"A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
Matthew 5:14

On January 6, 1980, 17 people gathered in a living room to worship, study the Bible and start a church. Their vision was to create a nondenominational, congregational church with the Puritan impulse to transcend and transform the culture - a light for Christ in the community.

The founders wanted Christ Church to become "a city on a hill." The founding mission was "A family of families, knit together to exhibit and extend Christ's Kingdom." These families shared a desire to return to the simple focus of our forefathers: studying God's Word, following Jesus Christ as Lord, loving and being accountable to one another, and serving their communities.

A heritage of shared work and warm fellowship

Members practiced the priesthood of all believers, publicly stating that the "ministers are the congregation." Sharing ministries as well as logistics, it was said that "no one had two jobs until everyone had one." Founding members and others served as elders, deacons and ministry leaders.

From the very beginning, this was a congregation that loved to meet over food and share good times together at various events throughout the year. Although our larger size limits the times we can all gather socially, we still carry on that tradition with our annual church picnics, Christmas parties, Neighborhood Connections, and Guest Desserts.

As it is today, coffee after Sunday Worship was a time of warmly welcoming newcomers and touching base with old friends.

"Parish Groups" formed in 1982 - our first small groups

Geographical groups, each led by an elder, were formed in the tradition of the early church as recorded in the book of Acts. They met weekly in their homes for studying God's Word, sharing lives, prayer and singing - much like our small groups today.

Growing fast and on the move

During the 1980s, the congregation outgrew one facility after another: Gorton Community Center, Lake Forest Academy and the Drake Theater at Barat College.

Building our first real home

By 1985 about 350 attended weekly and we needed a permanent home. Sites were considered and earnest prayer began. Two members generously donated the 9.2 acres of the former Behr summer estate for our current facility. Architects Hammel Green and Abrahamson of Minneapolis were hired based on their award-winning New England style meetinghouse in Edina, Minnesota. They were challenged to design a "minimalist space where people would add the texture of their own handiwork one the Puritans might build today with their theology and our technology."

The first phase - our Meetinghouse and south Parish House -cost $4 million, $2.8 million of which was given anonymously by about 100 member-families. Groundbreaking was celebrated in July of 1987.

When costs exceeded estimates, the bell tower was deemed non-essential and postponed. However, the City of Lake Forest refused occupancy without it. Today the bell tower stands as a stately landmark and testament to Christ's presence in our community.

Our 1988 Thanksgiving and Christmas services were held upstairs in the Parish House before the Meetinghouse was completed. On January 29, 1989, Sunday services began in our new home.

The solid bronze bell in our tower, larger than the Liberty Bell, was forged in Holland with the inscription "A city on a hill cannot be hidden" and was installed in 1995.

Shepherds through the years 

Over the years Christ Church Lake Forest has been blessed with consistently Christ-centered leadership. Pastors who have continued their ministries elsewhere have left behind a legacy of smooth transitions. Below are pictured (from left to right) former and current pastors Bob Thomas (1996-2002), Walt Liefeld (1992-1996),  and Mike Woodruff (2002-current [2007]).

Adding a second Sunday Service and another Parish House

By 1997, as we had outgrown our facilities, we added a second Sunday Worship service, and $2.3 million was pledged to build a second Parish House dedicated to children's and adult education. The building was completed nine months ahead of schedule in March, 1999. Today over 1000 people worship at Christ Church on Sunday mornings. Ministries have multiplied, with significant growth in Women's, Men's, Junior High, Senior High, Young Couples, Children's Ministries and Adult Education. We have more than doubled our parking space and remodeled the original Parish House for our growing number of staff.

Children were part of the congregation from the beginning

Our children's program is a cornerstone of our local ministry. The goal of our children's Lighthouse program is to come alongside parents as they raise their children to know, love, and serve the Lord. We strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment where children are a valued part of the larger church body. Our Club 56, Junior High and Senior High programs are so appealing that they grow each year from our own kids bringing their friends to share in their fun and meaningful times with their peers and leaders.

Service and Missions - an essential part of our charter

Serving others in our church, neighborhoods, region and world has been part of our church's work since the early days. The St. James Society, our church's confidential benevolence ministry formed in 1981, provides help for those in need.
Our missions ministry has grown rapidly. The first CCLF short-term mission trip to Mexico was in 1989 with eight people who built a two-room house. In 2003 we sent teams to more than 5 countries. Of the 43 missionaries in 18 countries our church supports, many were sent from our own congregation.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide.” Isaiah 54:2

July of 2005, with Sunday School classes bursting at the seams, ground was broken for a new Education Center and offices. December of 2005 saw the new addition protected by a roof. July of 2006, the "Step of Faith" building expansion project was completed.

September 17, 2006 an open house welcomed visitors to the new facilities.

A congregation united and blessed by God

God has provided for and protected us throughout our history. His faithfulness - and the genuine desire of our congregation to be a united force for Christ in our world - has pulled us through major and minor crises and set a solid path for our future. We give God the glory.