallelujah Chorus video (thank you Robin and Adam and the whole cast) at the end of our Easter service (785K+ views as of this writing) to the weekly videos of Kids’ Harbor and STARS lessons and stories to a new online format for Connections and the Annual Report (thank you Tony, Jordan and Jonathan) and a high school podcast (with Zach and Michael).

More changes are coming, with new email communications, expanded social media efforts and a new website and Connections design. But even as channels and vehicles of our communications change and adapt, may the unchanging love of Jesus guide and shape our hearts to be more welcoming next year than we were last year.

Julie Clemens

Director of Disability Ministries Our first major event in the summer of 2019 was Run for the STARS. It is a sweet event, where you can literally see families of College Church surround STARS families. It is more than a way of supporting STARS families. The physical presence of College Church members says, “We are glad you are here, and we want you here!” Proceeds from Run for the STARS supports families in STARS ministry with summer camp costs, and it supports a fall retreat for our adult STARS. In addition, it helps pay for job coaching for STARS Family Services while our STARS work at Twice is Nice and the STARS Resale Shop. Without your support of this event, these things would not be possible.

Please be sure to see how you can help with this year’s Run for the STARS. As I write this report, we are uncertain if the run can go on this year. I appreciate your prayers regarding this.

The biggest change in the ministry is the change of classroom space. While this doesn’t sound like a big deal, it has been for the STARS and our volunteers. Our 9:30 and 11 a.m. superintendents, Dorothy Nicholson and Lin Fallon, would agree. Our classrooms have grown over the years, but it became a very good problem. The spaces weren’t big enough to accommodate our growing classes. Our adult and teen classes now meet in the former HYACKs room. The large classroom is divided for each class. Most of our STARS who come on Sunday mornings know each other well from the music and respite programs we have. So, on holidays, when attendance is smaller, we join in as one group together! With the larger space, we also have large screen televisions that we use to help lead worship and present videos that tell the Bible stories we talk about every week. The STARS benefit when we use multiple ways of presenting the material. So instead of just telling the story, we read it, we watch it, we use visuals, we sing about it (or about the 13

concepts we’ve learned), and sometimes we even use sign language to help us remember.

Some of our friends really benefit from sensory space—that means to have space to walk or to move. These classrooms have really helped everyone feel more comfortable while also being together.

Our Praise in Action and STARS Choir music programs continue to grow and the STARS’ abilities have grown under the leadership of Kristin Visconti. It is a wonderful thing to see a quiet confidence grow as we see the gifts God has given them on display. Beth Gunther continues beautifully as our ministry associate for respite, welcoming STARS for monthly Friday Night Fun and Hangin’ with a STAR. Finally, Kathy Brinker has joined us on staff, replacing the recently retired Shelley Swanson.

Kathy’s expertise as a professional and as a STARS parent helps our parents feel welcomed, and helps set our young STARS up for success.

In these uncertain times, we’ve been reaching out and connecting our families through virtual Sunday school and small groups through Zoom.

We are reminding them that Christ is always with them.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Mindy Rynbrandt

Director of Womens Ministries Last summer, College Church women gathered neighbors and friends in homes to study the book of Colossians, and during this study, I encountered a text which cast a vision for me of ministry.

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“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

(Colossians 1:28-29) In everything we do within our ministries at College Church, we seek to proclaim Jesus’ name. We are Christo-centric—meaning that in every program, in every interaction, we aim to point to the person and work of Jesus. This passage fleshes out the goal of proclaiming Jesus: maturity in Christ. Certainly, we are called to share the good news to all, but it is more than simply crossing the starting line of the Christian faith. Here we see the calling to teach and exhort one another in Christ. To what end? That we may present everyone mature in Christ. Practically then, this calls the local church to more than warm social connections and an acknowledgement of Jesus’ kingship.

These are good things. But our responsibility to one another within the family of God is that we use every opportunity in ministry towards spiritual maturation. Thankfully we are reminded in verse 29 that we are not left alone to fulfill the Lord’s lofty prescription. He has powerfully worked within us, enabling us through his energy. Maturity is the goal, and he has given us everything we need in Christ to equip us for this task.

When we apply this vision to women’s ministry at College Church, we see the importance of both proclaiming Jesus and exhorting each other towards Christlike maturity. The Lord is using the women of College Church to proclaim his gospel, evidenced by the women who encounter Jesus each year through Bible study and discipleship. As women claim the name of Christ, we seek to encourage our sisters beyond initial discovery, towards growth. And there is no greater means for growth than by studying and applying to life the Word of God. In our weekly Women’s Bible Study program, we’ve experienced the transformative power of Scripture this year as we’ve studied Job and

I and 2 Peter, reflecting on the role of suffering in the life on the believer. Knowing that nobody gets through life unscathed, we chose these books to equip our sisters for the inevitable suffering we face this side of heaven. In his sovereignty, the Lord alone knew we would need to draw on the truths and promises found in these texts in this spring as we process the suffering brought on by a global pandemic.

At our Monthly Gathering we experience the transformative power of the Word and the communion of saints as sisters gather each month to discuss challenging topics. This year, we’ve sought to answer the question, “How does Christ change us as believers?” Using biblical theology to root our conversations in the Scripture, we’ve discussed topics related to our identity and contentment in Christ, identifying and tearing down the idols of our hearts, and finally, how Christ changes our relationships within the family of God and with our neighbors.

At our Women’s Retreat in February, we experienced the transformative power of Scripture as we considered what it means to abide in Christ. The Lord used women from our own church family as Bible teachers, to teach us powerfully and practically what Scripture teaches about dwelling in the presence of God. Again, as we reflect on the spiritual nourishment we received back in February, we see the equipping he intended given the circumstances we’d be facing this spring. The Lord has been so generous to us, strengthening us with his Word in the calm, that we might endure the storm.

Finally, we see the transformative power of power of the Word in our mentoring and discipleship ministries of Mom2Mom, Apples of Gold and 1:1 Discipleship. Personal relationship is an extremely effective context for encouraging one another towards maturity in Christ. When we are known and can share one another’s joys and trials, we are best positioned to point our sisters to Scriptural

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truth and challenge our sisters to apply this truth to life. We want to be a church characterized by a disciple-making culture— presenting everyone mature in Christ.

Over these last two years, it has been my privilege to partner with women at every stage of their journeys towards spiritual maturity. It is a joy to be a part of the work that he is doing in and through the women of College Church.

My prayer for this coming year is that we would continue to keep Christ at the core of all we do and press on together towards the goal of Christlike maturity.

Zach Fallon

High School Pastor It is my pleasure to give God glory for what he has done in and through the student ministries here at College Church this past year. As always, he has been faithful to reveal Christ from his Word, and we have seen many of our students responding in faith in various areas of their lives. We are taking seriously the task of partnering with the parents of College Church in seeing the gospel passed on to the next generation.

What a joy it has been to see the high school students of College Church challenged by God’s Word to follow Christ

with their lives. It has been our continued hope and prayer that God would use this ministry to help our students pursue maturity in Christ.

We want to see the students of College Church crossing into Christian adulthood ready to follow and serve Christ!

We’ve had various ways in which students could grow in their faith this year. We have gathered together as a high school community during the 9:30 a.m. hour on Sunday morning.

This has been a great time for us to worship together and hear from God’s Word. Our students were also a part of eight different small groups (four guys and four girls) led by a wonderful team of adult leaders. Our adult leaders have loved our students well, teaching them God’s Word and sharing their lives with them.

We’ve also seen many of our students being trained for and serving in ministry. We had twenty-one upperclassmen participate in a discipleship and ministry training program called Bridge Fellowship. We also had students serving throughout the church community, tutoring at Outreach Community Center and sharing Christ at different outreaches at Wheaton North (through Illinois School Project and Falcons for Him). I thank God that he is raising up a new generation that loves Jesus and wants to share him with others.

Another highlight was Project Discipleship, a partnership with Pastor Ben Panner and College Group. Pastor Ben and his team trained many college students in one-to-one Bible reading who then in turn met with high school students in two-to-one or three-toone groups to study Philippians and pray with one another. Our hope was to see college students sharing God’s Word while also training our high school students in how to read God’s Word for themselves.

Keeping God’s Word central, we spent time this past year in studies from God’s Word. In the fall we did a “survey of the whole Christian

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life” from God’s Word and coupled that study with John Bunyan’s The Pilgrims Progress.

The challenge for us was to understand what it takes to start and finish the journey of faith God’s people are on. This spring we are studying the Gospel According to Matthew and taking a focused look at Jesus, the long-awaited yet unexpected King.

The ministry staff has given many hours and energy to help make all these things take place.

When Cheryce Berg transitioned to her new role as director of children’s ministries, Lois Krogh stepped up and provided wonderful leadership to the adult women serving in the high school ministry, training and encouraging many in discipleship ministry. Josh Maurer has been a wonderful ministry partner in leading our student worship ministry. Bethany Atchison, Katie Nussbaum and Addie Teevans have been a great team investing in many discipleship relationships among our girl students. Kolby Atchison and Lee Christoff have done the same for many of our guy students as well. And of course, many thanks to Audrey McEuen, who keeps all of us on schedule and works behind the scenes to make these things happen. What a wonderful team this has been!

One of the greatest blessings we have had this past year has been Michael Walker, one of our pastoral residents. Michael is a gifted Bible teacher with a caring, pastoral heart, who has been all-in from the moment he started. He has loved our students well, clearly and faithfully taught the Word and been a tremendous encouragement to me personally. We thank God for Michael and are so glad he is at College Church!

Dan Hiben

Junior High Pastor KMs has had a wonderful year of ministry. From the “Wheel of Misfortune” (ask a KMs student!) to studying the Bible together each week, from eating lots of donuts to doing discipleship in small groups, and from playing goofy group games to learning from Pastoral Resident Mike Solis on retreats, KMs has had many highlights this year. As students and adult leaders, we have had a great time connecting with each other and growing in Christ. Students have studied the Bible in both large and small group settings, sang and prayed together, served in various capacities around the church and continued to lead Christian clubs and outreach events at their public schools. It has been a privilege to see God at work in our junior high students!

Over the past weeks and months, KMs has adapted to the challenges of online ministry. Our Wednesday evening gathering has been replaced by KMs Live, a weekly program streamed live on YouTube and led by our staff, volunteers and even some students. Virtual small groups, online devotions and fun weekly challenges have kept KMs connected with each other and focused on the gospel.

Please pray for us in this upcoming year. There are many ministry opportunities before us with our students, and we are praying that God would do a great work in and through us this coming year!

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At the core of the KMs ministry is an amazing team of adult leaders. Megan Christoff is an outstanding ministry associate, and Audrey McEuen excels as the program coordinator.

Students are discipled by twenty adults who lead small groups, study the Bible with students and pray for the ministry.

To all the adults who worked with KMs this year, thank you for investing your time, energy and wisdom into students. Your work is meaningful beyond what you know. Parents, thank you for making KMs and College Church a priority for your family. I am grateful to be a part of your children’s discipleship. Students, thank you for being involved in KMs. You make my job so much fun and your growth in Christ gives me great encouragement. And finally, College Church, thank you for supporting me in my work. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and the opportunity to serve here. I am grateful for you all, my church family.

Looking Back Over the past twelve months, our church has engaged with and supported local and global outreach. While we currently practice social distancing for the sake of the world’s health, the Lord continues to practice social engagement through the proclamation of the gospel and the service of his people, whether it is online or in person.

We consistently receive snapshots of God’s fulfilled purposes in our inboxes each week. Let me encourage you to subscribe to individual email updates from our local ministry partners, evangelists and global missionaries. These ministry vignettes will become a source of ongoing encouragement. Also, find the “missionary updates” link in the Friday Church Family News each week. One click and you can read how God is at work around the world.

Local Partners - Evangelists Through the Evangelism Committee, we support five evangelist units: • Nate and Laura Amodio, InterVarsity

Curt Miller

Missions Pastor For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 55:8-9) I am comforted by the truth that God remains in complete control of every single element of existence, even when the world seems to be spinning out of control—or, perhaps more accurately, even when the world comes to a screeching halt because of a global pandemic.

Six months ago, I would have written a very different annual report piece, but COVID-19 has changed all that.

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• Daniel and Faith Bair, Englewood Family Outreach • Kalli Hill, Cru • Tom Johnston, Skyword Ministries • Manny and Barbara Mill, Koinonia House National Ministries Local Partners - Organizations Through the Culture Impact Committee, we support three partner organizations: • Caring Network • Naomi’s House • Outreach Community Ministries Cross-Culturally Focused Local Partner Organizations Through the Board of Missions, we support six partner organizations: • Missionary Furlough Homes

• Outreach Community Ministries • Re:New Project • Repeat Boutique • South Asian Friendship Center

MISSIONS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY THE NUMBERS

GLOBAL

• World Relief Global Partners - Missionaries For a list of the 100+ mid-term and career missionary units, as well as our partner seminaries, please see the global outreach page on our website. For more information, please email missions@college-church.org.

Ministry workers, especially global missionaries, experience a great deal of transition. Yet, there are great joys and sorrows in helping our missionary family through these transitions. This year members of our missionary family experienced joys such as new births and new marriages. Others experienced heartaches and pain such as losing parents or suffering from cancer.

To help with the transitions our missionaries face and to support them with encouragement as they serve, we are forming new teams for missionary care. If you are interested in learning more about this or other missions volunteer opportunities, please email missions@college-church.org.

Last year, four staff members engaged in international ministry. Two others were appointed as career missionaries. Seven units began serving for one-to two-year terms.

Unfortunately, we had to make the tough decision to cancel all STAMP trips as of March 19, 2020.

Global Projects

95 career missionary units around the world (3 new)

15 mid-term missionary units (5 new)

60 different countries represented between career and midterm workers

$68,013.23 given to Missionary Christmas and Thanksgiving Eve Offerings

Through your giving, we were able to have an impace on many lives through the following ministry projects: • Counseling in Thailand • Dental work in the Dominican Republic • Christian education in Colombia

25 Missionary Units attended the 2019 Festival (44 adults, 13 children)

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MISSIONS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY THE NUMBERS

LOCAL

• Bible translation for the Yom people of Benin • Resources on persecution for Nigerian Christians • Hosting the spring Perspectives class at College Church • Global security and crisis management • Global orphan care ministry Looking Forward

109 from College Church join Chicago March for Life 2020 (8,000+ people total)

5 Evangelism Partners Supported

9 Local Organizations Supported in Missions & Community Outreach

• Church planting in Bolivia • Evangelistic outreach in the U.S., Mexico, Kenya and Spain ◊ International student ministry ◊ Ocean-based ministry that “uses adventures at sea to transform lives” ◊ Soccer outreach ◊ Music ministry for evangelistic events • Discipleship training in South Africa and Spain • Music ministry in Madagascar

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Though the future is uncertain, missions and community outreach will continue. We will continue to support faithful evangelists, missionaries and organizational partners serving locally and globally.

But we need your prayers. Please ask the Lord to grant wisdom as we determine next steps in outreach over the next few months and years.

Our hope is to find strategic ways to engage virtually with those who need to know the love and message of Jesus Christ. We want to help others discover Jesus, to grow in their faith and make an impact in this world.

For now, the midweek prayer meeting has moved online. Join us each Wednesday at 7 p.m. as we hear from a ministry partner and spend time in prayer. Prayer for the Persecuted Church has also moved online, meeting Fridays at noon. This gathering provides a great opportunity to support our suffering brothers and sisters around the world. You can contact the church office for more information about these or other virtual gatherings.

Thankfulness Despite the ongoing chaos, I am thankful. I am thankful for the foresight of the Board of Missions to prevent sending our people into harm’s way. I am thankful for technology that allows us to meet virtually. I am thankful for new ministry opportunities that have come to the forefront.

And, I am thankful that some things never change. Jesus is risen. He is king. He is worthy.

He lives. And, we are his people.

Eric Channing

Pastor of Congregational Care and Family Ministries Grow: In Pastoral Care Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1) Today as I sequester in my home, shut in due to COVID-19 concerns, I am reminded just how thankful I am for you, the people of College Church. I am thankful for how good God has been to our church (for nearly 160 years!), and most of all I am thankful that he is in control, especially when we feel out of control. Below I briefly highlight how I have seen growth in the people and ministry areas that I oversee.

Pastoral Care In my role of pastoral care, I regularly plead for God’s wisdom as I walk with many of you through challenging circumstances in your lives. In those difficult and sometimes heartwrenching situations, I always find that God is

there. He is with us. He is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). This year I have seen “growth” through broken marriages that now have fresh hope, through people finding perseverance and even joy amidst long-term trials, and I have been inspired with your faith in Christ when dealing with loss and grief.

Side By Side In December 2019, our first “Side by Side” ministry training participants completed their final course. Over three semesters, these individuals completed the following courses: How People Change, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands and Side by Side. Each course utilized the gospel-centered material from the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF).

These Side by Side graduates, called “helpers,” will be paired with others in our congregation who are going through difficult times. I am excited to see how the Lord will continue to grow this initiative, and more importantly, how he will help us continue to grow in caring for one another in the years to come.

G.R.A.C.E. Certification Also in December 2019, College Church was formally granted our Child Safeguarding Certification from G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). As a result of G.R.A.C.E.’s input and guidance, we

“In those difficult and sometimes heart-wrenching situations, I always find that God is there. He is with us.

Eric Channing, pastor of congregational care and family ministries”

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Support Groups This year I saw growth in both of our support groups, Grief Share and Grace Mental Health groups. For Grief Share, Laurie Costley and her team grew in their ability to minister God’s Word to those who were dealing with grief and loss. Our Grace Groups grew through adversity, as their leader, Bob Barger, moved midway through the year. The other leaders stepped up and are continuing to meet the needs of those struggling with mental illness, along with their families. Much thanks to Bob and others for initiating this ministry. I pray that it will continue to grow and flourish in its next generation of leadership.

Pastoral Residency

have updated our protection policy, and we’re in the process of rolling out those changes in our children’s, youth and STARS ministries. I’m thankful for our church’s growth in understanding the nature of abuse and how to prevent it.

May this growth continue in the coming year.

Deaconesses You can read about the deaconesses’ work in Gail Pflederer’s report, but as the pastoral liaison to this group, I want to say publicly that they are amazing. The amount of practical care, mercy and service that they provide for the church is staggering. The next time you see one of our deaconesses, please thank them for their Christ-like service.

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This year the Lord continued to grow and bless the pastoral residency training program. Firstyear residents Mike Solis (working with Pastor Stringer) and Michael Walker (working with Pastor Fallon) have been a wonderful addition to the staff this year. One of the biggest challenges to this program is saying goodbye.

We said goodbye to George Bednar earlier this year as he took a position in South Carolina, and we’ll need to say goodbye to Erick Solomon and Jacob Warren in the months ahead. We have seen tremendous growth in these men’s lives and in their pastoral gifts these past two years, and we will miss them!

Prayer Over the past year, we’ve grown in prayer as a church. The multiple all-church Sunday evening prayer meetings have been sweet times of fellowship with the Lord and with one another. Our weekly prayer meetings on Monday morning, Wednesday evening and

Friday noon have faithfully continued. The new Sunday 8 a.m. prayer meeting has been a personal blessing to me, and I look forward to that time every week. Currently, I am working on doctoral studies on this very topic—how we as a Word-centered church can continue to make prayer an integral part of our DNA. With that in mind, how might the Lord be calling you to grow in prayer this year?

There’s much more I could say about this past year of ministry, but for now, I will simply say thank you. Thank you for caring for each other with the love of Christ. Thank you for admitting your need and seeking help. Thank you for pointing me to Jesus. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in the year ahead.

Josh Stringer

Pastor of Discipleship The discipleship ministries of College Church exist to advance a church culture that grows Christlike disciples who make disciples. We do this by helping people DISCOVER more about God, themselves and the church, by helping people GROW in their relationship with God and each other and by making an IMPACT in the lives of people around us by sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus through serving and proclaiming. This is what it means to be a church that is being and making disciples.

In 2019-20, I am grateful that we took steps forward in each of these three areas of discipleship—discover, grow,

impact—and I look forward to how we’ll continue to advance the disciple-making culture of College Church in the year ahead.

We also saw the Discipleship Committee complete its first year together. I’m grateful to the team that you elected to lead this year. Jeff Oslund chaired the committee and served in faithfulness and humility all year long. College Church, let’s be thankful to the Lord for the way Jeff, Faith Bair, Dave Setran, Mike Solis and Erick Solomon have served us so well this year!

One of the main goals of the Discipleship Committee was to learn about the current state of discipleship at College Church. That happened through a survey that more than 600 of you completed. Through the Discipleship Survey we sought to take the spiritual temperature of the congregation. In order to consider our next steps forward, we need to have an accurate understanding of where we are.

At the time of this writing, we’re still analyzing the data, but we are so encouraged by the faithfulness of the folks at College Church in personal Bible reading and prayer. God is at work across all generations and is growing us in our understanding of the Bible and love for him. We’ve also learned that a large majority of you feel equipped to be a disciple maker—that is, to help someone else follow Jesus.

In the coming year, we hope to consider how we might continue to grow a church culture, not only of being discipled (personal growth), but also in making disciples (outreach and multiplied growth). We’ve planted the seeds in a few areas of one-on-one discipleship in both men’s and women’s ministries. I’m excited to see how those seeds will bear fruit and multiply in the coming year. I also anticipate growth by

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multiplication in small groups and Adult Communities that includes starting new small groups and Adult Communities. Given our space constraints, we’ll have to cooperate and be innovative on how to create space in our Sunday morning schedule for new Adult Communities. I believe God is at work and leading us towards a growth in these ministries.

Another ministry where we’ve seen impactful growth has been in men’s ministry. While we were unable to host the Men’s Conference due to COVID-19, we relaunched Wednesday night Men’s Bible Study in September of 2019, and it’s been producing fruit at a steady rate all year. Men have been discovering more about God through the study of systematic theology, growing in their relationships with each other through weekly discussion (thanks table leaders!) and impacting others by sharing their testimonies and the gospel with other men outside the church. As we’ve moved to an online format in the final few weeks due to COVID-19, I’m amazed at how many men continue to tune in virtually. And I’m grateful for Victor Kuligin, who has stepped in to teach and has done a wonderful job serving the men with his gifts. On a personal note, Men’s Bible Study is a weekly highlight. It’s a joy to study the Bible with and be challenged by men of all ages who are eager for biblical camaraderie and Holy Spirit-wrought growth.

As this church year comes to a close and another one is set to begin, we are being challenged with a new normal. We’re considering programmatic and budgetary adjustments, among other things. But one thing is certain. Discipleship will continue no matter what. All we need is two or more people and a Bible. So, as we make plans and pray about what the year ahead might hold, we are being forced out of our comfort zones, perhaps reentering that realm of discovery. What are you discovering about God, yourself and the church that you did not before? What are you re-discovering that you had forgotten? In what

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ways is God growing you in relationships with others and with him? And, as you’re growing as a disciple of Jesus in these unusual days, how will you take what you are learning and impact the lives of others in the coming year for the sake of the gospel?

My family and I are grateful for another year to serve you, College Church family. Let’s trust the Lord together for an impactful 2020-21!

Erik Dewar

Pastor of Worship and Music For a church that so eagerly participates in corporate worship together through shared experiences such as singing and reading together, this season of sheltering in place is unusual. As a church for whom the important consistent musical “voice” on a Sunday is the singing congregation, the removal of that voice is disorienting. We love to sing together. How could we refrain with so great a salvation and so beautiful a Savior? He has put a new song in our mouths, and we long to share it together. We see both the vertical and the horizontal experience of congregational singing when the Apostle Paul writes, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” (Ephesians 5:19). Though during this season, we have found ourselves addressing only a few family members or roommates or even simply our own soul, may our song continue. I take comfort knowing that, during the live broadcast, as we provide accompaniment for living rooms around Wheaton, even though none of us can hear each other, God’s praises continue. He is still being worshiped during COVID-19, perhaps like never before in our own hearts. May it be so.

Looking back over the past year, I’m thankful for the spirit-empowered work of our music staff.

Though some of our roles have looked a little different during COVID-19, these individuals graciously serve, often behind the scenes.

Elaine Meyer and Ruth Gregornik support our weekly worship in a wide variety of ways.

Delena Ollila also helps with these details and oversees our Glorify! student ensembles.

Our children’s choir ministry is led by Jennifer Wheatley and her team. H.E. Singley faithfully serves as organist, while Robin Wiper and Josh Maurer help with a variety of focused projects.

Our volunteers play a crucial role as well. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some examples of how our people volunteer their time: Karen Kuite and Sarah Herr have been co-directing God’s Children Sing for our four-, five- and six-year-olds this past year, as Karen prepares to wrap up 23 years of fruitful ministry leading this beautiful music program for young children. Many musicians volunteer their time to sing or play instruments during the services.

Others help write arrangements of our hymns.

Some fold worship folders. A handful of conductors rehearse various ensembles. The Music Committee meets every two months as a sounding board for ideas.

Here are a few quick snapshots from this past year: • Last summer the music ministry invested in a few projects that we hope to continue to explore. One was to engage our STARS musicians in another Sunday morning service in addition to the STARS Sunday in the spring. What a profoundly moving time of worship whenever we’re led by our beloved STARS family. Another exciting event was a Songwriters Gathering we held over the summer for creatives in our church who wanted to share their original music with each other. We hope to host these more consistently in the future, as it was an inspiring and fruitful time.

• During the fall kickoff of our ministries such as children and student music, we paused to enjoy “Then Sings My Soul,” an evening of worship where we sang hymns submitted ahead of time by the congregation.

• Wonder & Waiting was the biennial combined Christmas festival this past Advent season, and gave us a glimpse into the grand journey of Christmas through the stories and songs of Zechariah, Mary and 25

Simeon. The platform was perhaps the fullest it’s ever been with seven choirs— our four children’s choirs, the adult choir, our two new Glorify! choirs (middle school and high school) and a variety of wonderful instrumentalists. More than 200 musicians in total! We were also excited to work with Pastor Josh Moody to coordinate the program’s theme with his morning Advent preaching series Songs of the Season.

• Our second semester was of course cut short with the unexpected effects of COVID-19. We were excited about some of the larger projects for the choir and other ensembles, but God had different plans.

We look forward to gathering together again to worship our Sovereign Lord.

During this season of focused livestreaming, I’ve been thankful for the incredible AV team and their quick responses to the sudden technological needs.

May God give us all, as worshipers at College Church, an unrivaled pursuit of the glory of Christ as the deepest joy of our souls. Remember that even during COVID-19, in Christ we have everything we need to worship.

Tim Hollinger

Technology Director “I hate technology!” That’s a phrase I hear fairly often. Not directed at me but at the technology in question that I am attempting to help the frustrated person fix. And I’ll admit, there are days when technology is not my friend either.

But in the last two weeks of March, many of us came to appreciate technology in ways we could not have imagined.

Last fall we moved all our files from a server on-site to “the cloud.” In simple terms that means in Microsoft datacenters across the 26

country instead of just on one server in our building. More importantly, it means that those files are available to us from anywhere in the world. Before that, if you weren’t in the building, you couldn’t access your files. Our email system has been a part of that “cloud” structure since 2014. And with that file move, we introduced Microsoft Teams which is used for collaboration among staff members.

I’m a creature of habit, and I continued using email for my communication instead of Teams, as did most others. But the day we learned that we would likely be working from home, we held Teams training meetings all afternoon. By the next week, virtual meetings and communication via Teams became our new normal. While many are still frustrated by technology, I’ve heard a lot of praise and thanks to God for what it has allowed us to do in such a time as this.

In the fall of 2016, we began livestreaming our Sunday morning services in part because we knew our radio broadcast with WETN would be going away, but also to provide a video option for those who couldn’t attend in person. I never imagined a day when it would be our only way to hold church on a Sunday. But I’m so grateful to God that we already had that technology in place.

These are just a few examples of how the technology we were already using and developing for normal ministry use became essential tools in this extraordinary time. Beyond hardware and software are the servants who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all work.

Joseph Abdelmelek, our AV manager, has been working to improve the look and sound of our livestream and to assist ministry staff in getting materials online. Tony Visconti, our digital ministry manager, has been instrumental in getting us trained and equipped in the use of these tools. I cannot do my job without these good men and would not have made it through this crisis without their efforts.

To God be the Glory!

LIVESTREAM MAP

STATISTICS Our Sunday morning livestream viewers went from an average of 175 device connections before the COVID-19 pandemic to an average of 1,256 afterwards.

This includes viewers from 50 countries on six continents!

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THE COUNCIL, BOARDS & COMMITTEES during the period when we were unable to meet together on Sunday mornings.

Mark Taylor

Council of Elders Chair This has been another year of opportunities for all of us to participate in the life of College Church. Thanks to everyone who has contributed time and money to see our mission move forward. But we can’t help but see this past year through the lens of the coronavirus and the way it has upended so much of our normal activity.

It has been a year and a half since the congregation agreed that we should purchase the Toms-Price building (which we are now calling Crossings). The elders and the pastoral staff and the Capital Campaign Committee are still working on a concrete plan for how the property can best be used for our own ministry purposes. From the outset, we saw this as a strategic purchase for ministry over the next 50 years. Plans are now actively coming together, and we hope to announce specific details soon.

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Thanks to David Dix, Steve Ivester and Bruce Aulie, whose terms on the Council come to an end this year. The Council continually wrestles with complex issues, and these men have helped us guide through rocky shoals.

May God give all of us wisdom and perseverance as we move into the year ahead of us—as a church body and individually.

Gail Pflederer

Board of Deaconess Chair

The makeup of the pastoral staff has been quite steady this past year. The biggest change was Diane Jordan’s retirement from her role as director of children’s ministries. Cheryce Berg stepped into those big shoes and is doing a great job in building on the strengths of the past while making plans for the future. Thankfully, Diane agreed to stay on the staff as a halftime director of visitation and care.

The women who faithfully serve as deaconesses have opportunities to discover the joys, sorrows and challenges facing our church community and witness God’s people lifting each other up through caring acts of service and prayer. Although much of their work is happily accomplished in the background, these women generously share their time, skills and gifts to build up the church and glorify our Lord.

It has been an honor to serve with the following women during the 2019-2020 fiscal year: Karen Bagge, Vicky Bailey, Joleen Billingham, Allison Bonga, Barb DeLew, Becky Garrett, Linda Gulbransen, Heidi Johanik, Betsy Love, Shirley Mathews, Mary Nellessen, Vanessa Roth, Nancy Taylor and Sarah Tews.

Special thanks to Erik Dewar, who has worked hard at creating livestreamed worship services

All deaconesses assist with communion each month and have the joy of getting to know

some of our homebound congregants through bi-monthly visits. In addition, each deaconess serves our congregation on two of the following sub-committees, which allows them to work as small teams to support our pastors, church staff and congregants.

Baptism—The Baptism Committee assisted with 17 baptisms during the past nine months, celebrating with those who through repentance and faith chose to publicly acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Care & Share—The Care & Share Committee prayerfully disbursed $166,000 to 88 College Church individuals and families, Outreach Community Center and Churches United for Hardship Assistance. Care & Share also provided funds to alleviate expenses with back-to-school gift cards, Christmas gift cards, counseling, medical expenses, housing and home/auto repairs. This is made possible through the benevolent funds received from caring and generous congregants.

Communion—The Communion Committee manages the purchase of communion elements and supplies as well as communion preparation, transition and clean-up each month for three services. All deaconesses assist this committee for the monthly serving of communion. This year the Communion Committee completed extensive research on how to diminish the spread of germs during communion services and implemented new procedures to accomplish this goal.

Correspondence—Each month the Correspondence Committee demonstrates the love of the body of Christ through handwritten cards and notes to encourage those who are weary, rejoice with those who rejoice and comfort those who are in the middle of grief and loss. During the past nine months, 194 cards have been mailed out to congregants and those serving in the military.

and care through the planning, preparation and service of a light luncheon or reception after a funeral or memorial service. In the past nine months, this committee has lovingly served nine funeral luncheons.

Helping Hands—The Helping Hands Committee very practically meets various physical, non-financial needs in our church community.

It is encouraging to observe firsthand how our church community rallies around those who could use home-cooked meals or rides to and from doctor appointments. We praise God for our generous and caring volunteers. During the past nine months, the committee has secured volunteers to provide 83 meals and 24 rides for 29 individuals/families.

Visitation—The Visitation Committee works with the church staff to connect our homebound congregants with a deaconess for regular visits. Each deaconess discovers new friendships with one or two homebound women for mutual encouragement. What a blessing to hear stories of God’s provision and faithfulness from these women of deep faith. This past year 33 poinsettias were delivered to 22 homebound congregants, four furloughing missionaries and seven grieving congregants. Spring plants are delivered in the days leading up to Easter.

To serve as a deaconess means to discover anew God’s faithfulness to his people. To serve as a deaconess is a means of serving our Lord, knowing that his Spirit is ever at work in the lives of those we serve, drawing their hearts toward himself, and shaping our hearts, too, as our faith in him grows deeper. May our service to his church have greater gospel impact as we encourage and uplift one another in prayer and practical means.

Funerals—With little notice, the Funeral Committee serves bereaved families with kindness

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Anson Johnson

Board of Deacons Chair What is the role of the Board of Deacons you ask? The genesis of the role of deacon is quite interesting. In Acts 6:2, the 12 disciples wanted to focus on the preaching of the Word and needed men to step forward to “serve tables.”

According to the church Bylaws, “The Board of Deacons, working in concert with the appropriate members of the Pastoral Staff, shall oversee the business ministries and certain administrative and mercy ministries of the Church.”

The deacons assist the elders in preparing the budget, care for many of the needs of our congregation in practical ways, administer communion, account for tithes and offerings, assist the elders in various projects and much more.

Here are a few examples of ministry undertaken by the board during this fiscal year: DISCOVER The deacons discovered new ways of serving this year including assisting our STARS in

transportation, lighting up their homes for Christmas and continuing to assist them in shoveling the driveway and walks when it snows. The unemployed and underemployed were contacted to see what practical needs could be addressed this year. This coincided with selection of a new financial counseling lead, Nancy Singer, who will help us start up a new financial counseling ministry at College Church. We also saw an incredible provision of the Lord this year in congregational giving. For the first time in at least 20 years we remained ahead of budget for much of the year, and at one point in late 2019, our giving was 10% above budget. Why the surprising level of provision, Lord? When COVID-19 hit, some light was shed on this question. Thanks be to God. GROW The deacons, assisted by the deaconesses, are responsible for the administration of the Lord’s Supper. It has been helpful to grow our number of volunteers as the woman of College Church have joined the men in serving the elements.

It takes more than 70 volunteers each Sunday to serve communion. Gluten-free wafers were added as an option in the elements, and new sanitation measures were put in place, including having servers use hand sanitizer before the passing of the bread and cup.

“The genesis of the role of deacon is quite interesting.

In Acts 6:2, the 12 disciples wanted to focus on the preaching of the Word and needed men to step forward to ‘serve tables.’”

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The deacons also filled a vacancy among our assistant financial secretaries, and we are blessed that Brad Hiben agreed to serve in this role. The care of our facilities is another focus for the deacons, and this year we saw new signage go up around the church grounds to assist our visitors. The deacons also grew in knowledge as we participated in emergency safety training.

IMPACT One of the primary ways the deacons make an impact is in assisting the elders in the preparation of the church budget. As of this writing, the deacons were working closely with the elders to prepare the 2020-2021 budget, which consists of a line-by-line budget review with the pastors and administrators. The deacons also made an impact by assisting in caring for our church grounds as well as overseeing the administration of our various properties (Kinnaman, Chase Bank, Crossings, Seminary Apartments, etc), overseeing the five-year Capital Improvement Plan and the annual audit process. We are also very grateful to deacon Roger Hughes for making a big impact on our communion process by writing software that greatly simplifies the planning, organization and execution of serving the elements at three services on a Sunday morning.

Brad Bailey

Board of Missions Chair The Board of Missions recently approved and is in the process of installing a missions wall in one corner of the Narthex. The missions wall will be an interactive station where you can discover the people and organizations serving to further the gospel around the world, grow in your knowledge of the people and organizations and how they serve, and learn how you

can impact world missions through prayer, service and giving. Once completed, we encourage each of you to utilize this great tool designed for the congregation.

Discover Discover that in 2019-20 College Church supported the following to help spread the gospel message around the world: • 95 career missionary units • 15 mid-term missionary units • 10 short-term missionary units • 13 national schools and seminaries • 9 local ministries Grow Grow in the knowledge that the “units” listed above often represent families with schoolage children who also help spread the gospel.

Represented in the 120 units are 321 individuals serving our Lord on a full-time basis. Learn from the information at the missions wall about the 60 countries in which the 321 individuals serve in. Grow in understanding of how each individual or family serves in their respective countries, whether through planting churches, street evangelism, university student outreach, leadership training, caring for the needs of other missionaries, biblically based counseling and many other ministries.

Grow in the knowledge of the support of national schools and seminaries that educate

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local leaders in sound biblical theology to equip them to effectively and accurately preach and teach the gospel in their home countries. This training of leaders has the result of exponentially multiplying the number of people reached with the good news. Supported schools and seminaries are in Bolivia, Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and other countries. Visit the missions wall to discover the locations of our 13 partner schools and seminaries.

Grow in your understanding of how the missions department is reaching the local community through equipping immigrants to live and thrive in the U.S.; providing necessities to those in need, serving the local Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and other communities; teaching English to refugees and immigrants and providing housing to missionaries on home assignment.

The breadth of service for God’s kingdom around the world and in the U.S. and made possible through your support is exciting and encouraging, and I urge you to grow in your knowledge of how College Church promotes these endeavors.

Impact Utilizing the missions wall, discover how you can personally impact the missions program of College Church.

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• Find out how to pray for our missionaries.

They all desperately need and covet our prayer support. Pray for physical protection, for ministry effectiveness, for health, for encouragement from our Lord, for their own relationship with Christ and for the people they are trying to reach. The list of missionaries is long, and it would be understandably overwhelming to pray for all of them, so pick one or two as a family or small group, and pray for them for a week, a month or a year and then visit the missions wall to choose again. Diligent prayer is one of the most impactful ways to serve our missionaries.

• Discover how you can serve our missionaries. Join a STAMP trip to serve alongside them for a week, volunteer with one of the local ministries we support or grab coffee with a missionary on home assignment.

Open your home or loan a car to a missionary who has unexpectantly come to the area for a short time. Volunteer to help with the annual Missions Festival. The impact you can have on the missions of College Church through service is plentiful and will enrich you as well as those you serve.

• Through your generous giving to College Church, you are having a tremendous impact on the spreading of the gospel here and around the world. College Church only partially supports each of its missionaries and organizations, and they all depend on other sources of giving to make their ministries possible. You may consider contributing to these individuals and/or organizations directly, above and beyond your tithe to College Church. Much like serving, the impact of your giving will be a blessing to you as well as those you contribute to.

Visit the missions wall (coming soon) to discover all that College Church is doing through its missions programs, grow in your knowledge of the people and organizations supported and learn how you can further impact the programs through prayer, service and giving—all in the service to, and for the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jeremy Taylor

Capital Campaign Committee Chair The Capital Campaign Committee is charged with planning and executing the capital campaign to raise funds for paying off College Church’s real-estate debt and refurbishing or repurposing church property. The committee members have been meeting once a month to make plans and work on next steps. I joined the committee in January after Noah Helm stepped down as chairman due to his family’s move to Indiana. We met in January and February but elected not to meet in March due to the Illinois stay-at-home order, which had not yet been implemented but was clearly pending at that time. Once the order went into effect and it was clear the COVID-19 outbreak was going to have long-term financial ramifications

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that would extend well beyond the immediate healthcare crisis, committee members agreed that a change in focus was called for. In recent weeks, with guidance from the Council of Elders, the Capital Campaign Committee has been formulating a revised campaign that takes into account the new financial realities the church and the congregation are facing.

In light of overall budgetary adjustments, the committee is prioritizing debt retirement and urgent infrastructure needs over fartherlooking needs such as a major refurbishment of the Crossings building (Toms-Price). While we look forward to eventually raising enough money to meet all the church’s capital needs, at this time it seems wiser to focus on shortterm needs and revisit long-term goals at a later time. We anticipate rolling out the revised campaign in the coming months. Meanwhile, we rely on the Lord’s provision and give thanks for what he is already accomplishing through the congregation’s regular giving.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Daniel Bair

Culture Impact Committee Chair The challenges emerging because of the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to overshadow the rest of the things we would like to highlight in this annual report. So we want begin with a few highlights from our committee and praises and prayers from and for our partner organizations before reflecting on our response to coronavirus in our culture.

First, we have enjoyed a journey of discovery in the gospel that we explored in outreach training classes to help our congregation become aware of avenues in which church members are impacting our culture and how we can more involved. These classes covered topics from outreach on college campuses to gospel-centered poverty alleviation. Along this vein of equipping each other for local outreach, we hosted a special event discussing the challenges our area school boards are facing with gender issues and began the conversation on how the church can have an impact on our local schools.

Our Sanctity of Human Life task force (SOHL) again organized our annual March for Life campaign. Despite the cold weather, 109 participants joined up for this event in downtown Chicago wearing matching hats and celebrating and standing for life.

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Here are some brief updates on what God is doing through these ministries. Please email us (cultureimpact@college-church.org) for more information on how to learn more or be part of any of these.

FINANCIALLY AND VOLUNTEER-SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS Caring Network Our partnership with Caring Network continues to make available counseling services, adoption options and helping carry the affordable medical costs for vulnerable mothers in our community who choose life and need help. In addition, Caring Network offer programs for the restoration of those who have had an abortion and are now heartbroken or confused.

Please join us in praying for this ministry, the mothers who are considering abortions and the restoration of those who are seeking answers.

Naomi’s House Naomi’s House provides a safe place for hope and healing rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ for victims of human trafficking. God has used Naomi’s House and the many workers and volunteers to help the women they serve gain new lives—a reflection of the gospel of Jesus.

Let us pray for these women to find restoration through their time at Naomi’s House and community in the church.

Outreach Community Ministries (OCM) Many from our church have served at OCM over the years from tutoring to helping with the Christmas Store as Outreach seeks “to restore hope and provide opportunities for people to become all that God intends them to be.”

We are praying for the low-income families that OCM serves who are often the most impacted by times of economic uncertainty.

VOLUNTEER-SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS DuPage PADS PADS continues to make an effort at helping to restore the homeless in our community.

Volunteers from our church help on our service nights a handful of times throughout the year as PADS offers interim (overnight) housing.

Join us in praying for the homeless population especially struggling during this season of uncertainty.

Safe Families Our church continues to encourage our Safe Families as they seek to keep children safe and families intact by connecting with families in crisis as temporary hosts to care for children until the family is able to get back on its feet.

Join us in praying that God would stir hearts and open doors for our church members to love families in crisis around us in ways that boldly proclaim the gospel and encourage them to be part of our communities.

Obviously, as some of the prayer requests indicated, many of those served by these ministries are the ones most impacted by COVID-19. As we pray for those who are struggling, we are also doing what we can to help those in need. One way we helped is through the food drive hosted by College Church for Englewood Family Outreach.

Everyone came together and donated tons

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(literally, estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds) of food and home goods that were made available to families in need in the Englewood community on the south side of Chicago. Our church is continuing to seek ways to love our neighbors in need during this time.

Please pray with us that we would all make the most of this time by impacting the culture around us with the gospel.

As recommended in The Vine Project, our next major action was to evaluate how well we as a church are growing as disciples and how well we are impacting others for Jesus, by making disciples. It may seem straightforward, but we spent several months brainstorming, writing and rewriting questions, reviewing similar surveys, enlisting members of the congregation to critique our questions and delivery process. We received constructive feedback, made updates and finally rolled out the survey to the church on March 1.

This evaluation and survey phase has been somewhat challenging. Not because of how much time it took to come up with effective Jeff Oslund questions, but because I had to think through Discipleship Committee Chair and answer every proposed question for myself. Sure, I felt encouraged by some Just a year old, the Discipleship Committee questions, but I also saw areas of weakness became official on April 7, 2019, when its where I needed to grow in my own discipleship formation was approved at a congregational and make some changes to have a greater meeting. The inaugural impact for Jesus. I am thankful committee consisted of Faith “There is so much to that more than 600 of you filled Bair, Dave Setran, Jeff Oslund out the survey, and I hope you, be thankful for in the too, were encouraged and (chair), Josh Stringer (pastor of discipleship), Mike Solis and preliminary survey challenged as you thought Erick Solomon (both pastoral results—so many in through the survey questions. residents). Our primary our church family We are now starting the responsibility has been to assist process of analyzing and Pastor Josh Stringer in planning, regularly reading learning from the survey implementing and growing the God’s Word.” responses. Not unexpectedly, adult discipleship ministries of there is much to be thankful the church. for in the preliminary survey To help us think through big picture topics such results—so many in our church family regularly as philosophy of discipleship, how to evaluate reading God’s Word, praying and joining in our discipleship culture and the various disworship. The summary of our responses also cipleship “pathways” we wanted to develop, points to opportunities for growth. we began by reading and discussing The Vine Our next step is to take what we’ve learned Project by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, and from the survey, pull in help from others in our Discipling, How to Help Others Follow Jesus by church family and start to identify ways we as a Mark Dever. Springing from the book discuschurch can grow in our discipleship and disciple sion was a review and update to the Philosophy making to have an even greater impact for of Discipleship document including a diagram Christ and his kingdom. We are excited by this showing personal discipleship pathways at goal!

College Church.

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Rich Howard

Evangelism Committee Chair Pastor Curt Miller, Richard Howard, chair, Annie Gentzler, secretary, committee members Jon Penner, Tom Futrell, Budi Tjahjadi, Bruce Aulie.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

(Matthew 5:14-16, NLT) Over the past year, Pastor Miller and the committee members have spent time in prayer, thinking and action with evangelism front of mind. Prayer that many would learn of the character of our good Father and the sacrificial love of the Father’s Son, Jesus, and through the teaching of the Word and transformed hearts, would treasure Jesus as Lord and Savior! Thinking and discussing ideas to equip and encourage College Church’s evangelistic pursuits. Action during Missions Festival

as guest speakers taught on evangelism, committee members formed relationships with local evangelists and as committee members acted on opportunities to share the gospel with those in their lives.

In these recent and unique times, the committee is meeting virtually. We are thinking and praying for new ways to equip and encourage College Church in evangelism, in engagement with and support of our local evangelists, as well as personally connect at a distance to share the gospel with our neighbors.

With thankful hearts…

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8, NLT) Partner Evangelists: • Daniel Bair (Rich Howard, liaison) • Tom Johnston (Jon Penner, liaison) • Manny Mill (Tom Futrell, liaison) • Nate Amodio (Budi Tjahjadi, liaison) • Kalli Hill (Annie Gentzler, liaison)

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Katie Nussbaum

Hospitality Committee Chair Week in and week out, the Hospitality Committee served congregants and visitors alike, keeping us all well caffeinated! As a committee, we worked to show biblical hospitality both to the body of Christ and to those who might be new to our church. Every week in the Narthex, you can count on having hot coffee and a friendly smile from a committee member.

As the seasons changed and the weather got cooler, the Commons was filled, once again, with scrumptious pieces of pies and with good fellowship during the Thanksgiving Eve Pie

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“We build relationships across the church to create connections between congregants and ministry. That means we’re involved in a lot of places.”

Social. Moving into December, we served more than ever before! Sunday nights were filled with cookie and punch celebrations after the children’s choir and STARS concert celebrations. We also continued the annual tradition of Carols & Cocoa, helping bring people together in joyful song! This year we also served at membership classes, visitor lunches and other wonderful events. As a committee, we are thankful to those who have contributed baked goods for these events,

filling the hearts and bellies of the body of Christ. We hope and pray that the Lord would be glorified in our efforts to serve the body of Christ with friendly faces and helpful hands to all who come through our doors!

How we do it: Create Connections.

We work collaboratively within our committee and within College Church to learn about ministries and connect people to them. We aim to engage new believers, new members and long-time members. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone!

Our Model:

Jan Jones

Serving and Engagement Committee Chair What we do: Build Relationships.

We build relationships across the church to create connections between congregants and ministry. That means we’re involved in a lot of places. But it is not our goal to have SEC at the center. It is our goal to have Christ exemplified in our church body by fostering relationships and creating connections between congregation and ministry.

We build relationships to connect College Church congregants to each other and to College Church’s ministries. We’re a team of people committed to boosting engagement and service in the church. We’re a starting point for new partnerships, ministry events and service opportunities within College Church and in the community.

Why we do it: Everybody’s Invited.

• Each person receives a clear invitation to plug in.

• Each person has an opportunity to put faith in action.

• Each person can grow in their faith.

Service shapes the culture of a church. We, the body of Christ, are called into beautiful community through humble service, both to our own and to those around us. Every person in College Church should receive a personal invitation to find a service opportunity where they can put their faith and action. We grow when we serve.

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OTHER LEADERS

Stann Leff

God Centered Life Ministries Executive Director At God Centered Life (GCL), our passion is the gospel and our vision is all generations living for God. God Centered Life, the broader media ministry of Pastor Josh Moody, has witnessed an exciting period of growth and development over the last year. Each day God Centered Life distributes Bible teaching from the pulpit ministry of College Church through an array of media outlets including the radio, the ministry’s website and other online platforms. The core tool in sharing the gospel is the daily 25-minute teaching program, now heard on nine radio outlets as well as on the internet. Most importantly, the efforts of GCL effectively touch lives around the world.

Ministry Impact While global reach is an exciting reality of media ministry, the most important measure of success is surely the lives being touched as the Bible is taught. The following responses to the ministry of God Centered Life highlight the Lord’s work in just a few of those reached.

A young man recently shared with Pastor Josh how God released him from the darkness of his past to new life in Christ through the ministry of GCL. In another instance, a couple from out of Wheaton shared how the husband came back to the Lord through listening to Pastor Josh.

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Website Traffic – Visit godcenteredlife.org God Centered Life’s internet presence continues to expand. The site offers a daily devotional now accessed by nearly 1,100 people, resources to encourage spiritual growth and the daily broadcast so listeners can catch portions of messages missed on the radio. The potential for reach is virtually unlimited online. During 2019, the website saw 27,300 users for the 12 months ended December 31, 2019. These users represented all 50 states in the U.S. and 160 foreign countries.

Online Broadcasting Visit oneplace.com/god-centered-life/ God Centered Life is offered each day online at the GCL website, but is also distributed at OnePlace.com, where you can hear the most recent program as well as archived sessions.

Visit www.oneplace.com/god-centered-life/ to hear the teaching and share it with others.

OnePlace is not only a convenient place to listen to Pastor Josh online but is also a tool to extend impact and reach. Since inception nearly 1,000 individuals have registered as followers of God Centered Life and have grown in the Lord through the teaching offered.

OnePlace offers the broadcast through online streaming, downloadable MP3s, podcasting, a smartphone app, Roku, Alexa, Google Play, and several other delivery modes. Altogether, more than 50,000 specific plays of teaching audio have been delivered since beginning to broadcast in November 2018.

The weekly radio listenership on the stations airing the broadcast is estimated to be more than 50,000. While some feel radio is no longer a vital medium of communication, it still reaches more than 90% of all Americans over the age of 18 every week. For years to come, radio will continue to be a vital ministry tool, even as other audio teaching outlets grow alongside it. As additional resources become available, more stations will be added.

About the God Centered Life Team The ministry of GCL is led by Stann Leff, serving as executive director, who oversees a capable team, all of whom serve the ministry on a part-time basis. Todd Busteed plays the role of on-air host of the broadcast and engineers the technical side of the program; former College Church member Dick Epps assists in stewardship development for the ministry and Robb Hansen and the firm Next Level Insights provide station relations services, broadcast strategy and website support. GCL is strengthened by the support of its godly board: Pastor Josh Moody, Nancy Singer, Howard Costley, David Gieser, Bruce Howard and Tom Paulsen.

To learn more about God Centered Life, go to godcenteredlife.org and sign up to receive emails and our monthly newsletter. Also, follow us on social media. Thanks to all who have prayed and partnered with GCL this past year.

Radio The radio station syndicate has expanded over the past year and now features releases on Moody Radio in Chicago, as well as Cleveland, OH. The Cleveland signal is replicated through a series of towers covering all northern Ohio from the Toledo area across into western Pennsylvania. In Des Moines, GCL is aired on a powerful AM signal with a wide listenership that covers much of the central portion of the state. Finally, the broadcast is also carried on a small Christian station in the Canton, GA, area.

Michael Bare Head Usher

As I reflect on my years of participation in the Usher Corps, I can’t think of a verse of Scripture that better captures what this dedicated group of men and women set out weekly to accomplish than Romans 12:13, “ Contribute to the need of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

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As your head usher, I am humbled by the weekly sacrifices our Usher Corps makes in its pursuit of service and hospitality. I would like to recognize Ed Simon, assistant head usher, for all he does, not only being primarily responsible for the weekly staffing of more than 35 men and women to serve as your ushers but also his willingness to fill in for absent ushers almost on a weekly basis.

help if you feel ushering is a calling for you.

Please reach out to me, Ed Simon, or any of the current ushers, and let us know of your interest. We will find a place for you to... “contribute to the need of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Along with Ed, we rely on other ushers to take on extra weekly responsibility as the crew chief at one of the four Sunday services. The crew chief is the point person for each service and makes sure all the ushers have what they need to assist members and visitors. This group consists of Rick Pflederer, Gary Lange, Robin DeGroot, Jim Reid, Mark Weeden, Doug Johnson, Dave Oster, Dick Albright, Eric Enstrom, Bob Kay, Joey Simon, Scott Killian and Brian Smidesang. Without their dedicated effort, we would not be able to successfully serve and welcome our congregants and visitors each week.

Bob Wick

I would love to list and thank each person who is on the Usher Corps but space does not allow for that. Suffice to say, each usher or substitute usher is a critical part of the total Usher Corps, which is now 75 strong. A heartfelt thank you goes out to each of you!

Don’t let the number of ushers cause you to think there is no room for you. We need you to

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Keenagers President Keenagers is the church’s ministry for seniors, 55 and older. We generally meet the third Friday of the month—September through April. We gather in Commons Hall for punch at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a program at 7:00 p.m. The monthly meeting is an opportunity to not only enjoy an excellent dinner but also to provide a time of fellowship and a chance to make new friends. Before dinner we also have an opportunity to hear from a member of the pastoral staff as they share about their ministry and lead us in prayer.

This past year we had a series of very interesting programs, several musical programs, a wonderful travelogue, a visit from Queen Elizabeth II, and we are looking forward to a presentation on C. S. Lewis and evangelism.

Each summer we also try to have an informal

gathering at one of the concerts in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. As we look forward to the fall program year, we are hoping to tie our programs more closely into some of the ongoing ministries of College Church.

You are invited to join us as we begin a new season in September. You do not need to be a member of College Church to participate. Come and join with others for a wonderful meal, good conversation and an entertaining program.

Watch the Connections for upcoming details.

Lisa Kern Librarian

The Facility Director: It’s time. This carpet is 27 years old. It has to be replaced. No more putting it off.

The Librarian: NOOO! It’s not that bad. We can live with some threadbare spots and loose strings. I just can’t imagine how this can be done. Every book and shelf will have to be moved! It’s too big. I just can’t!

Well as most of you know, the librarian (Me) finally lost the debate with the facility director (Howard, my husband) after several years of winning it, and in June of 2019, almost every single book and every single shelf was moved. Twice. First the west side of the room’s furniture—the missions shelf, the water cooler, the patron computer table and computers, the media cart and the furniture were moved to the east side, and the 12-foot-wide carpet rolls were installed. Then, every book and shelf (except fiction) had to be moved to the west side so another 12-foot-wide roll could be installed there. The books and shelves never left the room because the shelves were installed in the room 27 years ago and are bigger than the double doors!

Because of the task involved touching every book at least twice, we took the time to do some much needed weeding, eliminating books that haven’t been checked out in years. And that required every one of our librarians throughout the days and evenings, too, for about seven days. Those eliminated books (several hundred of them) were shared with the congregation over the summer in room 210, the room adjoining the library. It took about eight six-foot tables to display all the weeded books. What the congregation did not take was shared with other local church libraries.

The moving of all that furniture revealed two things. One, the east side (not counting the missions shelf) opened the room, making it look brighter and less crowded, and two, there was room to keep the missions shelf on that side after all. So, we left it that way and filtered all the missions books into the shelves as their Dewey numbers called for.

Our custodians helped get the books back to where they belonged…well mostly. It did take a month or so to finally say that all the books were back in the order they should be. Yes, some stacks of books got mixed up. What would 43

you expect when you put five high school- and college-age boys together to move stacks and stacks of numbered things? Over the course of many days? I’ll tell you what you could expect.

An amazing amount of muscle and stamina all of us AARP-qualified librarians with 9 to 5 jobs could never have pulled off. It couldn’t have been done without them. I would have buckled under the strain if those boys didn’t help.

Howard and Dave Carlburg’s amazing ideas of just how this could actually work allowed me to sleep at night.

And with a fresh coat of paint, the whole place became much brighter. It is amazing, and I’m so glad the facility director, God bless him, finally won the carpet debate.

Oh, and then there’s the rest of the story. Many books checked out, many new patrons added, many many prizes purchased in the reading program prize store and many happy crowds every Sunday in the library. I’m happy to be able to serve here.

Ann Deckert

Later in the morning, Leslie Trautwein, Irene M. and Debby Nichols gave short talks on their own missionary experience. Each speaker emphasized a different aspect of ministry life.

The talks were powerful and memorable for their honesty and their recollection of utter dependence on God’s intervention and blessing in their personal journey with him.

Each month, MPF groups gather to hear news from a missionary speaker followed by a significant time of prayer. Missionaries are prayed for by name with recent information about specific needs. MPF groups have been praying together for years at College Church.

Consider joining a group. All groups are open to new friends. Look for the announcements in Connections and other church news. Find a group that is convenient for you. Come when you are able. You are always welcome.

In addition, consider committing to pray for one or two of our missionaries as a family. The missions department at College Church prepares regular recent updates from our global partners. These updates can be found on the church website, in Connections, weekly prayer news and online church news. This information is a goldmine of ideas for bedtime prayer and family devotional times.

Missions Prayer Fellowship Coordinator The theme of our annual Missions Prayer Fellowship (MPF) festival brunch was “Joy in the Journey.” Our MPF women who pray together regularly valued the informal time spent around their tables as they listened to our guests and global partners talk about their experiences in ministry and personal/family life. As one by one table hostesses paused for a time of prayer, a beautiful picture of partners in a shared ministry began to emerge. The prayer partners and the ministry partners, together with heads bowed in worship, petitioned God for the needs and cares of one another.

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Tom Paulsen

STARS Family Services President Since 2011, STARS Family Services (SFS) has provided homes for adults with intellectual disabilities within a Christian environment as well as a job coaching program open to all STARS. Washington House, renovated to accommodate five men, was the first residence to open followed by two brand new homes, the Jean Hooten Home for women and Kenny’s Home for men.

Under the leadership of Carol Casey, director of residential life, the 13 current residents continue to thrive through the care and commitment of the following staff: • Community builders who live in the homes—Jordan Bartolazzi at Kenny’s Home, Trish Protsman at the Jean Hooten Home and Vlad Metodiev at the Washington House.

• Life skill tutors who provide life skills training to the residents on a daily basis throughout the week—Kelly Oberlin, Mark Torppey, Rachael Corey, Heidi Seabloom, Mary Godlewski and Shannon Ross.

Tonya is continually looking to find more opportunities for STARS who desire to work part time in the community.

We thank God for two successful fund raisers held this year, a concert with Christian singer/ song writer Laura Story in the fall of 2019 and Just Singin’ with The Musical Moms in March 2020. We are so thankful for those who attended and helped support the ministry of STARS Family Services with their generous donations.

• Life skill tutors who provide activities and supervision on weeknights and on weekends—Brennan Wilson, Jessie Todd, Rebecca Fox, Becky Linhardt, Janice Thomas, Dorothy Nicholson, Sarah Nelson, DJ Pollino and Irene Vogelpohl.

During this past year, we have begun the process of creating the position of executive director. The Board feels it is critical that an individual be in place to direct and manage the day-to-day operations of SFS. A subcommittee has been established made up of board members and non-board members to consider the creation of the position and begin the process of finding qualified candidates. The COVID-19 crisis has temporarily suspended the work of the committee.

Tonya Dring is the head of the job coaching program, which serves 18 STARS. She supervises five job coaches: Christine Walraven, Tina King, Rebecca Fox, Lea Lamb and Laurel Fisher. STARS are placed at the STARS Resale Shop, Twice is Nice and at other area businesses.

The COVID-19 crisis has certainly affected the work of STARS Family Services. As of the writing of this report, all residents have returned to their family homes for the duration of the crisis.

Although it has been difficult for our residents to leave the strong communities which have been established in each home, they are doing

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well within the loving care of their family members. Significant planning as to the process of reintegrating residents back into the homes at the appropriate time is ongoing, and prayers are sought as this process unfolds at some point in the future. In addition, obtaining a loan through the Small Business Administration, based upon the CARES Act, is enabling SFS to continue paying staff through the end of May at the very least.

The Board has added two additional members this year: Wil Triggs, who brings significant communication expertise and a passion for donor care, and Angela Killian who, as a former administrator at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center, brings great experience in the management of facilities dedicated to providing assistance for those with disabilities.

They join the following board members who continue to serve STARS Family Services and for whom we praise God: Tony DiLeonardi (vice president), Nancy Singer (secretary), Michelle Linhardt (treasurer and member of the Finance Committee), Dawn Clark (chair of the Personnel Commission), Julie Clemens (director of disability ministries at College Church), Ken Larson (chair of the Finance Committee), Glenn Kosirog (chair of the

Property Commission) and Bob Kay (chair of the Legal Commission).

Thank you for volunteering, providing financial support and praying for the work of STARS Family Services. We are always looking for committed Christians to join our team of staff and volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a part of the SFS team, please contact Michelle Linhardt for a list of current openings and to obtain a job application: michelle@ starsfamilyservices.org. We praise God for how He continues to bless the ministry even in the midst of the crisis, which we have all been experiencing in recent months.

Becky Cook

STARS Resale Shop Manager Since 2009 STARS Resale Shop opened its doors at our location on College Avenue and has provided a place to donate and purchase used merchandise. We began sending our net proceeds to STARS Family Services about a year after we opened. The resale shop offers opportunities for participants in the church’s STARS Disability Ministry to work in the store.

They play a significant role in our daily business. We’re thankful for the head of the job coaching staff, Tonya Dring, for expanding the program this year so that we have STARS workers everyday Monday through Friday.

It’s a privilege to work alongside the volunteers, who give freely of their time and energy, as well as the STARS, their job coaches, and paid staff who all work with the goal of contributing to this ministry.

Each individual brings his or her own unique skill set and personality to make STARS Resale Shop a special place.

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Due to the COVID-19 virus, STARS Resale Shop has been closed. We miss seeing many of you and look forward to serving you once again when the store reopens. Your participation in this ministry is crucial—whether by donating quality items, clothing or furniture, volunteering or coming to shop in the store. Together we look forward to another great year of ministry and impacting our community!

Mary Quiggle & Beth Gunther Twice is Nice Resale Shop Managers

Twice is Nice is one of College Church’s resale shops. It is located at the corner of President and Geneva Road in Carol Stream.

Our mission is twofold. The first is to provide quality goods to one of DuPage County’s poorest communities, South Carol Stream, at low prices. Second is to provide funds that support the various ministries of the Outreach Community Center (OCC).

This year at Twice is Nice has been a year of change. It has been a year of discovery, growth and increasing impact. We have grown physically. The store has been remodeled and expanded. Consequently, we have seen growth in foot traffic and sales. This produced a remarkable year of financial growth. In fact, we were able to triple our donations to OCC! The theme of growth applies to volunteers and the STARS Partner Program as well. The store has increased volunteers by 12 and added four more STARS to the staff. This increase has impacted lives of the STARS by providing meaningful employment. For the volunteers,

Twice is Nice provides community, a place of encouragement and an opportunity to discover the gospel. Twice is Nice also provides opportunities for minor offenders to do courtmandated community service. It is our hope that these men and women will be able to discover the power of the gospel to change their lives during their time with us. As we look back over this year, we believe we have broadened and deepened the impact we have on the community.

“Volunteering will give you an opportunity to walk alongside and get to know people who need to discover Jesus.”

It’s exciting to see how God works through the store to impact so many lives. An example of this impact is a customer named Donna. Donna is terminally ill and does not yet know Jesus.

She comes to the store regularly to talk with us. She tells us that we are a place she comes to escape and find hope. Pray with us that one day soon she will discover not only a good deal on our shelves, but Jesus Christ who defeated death. She needs the hope only he can provide.

So, how can you help us at Twice is Nice?

First, volunteer! Volunteering will give you an opportunity to walk alongside and get to know many who need to discover Jesus. Second, we always need quality donations. Remember us the next time you clean your closet or garage.

Third, and most importantly, please pray for us as we juggle the many aspects of the store but reach out to the Donnas who visit our store every day. Pray we would grow in our impact on the community and see many discover the power of the gospel.

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College Church in Wheaton

MEETING MINUTES College Church in Wheaton Annual Meeting May 19, 2019 UNAPPROVED DRAFT Council of Elders Chair Mark Taylor welcomed those present at the meeting. Elder Rob Wolgemuth read from John 1 and Hebrews 1 and opened the meeting in prayer. The congregation then sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

A quorum of 266 (20%) was required, and 333 members were present. Mr. Taylor announced that a quorum was present and officially called the Annual Meeting to order at 5:14 p.m.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the Annual Meeting on May 20, 2018 and three special congregational meetings on October 21, 2018, November 18, 2018, and April 7, 2019. The resolution was unanimously approved by voice vote.

Prior to the vote on the 2019-2020 Nominating Committee, Mr. Taylor explained the process of electing one man and three women to the Nominating Committee. Since the other members of the Nominating Committee are two elders and the Senior Pastor ex officio, three women and one man are elected to better represent the overall makeup of the congregation. Paper ballots were distributed to the congregation.

Votes were tallied, and the following were elected to the 2019-2020 Nominating Committee: Cheryce Berg, Teri Hiben, Carol Taylor and Noah Helm. Director of Women’s Ministries Mindy Rynbrandt prayed for the new Nominating Committee.

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Mr. Taylor presented the 2019 Annual Report and asked those who wrote reports to stand, and he thanked them; Mr. Taylor also asked those who served this past year (2018-2019) on a board or committee or in an elective position to stand, and he thanked them for serving.

Mr. Taylor then gave an opportunity for questions from the floor about the Annual Report.

A question was asked about the Site and Facilities Committee (SFC) taking a short furlough.

Mr. Taylor explained the work of the SFC and its conceptual plans. The SFC is taking a year off while plans are finalized for the Crossings building (303 E. Front St.). Reference was made to Pastor Moody’s vision sermon of the morning as well as the three-year plan.

Mr. Taylor invited Senior Pastor Josh Moody to the platform. Pastor Moody expressed his thanks to Mr. Taylor and the Council of Elders, the deacons and for all who serve hard and well.

Mark Bradley, chair of the 2018-19 Nominating Committee, presented the following resolutions, each of which was approved by a unanimous voice vote: Resolution #1 RESOLVED: That the following groups of nominees, whose names have been printed on page 53 of the Annual Report, are hereby elected: • Members of the Council of Elders for terms ending in 2023 • Members of the Board of Deacons, the Board of Deaconesses, and the Board of Missions for terms ending in 2022 • Members of various committees for terms as specified • Elective positions for terms as specified

Resolution #2 RESOLVED: That the terms of Steve Ivester, Mark Taylor, Rob Wolgemuth, Dan Lindquist and Tad Williams as elders are hereby extended by one year to fulfill the new structure for terms of elders as specified in the bylaws.

a question about the expenditures in the Caroline Adoption Fund.

The following resolution was presented by the Board of Deacons and the Council of Elders: RESOLVED: That the 2019-2020 Ministry/Missions budget of $8,112,787 is hereby approved.

Resolution #3 RESOLVED: That Tom Nussbaum is hereby elected to fill an opening on the Council of Elders for a term ending in 2022.

By a show of hands, the motion (which requires a 2/3 majority) was approved with only a handful of dissenting votes.

Mr. Taylor asked all who were newly elected or are continuing in a board or committee or elective role to stand, and Mr. Bradley prayed for them.

Mr. Taylor called Elder Tad Williams to pray for the budget, giving and ministries.

The next resolution was presented by the Board of Deacons:

Board of Deacons Chair Noah Helm presented the 2018-2019 financial report and the proposed budget for 2019-2020. Mr. Helm spoke on where we are and where we are going and that we had a strong finish, with giving equal to 97.1% of the ministry/missions budget. Mr. Helm noted that giving per “giving unit” was 42% higher than five years ago. He expressed appreciation for this increase in generosity. Also, this was the first time in five years that giving was as high as 97% of our budget.

Also, contributions exceeded expenditures by $16,000 for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

RESOLVED: That Mathieson, Moyski, Austin & Co., LLP be approved to perform the annual audit for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

The proposed budget of $8.11 million represents a 5.6% increase over the 2018-2019 expenditure budget and a 12.1% increase over 2018-2019 actual giving.

RESOLVED: That the $900,000 operating line of credit, unsecured with interest floating at Prime, be renewed for the following year.

Mr. Helm explained how six initiatives of the church fit into and drive the 2019-2020 proposed budget. Director of Administration and Finance Nancy Singer gave personal remarks on the joy of giving.

The floor was then open for discussion. A question was asked about a capital campaign, and Mr. Taylor explained that the elders are not quite ready for a capital campaign and want a good handle on what is needed before initiating a capital campaign. Nancy Singer responded to

The resolution was unanimously approved by a voice vote.

Lee Christoff, a member of the Board of Deacons, pointed out that the deacons also have internal audit procedures.

The next resolution was presented by the Board of Deacons:

The resolution was unanimously approved by a voice vote.

The congregation sang, “To God Be the Glory” and the meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. The congregation then sang the Doxology and Ministry Resident George Bednar closed in prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Lorraine Triggs Recording Secretary

49

College Church in Wheaton Congregational Meeting September 22, 2019 Minutes (Unapproved Draft) Council of Elder Chair Mark Taylor opened in prayer and called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Determination of quorum—Since this was not an exceptional matter, only 5% or 68 Regular Members were required for the necessary quorum. After a show of hands, the Chair determined that at least 68 Regular Members were in attendance and a quorum was declared.

The Chair explained the purpose of the meeting and read the following Resolution: WHEREAS, College Church has outstanding debt which it wishes to pay in full; and WHEREAS, College Church desires to renovate various properties to enhance their use for ministry; and WHEREAS, College Church desires to consider other capital improvements or projects to boost our ministries; and WHEREAS, the bylaws of College Church allow for Special Committees to be created by the Council of Elders to deal with specific matters of Church life; and WHEREAS, the Council of Elders has voted to create a Capital Campaign Committee which will help identify the size and scope of a capital campaign and will assist in implementing such a campaign; AND WHEREAS, the Council of Elders has appointed nine individuals to serve on the committee subject to approval by the Regular Members at a Special Congregational Meeting; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the following Regular Members of College Church are approved as members of the Capital Campaign Committee: Noah Helm, chair; Sue Bowen, David Gieser, Dan Lindquist, Julie Litfin, Deb Lorentsen, Dan Nielson, Executive Pastor John Seward,

50

Director of Administration and Finance Nancy Singer This motion came from the Council of Elders and therefore did not need a second. The Chair commented on how this Resolution helps to fulfil one of the initiatives in the church’s Next Three-Year Vision. Noah Helm, who is slated to be the chair of the committee made some remarks, and the meeting was open for discussion.

Various questions were raised including how the proposed committee members were chosen, how the pledges would be accounted for, the anticipated length of the campaign, whether the expected price to exercise the options on the remaining two Seminary Avenue properties was included in the debt repayment portion, how the total dollar target of the campaign would be determined and a reminder that we continue to be outwardly focused as a church even as we grow. Noah Helm and elder chair Mark Taylor commented on each.

The question was called, and after there were no objections to end the discussion, the vote was taken by voice, and the chair declared that the motion was passed nearly unanimously.

After prayer, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Minutes recorded by Nancy Singer for Lorraine Triggs, Recording Secretary

College Church in Wheaton Congregational Meeting January 19, 2020 Council of Elder Chair Mark Taylor opened in prayer and called the meeting to order at time 6:05 p.m.

Determination of quorum 266 members were needed for quorum; actual members present: 274. Quorum determined.

Resolution to Approve Cheryce Berg as Director of Children’s Ministries January 19, 2020

Resolution to Approve Diane Jordan as Director of Visitation and Care January 19, 2020

WHEREAS: The Senior Pastor has recommended to the Council of Elders that Cheryce Berg be appointed as Director of Children’s Ministries; and

WHEREAS: The Senior Pastor has recommended to the Council of Elders that Diane Jordan be appointed as Director of Visitation and Care (a part-time position); and

WHEREAS: The Council of Elders has unanimously recommended to the Regular Members that she be approved for this position:

WHEREAS: The Council of Elders has unanimously recommended to the Regular Members that she be approved for this position:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That Cheryce Berg is hereby approved as the Director of Children’s Ministries. Soli Deo Gloria.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That Diane Jordan is hereby approved as the Director of Visitation and Care (on a part-time basis). Soli Deo Gloria.

Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. John Seward dismissed in prayer.

Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

Motion carried unanimously.

51

SLATE OF NOMINEES

COUNCIL OF ELDERS David Bea ‘24 Howard Costley ‘24 Jeremy Taylor ‘24 BOARD OF DEACONS Kevin Cassel ‘23 Rick Pflederer ‘23 Nate Roe ‘23 Jon Smalley ‘23 BOARD OF DEACONESSES Laurie Costley ‘23 Joan Engeseth ‘23 Lindsay McCracken ‘23 Angie Schroeder ‘23 Susan Zimmerman ‘23 BOARD OF MISSIONS Bruce Aulie ‘23 Marsha Becker ‘23 Marr Miller ‘23 Becky Sandberg ‘23 MISSIONS TREASURER Nate Peterson ‘22 MPF COORDINATOR Joleen Billingham ‘23 CULTURE IMPACT COMMITTEE Tom Paulsen ‘23 Eric Schlickman ‘23 Ron Chiodras (unexpired term ’21)

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EVANGELISM COMMITTEE Luis Orellana ‘23 Jenni Paulson ‘23

DISABILITIES SUPERINTENDENT (9:30) Dorothy Nicholson ‘22

MUSIC COMMITTEE Bethany Albright ‘23 Scott Evangelist ‘23

MIDWEEK EVENING GIRLS SUPERINTENDENT Judy Ford ‘22

DISCIPLESHIP COMMITTEE Harry Robinson ‘23

MIDWEEK MORNING SUPERINTENDENT Suzanne Shirley ‘22

SERVICE & ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE Daniel Conroy ‘23 Jan Jones ’23 HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE Holly Burke ‘22 Cathy Evangelist ‘22 Brenda Kopp ‘22 Ann Lawrenz ‘22 Carole O’Hare ‘22 Meredith Sommars ‘22 ELEMENTARY CHILDREN’S CHURCH SUPERINTENDENT Nancy Chase ‘22 PRESCHOOL BIBLE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT Sarah Mikolajczyk ‘22

LIBRARIAN Lisa Kern ‘22 ASSISTANT HEAD USHER Ed Simon ‘22 FINANCIAL SECRETARY Eric Enstrom ‘22 RECORDING SECRETARY Carol Schick ‘22

2019-2020 LEADERSHIP LIST

COUNCIL OF ELDERS Bruce Aulie ‘20 David Dix ‘20 (vice-chair) Steve Ivester ‘20 Phil Nussbaum ‘21 Mark Taylor, ‘21 (chair) Rob Wolgemuth ‘21 (secretary) Dan Lindquist ‘22 Tom Nussbaum (unexpired term ‘22) Tad Williams ‘22 Dave Gieser ‘23 Randy Jahns ‘23 Heinrich Johnsen ‘23 Josh Moody (senior pastor) BOARD OF DEACONS Nate Clark ‘20 Roger Hughes ‘20 Anson Johnson ‘20 (chair) Randy Tuurie, (secretary, unexpired term ‘20) Joe Becker ‘21 Jay Cunningham ‘21 Andrew Nelson ‘21 Dave Sohmer ‘21 (vice-chair) Lee Christoff, ( unexpired term ‘22) John Fellowes ‘22 Michael Thrasher ‘22 Steve Wiper ‘22 Nancy Singer (pastoral staff liaison) BOARD OF DEACONESSES Joleen Billingham ‘20 Barb DeLew ‘20 Heidi Johanik (unexpired term ’20) Gail Pflederer ’20 (chair) Vanessa Roth ‘20 Karen Bagge ‘21 (vice-chair) Vicky Bailey ‘21 Becky Garrett ‘21 Betsy Love ‘21 Sarah Tews ‘21 Allison Bonga ‘22 Linda Gulbransen ‘22

Shirley Mathews ‘22 Mary Nellesen ‘22 Nancy Taylor ‘22 Eric Channing (pastoral staff liaison) BOARD OF MISSIONS Mark Bradley (unexpired term ‘20) Ann Deckert ‘20 (Missions Prayer Fellowship) Ela Hilty ‘20 Rick Huffman ‘20 Barb Nussbaum ‘20 Mark Bodett ‘21 Howard Kern ‘21 Nate Peterson ’21 (missions treasurer) Wendy Robinson (unexpired term ‘21) Penny Thrasher ‘21 Brad Bailey ‘22 (chair) Jon DeLew ‘22 Paul Mathews ‘22 Jeff Peltz ‘22 Yousaf Sadiq ‘22 Curt Miller (pastoral staff liaison) DISCIPLESHIP COMMITTEE Jeff Oslund ‘20 Faith Bair ‘21 Dave Setran ‘22 Josh Stringer (pastoral staff liaison) HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE Michelle Kelley ‘20 Lindsay McCracken ‘20 Lydia Newby ‘20 Austin Norton ‘20 Lauren Rizzo ‘20 Katie Nussbaum ‘20 (chair) Nancy Biedry ‘21 Liza Friske ‘21 Keren Newby ‘21 Lyndee Nielson ‘21 Annelise Thrasher ‘21 Lynette Trautwein ‘21 Josh Stringer (pastoral staff liaison)

53

CULTURE IMPACT COMMITTEE Daniel Bair ‘20 (chair) Marilyn Huffman ‘20 OPEN POSITION ‘21 Kat Haase ‘21 Ashley Glaze ‘22 Liz Reid ‘22 Curt Miller (pastoral staff liaison)

MUSIC COMMITTEE John Innes ‘20 Bob Kay ‘20 Karyn Hecht ‘21 Dan Sommerville ‘21 Micah Lindquist ‘22 Caitlin Maurer ‘22 Erik Dewar (pastoral staff liaison)

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE Annie Gentzler ‘20 Ruth Yousaf ‘20 Richard Howard ‘21 (chair) Budi Tjahjadi ‘21 Tom Futrell ‘22 Jon Penner ‘22 Curt Miller (pastoral staff liaison)

NOMINATING COMMITTEE Teri Hiben Jan Jones Pat Fallon Carol Taylor Bruce Aulie (elder) Randy Jahns (elder) Josh Moody (senior pastor, ex officio)

SERVICE & ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE Jan Jones ‘20 (chair) Kristin Seaman ‘20 Kristin Berenschot ‘21 Jerry Jagrowski ‘21 Megan Godoy ‘22 Chris Gottlieb ‘22 Diane Jordan (pastoral staff liaison)

OTHER ELECTED POSITIONS

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Assistant Head Usher Ed Simon ‘20

Librarian Lisa Kern ‘20

Church Treasurer Ken Heulitt ‘21

Midweek Evening Girls Superintendent Judy Ford ‘20

Disabilities Superintendent (11 a.m.)

Lin Fallon ‘21

Midweek Evening Boys Superintendent Terry Van Someren ‘21

Disabilities Superintendent (9:30 a.m.)

Dorothy Nicholson ‘20

Midweek Morning Superintendent (Kids Korner) Kate Roe ‘20

Elementary Bible School Superintendent Dan Burden ‘21

Nursery Superintendent Kristin Hughes ‘21

Elementary Children’s Church Superintendent Julie Sohmer ‘20

Preschool Bible School Superintendent Christina Samuell ‘20

Financial Secretary Eric Enstrom ‘20

Preschool Children’s Church Superintendent Lisa McKenna ‘21

Head Usher Michael Bare ‘21

Recording Secretary Lorraine Triggs ‘20

WAYS TO GIVE TO COLLEGE CHURCH Giving of our tithes and offerings is an integral part of our corporate worship because it is a unique expression of gratitude to God. When we give, we celebrate all that God has given for us, especially His incredible grace in our lives through the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross to reconcile us to Himself. God owns everything and when we give, we are simply giving back of portion of what He has entrusted to our managing. Giving to College Church also helps with all our church does here at home, our care for others throughout the community, and our missions outreach around the world.

After you have determined what you will give, we have several methods which you may use to support the ministries and missions efforts of College Church.

Check. One of the most common ways is by check. Contribution envelopes can be assigned to you for your use in depositing your check, or it can be dropped in the offering plate or or mailed to the church office. Whether you use an envelope or not, contributions by check are automatically credited to your giving record. If you would like a box of offering envelopes, simply e-mail Cindy Schuerman at cschuerman@college-church.org.

Cash. If you give cash and enclose it in an offering envelope, it will also be credited to your giving record.

Online. More and more individuals are choosing the electronic method of making contributions on-line just like they are paying many of their bills on-line. With the security of your information of highest importance, you can rely upon our on-line giving site to set up a one-time, or recurring gift of whatever amount you choose, and however often you choose. And it is easy to change the amount or frequency whenever you wish. Visit college-church.org/giving to get started.

Gifts of Stocks or Mutual Funds. You may donate stocks or mutual funds directly to College Church by transferring them from your broker to the church’s broker. Although you should consult your tax advisor, giving in this way may provide you a tax advantage. There may also be small numbers of shares you own that you would rather move out of your portfolio, but would prefer not to handle all of the paperwork involved. College Church is pleased to be able to expedite those transactions for you. Please contact Nancy Singer or Deb Carlburg at 630-668-0878 for specific instructions.

Gifts through your Will. College Church would count it a privilege for you to remember us as one of the beneficiaries of your estate. Monies given to College Church as a 501(c)(3) non-profit may save estate and inheritance taxes on the amount designated.

Memorial gifts. You may request that gifts from others in memory of you at your death be made to College Church. Likewise, you may give to College Church gifts in honor of a loved one who has passed away, whether they attended the church or not. It is just one more way of making your gifts count toward Kingdom Work.

Required Minimum Distributions. If you are required to withdraw a portion of your IRA, you can direct your IRA custodian to make a direct transfer to College Church as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Again, consult your tax advisor, but the amount withdrawn may not have to be added to your gross income at tax time.

55

COLLEGE CHURCH IN WHEATON PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL REPORT - CASH EXPENDITURES AND BUDGETS YEAR ENDED April 30, 2020

Budget 19-20

Actual vs.

Budget 19-20

Actual 19-20

Budget 20-21 vs Budget 19-20 $ % Increase Change (Decrease)

Budget 20-21

COUNCIL OF ELDERS Salaries, Benefits & Taxes Website & Digital Media Communications Music & Worship Elder's Ministries God Centered Life-Chicagoland broadcast outreach Pastoral Care/Congregational Life Front Door Ministry/Assimilation/Visitors Lunches One Service at Edman Chapel Church Multiplication/Church Plant Workshop on Biblical Exposition Pastoral Staff Retreats Hospitality Committee Guest Speakers Preaching Conference/Workshop

Total Elders

4,682,612 45,000 35,905 27,392 25,738 15,000 5,967 5,800 5,030 5,000 4,000 3,300 3,030 3,000 3,000

$

4,869,774

4,309,858 64,429 28,873 25,263 28,653 15,000 650 4,303 1,940 2,615 1,300 2,679 1,400 -

$

4,486,963

(372,754) 19,429 [A] (7,032) (2,129) 2,915 (5,317) (1,497) (3,090) (5,000) (1,385) (2,000) (351) (1,600) (3,000)

$

(382,811)

4,708,090 20,000 32,905 27,392 26,398 15,000 5,967 7,000 5,000 3,600 3,000 -

$

25,478 (25,000) [B] (3,000) [C] 660 1,200 (5,030) (4,000) (3,300) 570 (3,000)

[D] [D] [D] [D]

4,854,352

$

(15,422)

-0.3%

[A] Website revisions more costly than anticipated [B] Funds moved back to Deacon Technology budget [C] Cost of paper moved to Deacon Paper & Printing budget due to newly purchased press [D] Various intiatives were cut in order to stay at a flat budget

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Discipleship Women's Bible Study/Kids' Korner Men's Ministries & Retreat Women's Ministries & Retreat Twenties Ministry Mom2Mom Adult Discipleship/Small Groups Keenagers Becoming One (Pre-Marital Class)

Total Discipleship

15,496 6,149 5,885 5,000 3,650 8,203 725 204

$

45,312

11,237 4,946 3,468 3,517 2,542 5,866 323

$

31,899

(4,259) (1,203) (2,417) (1,483) (1,108) (2,337) (725) 119

$

(13,413)

15,496 7,000 5,865 5,000 3,650 7,500 725 204

$

45,440

851 (20) (703) -

$

128

0.3%

Service & Engagement Kids' Harbor Children's Ministries Children's Ministries Bible School - Elementary Bible School - Pre-school SICM CE Resource Room Nursery Pioneer Girls-CCIW Program Vacation Bible School Boys Brigade-Tree Climbers Children's Church Wonders of Worship

Kids' Harbor Children's Ministries

14,800 10,225 7,600 5,800 3,670 2,650 2,350 1,500 1,500 1,400 850

$

52,345

19,435 12,807 5,224 1,678 1,648 1,077 (388) 1,346 (830) 474 262

$

42,733

4,635 2,582 (2,376) (4,122) (2,022) (1,573) (2,738) (154) (2,330) (926) (588)

$

(9,612)

14,563 10,765 7,500 7,000 3,670 2,650 1,600 1,500 1,075 1,400 850

$

52,573

(237) 540 (100) 1,200 (750) (425) -

$

228

0.4%

Other Service & Engagement HYACKs College KMs STARS Service & Engagement Library Sports Ministry

Other Service & Engagement

Total Service & Engagement Total Discipleship/Service & Engagement

21,175 16,200 10,126 8,720 5,441 2,245 1,428

21,224 13,732 10,223 6,623 4,752 2,300 (2,629)

49 (2,468) 97 (2,097) (689) 55 (4,057)

5,074 (5,028)

$

65,335

$

56,225

$

(9,110)

$

65,381

$

46

$

117,680

$

98,958

$

(18,722)

$

117,954

$

274

0.1% 0.2%

$

162,992

$

130,857

$

(32,135)

$

163,394

$

402

0.2%

[E] Sports Ministry pays for itself because of volunteer help and those funds were moved into the KM Junior High ministry

56

21,175 16,200 15,200 [E] 8,720 5,441 2,245 (3,600)

Budget 19-20

Actual vs.

Budget 19-20

Actual 19-20

Budget 20-21 vs Budget 19-20 $ % Increase Change (Decrease)

Budget 20-21

BOARD OF DEACONESSES Funerals All Other Deaconess Expense Communion

2,195 1,950 1,636

Total Deaconesses

$

5,781

730 420 1,682

$

2,832

(1,465) (1,530) 46

$

(2,949)

2,195 1,950 1,636

$

-

5,781

$

-

0.0%

BOARD OF DEACONS Building, Grounds, Equip & Improvements Utilities Technology, Computers, Copiers, Telephone Property, Casualty & Other Insurance Deacon Finance/Professional Fees Office, Postage, Paper, Kitchen Expenses Crossings Architectural/Engineering

Total Deacons

379,759 186,751 184,737 115,250 78,200 70,569 35,000

$

1,050,266

340,347 166,887 146,279 102,584 77,904 63,382 158,220

$

1,055,603

$

41,498

(39,412) (19,864) (38,458) (12,666) (296) (7,187) 123,220

$

5,337

$

(3,736)

349,759 176,080 215,245 115,250 88,780 78,172 72,000

$

1,095,286

$

42,234

(30,000) (10,671) 30,508 10,580 7,603 37,000

[F]

$

45,020

$

(3,000)

4.3%

[F] Preliminary architectural/engineering work is ongoing in the Crossings building

OUTREACH

LOCAL: Evangelism Culture Impact

26,000 19,234

Total Local Outreach

$

45,234

23,492 18,006

(2,508) (1,228)

23,000 19,234

{G]

(3,000) -

-6.6%

[G] One unfilled evanglism position removed

GLOBAL: Board of Missions Career & New Missionaries Short-Term Missions Retired Missionaries Home Missions/Ministry Training Nationals Ministry Support Fund Administrative Expense Conference Missionary Prayer Fellowship

1,450,000 40,000 59,400 36,240 177,200 156,900 38,500 20,000 500

Total Missions

$

1,978,740

1,387,925 48,525 48,600 32,040 148,997 88,982 40,773 17,656 -

$

1,813,498

(62,075) 8,525 (10,800) (4,200) (28,203) (67,918) 2,273 (2,344) (500)

$

(165,242)

1,450,000 40,000 59,400 36,240 177,200 156,900 31,500 500

$

1,951,740

(7,000) (20,000) -

[H] [H]

$

(27,000)

-1.4%

$

(30,000)

-1.5%

[H] Because of the restrictions on travel, the 2020 fall missions conference has been postponed, and the Missions Pastor's travel has been reduced significantly.

Total Outreach

$

2,023,974

$

1,854,996

$

(168,978)

$

1,993,974

SUMMARY of MINISTRY/MISSIONS

MINISTRY/MISSIONS FUND: Council of Elders Discipleship and Service & Engagement Board of Deacons Board of Deaconesses Outreach

TOTAL MINISTRY/MISSIONS

Actual vs.

Budget 19-20

Budget 19-20

Actual 19-20

4,869,774 162,992 1,050,266 5,781 2,023,974

4,486,963 130,857 1,055,603 2,832 1,854,996

(382,811) (32,135) 5,337 (2,949) (168,978)

4,854,352 163,394 1,095,286 5,781 1,993,974

8,112,787

7,531,251

(581,536)

8,112,787

(581,536)

$ 8,112,787

$ 8,112,787

$

7,531,251

$

Budget 20-21 vs Budget 19-20 $ % Increase Change (Decrease)

Budget 20-21

(15,422) 402 45,020 (30,000)

$

-0.3% 0.2% 4.3% 0.0% -1.5%

-

0.0%

-

0.0%

57

UNAUDITED INCOME AND CASH EXPENDITURES STATEMENT YEAR ENDED April 30, 2020 Ministry & Missions

Care & Share

Designated Funds

Church Non-Ministry Property Fund Rentals, Events

Total

INCOME: Ministry Missions Undesignated Caroline Adoption Fund Care & Share Property Fund Missionary Christmas Thanksgiving Eve STAMP/World Impact/Justice & Compassion Run for STARS/STARS Projects COVID19 Assistance Persecuted Church Other Designated Non Ministry Rentals & Events Interest

TOTAL INCOME

32,619 62,806 7,489,303

32,619 62,806 7,489,303 23,710 277,667 122,997 38,711 30,268 13,388 58,040 37,542 7,130 14,122 171,631 359

23,710 277,667 122,997 38,711 30,268 13,388 58,040 37,542 7,130 14,122 171,631 359

$

7,585,087

$

Ministry & Missions

277,667

$

Care & Share

222,911

Designated Funds

$

122,997

$

171,631

$

Church Non-Ministry Property Fund Rentals, Events

8,380,293

Total

CASH EXPENDITURES: Salaries/Benefits Elders Discipleship & Service & Engagement Deacons Deaconesses Missions Caroline Adoption Fund Care & Share Subsidy Payments to Properties for Expenses Missionary Christmas Thanksgiving Eve STAMP/World Impact/Justice & Compassion Run for STARS/STARS Projects COVID19 Assistance Persecuted Church Outdoor Signage Other Non Ministry Rentals & Events (Estimated Depreciation - $688,905)

4,309,858 177,105 130,857 1,055,603 2,832 1,854,996

4,309,858 177,105 130,857 1,055,603 2,832 1,854,996 25,000 201,353 71,161 38,161 30,289 25,047 48,774 3,490 7,130 34,713 4,012 108,189 -

25,000 201,353 71,161 38,161 30,289 25,047 48,774 3,490 7,130 34,713 4,012 108,189

TOTAL CASH EXPENDITURES

$

7,531,251

$

201,353

$

216,616

$

71,161

$

108,189

INCOME OVER/(UNDER)

$

53,836

$

76,314

$

6,295

$

51,836

$

63,442

$ 8,128,570 $

251,723

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL REPORT AS OF April 30, 2020 NET ASSETS Balance 5/1/19 after audit adj Ministry/Missions Fund Caroline Adoption Fund Care & Share Fund Endowment Fund Designated Projects Fund Property Fund/Fixed Asset Fund Non-Minstry Rentals/Events Fund Operating and Capital Imp. Reserve Funds TOTAL

$

0 135,309 234,513 36,499 305,660 11,456,799 219,749 863,662 13,252,191

Receipts

$

7,584,728 23,710 277,667 359 199,201 122,997 171,631 50,000 8,430,293

Expenditures

$

7,531,251 25,000 201,353 0 191,616 71,161 108,189 0 8,128,570

Net Income/ (Loss)

$

53,477 (1,290) 76,314 359 7,585 51,836 63,442 50,000 301,723

Balance 4-30-20

Transfers (53,477)

53,477

$

0 -

$ $

58

0 134,019 310,827 36,858 366,722 11,508,635 283,191 913,662 13,553,914 ($688,905) Est. Depreciation 12,865,009

Unaudited Fund Balance

College Church in Wheaton Unaudited Statement of Financial Position [A] As of April 30 Audited 2019

Year Ended : ASSETS Cash Other Assets Fixed Assets (net of depreciation) Total Assets

Unaudited 2020

$ $ $ $

1,812,977 13,200 11,456,676 13,282,853

$ $ $ $

2,937,534 23,200 10,767,894 13,728,628

LIABILITIES [B] Deferred Payables & Liabilities Long Term Debt Total Liabilities

$ $ $

30,663 30,663

$ $ $

863,619 863,619

Fund Balance

$

13,252,191

$

12,865,009

Total Liabilities & Fund Balance

$

13,282,853

$

13,728,628

[C]

[A] Motion at the 5/19/2020 Annual Meeting to approve the audit firm: Mathieson, Moyski, Austin & Co., LLP, Wheaton, IL to perform the annual audit and tax returns for the 2019-20 fiscal year; estimated cost - $25,000 [B] Approve the $900,000 operating line of credit from Wheaton Bank & Trust Co. for the 2020-21 church year. Unsecured; interest floating at Prime, (interest only on dollars utilized during the year); due 11-4-2020. Annual renewals in November so the bank has our audited financials before the renewal.

Balance at 4/30/20: $0

Line of credit was not used in 2019-2020

[C] Paycheck Protection Program, part of Federal CARES Act to encourage employers with less than 500 employees to maintain payrolls reflected in 2019. CCIW received loan through Wheaton Bank & Trust Co. and guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, loan amount $826,800. If by 6-30-2020, at least 75% of loan amount was used to maintain number of employees and payroll amount with the remaining 25% being used for rent, mortgage interest or utilities, loan can be forgiven and treated as a grant with no interest incurred. If loan is not forgiven, it converts to a loan at 1.0% interest with a 2-year maturity.

OUTSIDE RENTAL & SPACE SHARING ACTIVITIES/PROPERTIES 2019-2020 Budget RENTALS/SPACE SHARING OF CHURCH BLDGS

$

82,722

2019-2020 Income $

2019-202 Expenditures

171,631

$

108,189

Net Income/ (Expense) $

63,442

2020-2021 Budget $

36,263

RENTAL PROPERTIES: Seminary & Scott Properties, LLC

6,353

151,635

140,569

311 E. Seminary, LLC

6,915

27,502

27,678

(176)

315 E. Seminary, LLC

(4,136)

10,703

29,679

(18,976)

(5,700)

325 E. Seminary, LLC

1,542

39,069

32,676

6,393

3,700

0

323

40,500

6,884

305 E. Seminary, LLC

(630)

311 E. Wesley, LLC

39,065

301 E Seminary, LLC 303 E Front Street, LLC RENTAL PROPERTIES NET INCOME/(EXPENSE) ALL RENTAL ACTIVITIES NET INCOME/(EXPENSE)

11,066

19,000 1,300

(323)

(280)

33,616

35,700

7,235

42,860

23,975

18,885

9,600

(20,280)

178,680

195,216

(16,536)

(40,000)

$

36,064

$

490,949

$

457,000

$

33,949

$

23,320

$

118,786

$

662,580

$

565,189

$

97,391

$

59,583

Each LLC is formed with College Church as its sole owner with the church's Council of Elders as its governing body.

No funds were borrowed to purchase 305 E. Seminary (the grass lot) No funds were borrowed to purchase 311 E. Wesley (Chase Bank) No funds were borrowed to purchase 301 E. Seminary Details of borrowing arrangement: Mortgage on Seminary & Scott properties; interest rate 4.50% fixed; interest plus optional principal payments; balance due November 22, 2023.

Balance at 4/30/20: $1,404,049 ($39,551 principal reduction made during 2019-20) Details of borrowing arrangement: Mortgage on 311, 315 & 325 E. Seminary; interest rate 4.50% fixed; interest plus optional principal payments; balance due May 1, 2022 Balance at 4/30/20: $753,844 Details of borrowing arrangement: Mortgage on 303 E. Front St. (Toms-Price Building); interest rate 4.50% fixed; interest plus optional principal payments; balance due December 13, 2023 Balance at 4/30/20: $3,999,999

59