Bible Baptist Marks 50th Anniversary

It started from humble beginnings: 13 people, gathered in a home in Romeoville’s Hampton Park neighborhood.

Today, has a growing (and possibly expanding) church home with a thriving school. This weekend, the church will mark its 50th anniversary with a golf outing, open house and celebration dinner on Saturday and a special worship service on Sunday.

Pastor Jason Stover, helming the church since November, said the years have brought many changes to the Romeoville parish.

“It originally started in a house here in Romeoville with 13 members,” he said. The first service was held on Feb. 19, 1961.

From those 13 charter members, the parish grew steadily, particularly under the leadership of Pastor J.O. Purcell, the church’s first full-time pastor, Stover said.

“He grew the church, the people, the building,” Stover added. The church building at 301 W. Normantown Road is a result of several building projects, evolving from a small chapel.

“It started as a little chapel and took three building projects to get to where we are now,” Stover said, adding that he doesn’t rule out further expansion.

The departure of Purcell in 1978 sparked a decline in membership, but the numbers of parishioners has started to climb over the last six or seven years, Stover said.

“On a Sunday morning, we’ll have 250 to 275 people,” he said.

A school established in 1972 is also once again beginning to grow. Now known as , the school offers programs for preschool through high school and now has more than 200 students.

Stover previously served as a youth pastor from 2001 to 2003 at Bible Baptist. After working to plant churches in Poland, he returned last summer after the retirement of Pastor Steve Baker, becoming pastor in November.

Under his leadership, Stover said he hopes to see the church become more active in the community.

The parish’s a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) program offers resources for young and single mothers, Stover said.

“We’re trying to reach out to teen moms,” he said. “We’re trying to help them in every way we can ... We're looking for ways that we can help folks, help the community (and) looking to serve Romeoville."

The community is invited to Bible Baptist’s 50th anniversary open house from noon to 4 p.m. June 11.

“People can come out and tour (the church),” Stover said.

A banquet is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Guests can RSVP by paying the $10 cost online. For more information on Bible Baptist Church, visit www.bbcromeoville.org.

Stover noted that while the church has plans to grow in the future, one thing won't change. 

"We have every plan to stay right where we are in Romeoville," he said.