Shorewood church marking 1-year anniversary
By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News June 20, 2012 1:58PM
If you go
What: Services at Restoration Christian Church
When: Prayer service 7 a.m. every other Saturday. Weekly worship service 10 a.m. every Sunday. Family worship service at 10 a.m. every fifth Sunday
Where: 114 Channahon Drive, Shorewood
Etc: Youth group for grades 6-12 meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Morning prayer is at 7 a.m. the second and fourth Saturdays. Food pantry is at 10 a.m. the fourth Saturday of the month.
Contact: 815-630-5268 or visit www.rccnow.org.
Updated: July 23, 2012 7:11AM
SHOREWOOD — Transformational Biblical teaching. Heartfelt worship. Strategic prayer. Compassionate outreach. Loving fellowship. Demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power.
These are the hallmarks of the nondenominational, multicultural, 225-member Restoration Christian Church, which recently celebrated its first anniversary as an independent church.
It was established in 2008 as a “plant” from another congregation.
“Our primary motivation is to be a kingdom-based church,” said pastor Dan Johnson. “Our motto is as Jesus prayed: ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ We believe miracles still exist in today’s church. We believe the gifts are still functioning in today’s church.”
Sunday worship services, Johnson said, are upbeat, energetic and celebratory, with a few slower-paced spots for reflection. Services feature a live band, colorful lights, a lyrics display so everyone can sing along and a scripture-based lesson or message to inspire members to reach for a higher life in God.
A nursery is available for children up to age 2; kids ages 3 through 10 participate in a worship service in a colorfully painted area. A cafe allows everyone to grab a snack before or after services, and it encourages post-service fellowship.
“People will stay an additional 45 minutes just talking with one another,” Johnson said. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere.”
For those desiring a deeper prayer experience, Restoration Christian Church offers, on two Saturdays a month, an hour-long, 7 a.m. morning prayer service. About 20 people attend and pray for “anything and everything,” Johnson said.
“We don’t make it long or drawn out,” Johnson said, “but we do make it early so people can enjoy the rest of their day.”
Restoration Christian Church also ministers to the needs of the community with a monthly food pantry.
Members distribute enough items to supply each individual and family with sufficient food for more than two weeks. Sometimes, clothes and shoes are available for the taking, too.
“We want to be sure everyone has the necessities of life,” Johnson said. “We have a loving environment. We don’t treat anyone who is downcast poorly.”
