Stratford Park Bible Chapel

Love it. A great mix of old and young folks who love worshiping God together. On Sundays, the first morning service is a communion service with open sharing. Typically during the school year, the second morning service is an education hour. The third service is a traditional worship service. Wednesday offers a prayer meeting and youth group. I can't say enough great things about this family of believers.

Very friendly group of people who seem to genuinely seek to study the scriptures

When things get emotionally complex, this congregation will turn on you faster than you could ever imagine. If you aren’t part of the spiritual elite, you have no voice. When the pastor disagrees with you, even when you are using Scripture to back your position, he doesn’t use Scripture to back himself up; he just replies, “Well, that’s not how I interpret that.” End of discussion.nnThe level of elitism in this church led to deep, deep depression until I finally severed ties with the church. I have never before or since felt so judged by those around me. My marriage was hanging by a thread, my wife and I were separated for over a year, and I was spiritually and emotionally dangling from a cliff. Those members of the church who didn’t completely ignore the problem instead basically stepped on my fingers instead of helping me off the cliff. Most of the congregation was content to just ignore this failing marriage and pretend like everything was just fine with us being separated. I left the church and fixed my marriage without their help within months. In striving for that goal, I received better advice from my boss at work than from my pastor. My life is far better now without that congregation.nnThere are multiple cases that come to mind of strife among church members that wasn’t handled well at all by the church leadership. Multiple divorces, torn families, and many people who have left the church over these things. Pretty much every time, too, the woman is backed up 100%, no questions asked. The pastor told me himself that the husband must always take 100% responsibility when there is strife in a marriage, and the wife only has to take responsibility for what she may have done. I kid you not. No exaggeration.nnIf you are content to just sing the songs, listen to the sermons, give to the missionaries, and spout Christianese all the time, then this is the place for you, as long as you are a happy, spiritual person who doesn’t rock the proverbial boat—I bet that I’ll get some sort of backlash for saying all this. If you are looking for a place where the things that are taught are actually put into practice when the going gets tough, then look elsewhere.nnAnd if you are looking for ethnic diversity, I cannot laugh harder. Minority families have come and then gone just as quickly. As far as age diversity, there used to be a lot more college students who attended. Not so much anymore. Now it’s pretty much just middle-aged adults, most of whom have kids, and older adults who have been there forever.

This is my home church. Excellent Biblical teaching, fellowship and support. There are three services on Sunday, breaking of bread, Sunday School (adult and children) and Bible hour. There are a number of small groups. Activities for all ages. Good mix of young families with children, college students and seniors. Come visit! See our web page too.

Stratford Park Bible Chapel was our church home for 8 years while we lived in Champaign IL. We have fond memories of our time at Stratford Park and we have developed lifelong friendships with families we met there.nnGod is at work at Stratford Park and his love is displayed by the care and commitment congregants have for one another. Check out this church if you're looking for great exegetical teaching and a family focused community that is serious about caring for one another.