About Wheaton Bible Church
We are a family of people of different backgrounds, stories, cultures, traditions, generations, and ethnicities united by the power of the Gospel. We exist to glorify God by making disciples who make disciples who love God, love one another, love our neighbors, and love the nations. Whether you’re exploring Christianity or a lifelong follower of Christ, you are welcome here. God is building His kingdom both globally and locally through Wheaton Bible Church and Iglesia del Pueblo. We have had the privilege of serving the northwest suburbs of Chicago for more than 90 years.
Our Services
We welcome you to join us for worship at our various multi-ethnic worship services. You can choose either contemporary (band-led) worship, or traditional (orchestra-led) worship. All worship services are about an hour and fifteen minutes long.
Traditional
East Worship Center – 8:45 am & 10:30 am
Contemporary
West Worship Center – 8:45 am & 10:30 am
Iglesia del Pueblo
West Worship Center – 12:15 pm
What to Expect
Walking through the doors of an unfamiliar church can be intimidating. Where do I go next? How do I drop off my kids? Where are the bathrooms? Am I wearing the right clothes? Where do I go to learn more about the church? The list of questions goes on….stop for a moment, take a deep breath, we are here to help. Our goal as a church is to make this potentially large and intimidating church feel small. We want you to be a part of our community. We want you to connect. And sometimes you might need a little help to get there. The information below is meant to be a snapshot of what you can expect when you visit our church on a Sunday. Hopefully then when you arrive, you can breathe a little easier as you enter into worship!
Where do I go?
WBC is located conveniently off of North Ave (64) and Morton Rd. We have entrances on either road! We have convenient parking designated JUST for our newer guests located in the lots closest to the front doors.
As you exit your car and approach our front doors, you will notice the beautiful prayer tower standing 144 feet tall from the ground to the cross that tops it (please visit and spend some time in prayer).
When you enter the front door you will notice our Welcome Desk as soon as you enter. Stop in and say hello! We have a team of people waiting to greet you and help you with your worship experience.
What do I wear?
WBC has both a contemporary and traditional worship expression. The contemporary service is band lead and tends to be a bit more casual than the traditional service which is orchestra lead. We encourage you to come as you are both physically in attire and spiritually.
What about my kids?
We love our families and believe that children and students are an essential part of our church community.
When you arrive for your first visit, our check-in team will welcome you, walk you through our check-in process, and help place your child in the correct age group. Our computerized check-in and paging system enhances security and allows us to quickly connect with families. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to complete this process.
Children ages 6 weeks through 5th grade are invited to join our Kids’ Life program during the 8:45 am, 10:30 am, and 12:15 pm (Español) services. Check-in is located on the Main Level. If you need assistance finding your way, stop by the Welcome Desk in the Atrium.
Students in grades 6–8 can head to the Warehouse on the Lower Level, where they’ll experience worship, Bible teaching, and time in small groups. Middle school students meet during the 10:30 am and 12:15 pm (Español) services.
Children are always welcome in our worship services. If little ones need a break, families can view the service from our family room or from seating areas outside the worship center.
Your child’s safety is our highest priority. Every member of our serving team completes background checks, reference screenings, and training. Children are only released to adults with matching security stickers received at check-in.
We can’t wait to meet you and your family!
Our Senior Pastor
Hanibal Rodriguez
Hanibal Rodriguez is a graduate of Northeastern University where he received his undergraduate and Master’s degree in Education. He also has a Master of Arts in Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary. He has been on staff at Wheaton Bible Church, West Chicago IL, since 2005 serving in several pastoral roles including Youth Pastor, Lead Pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo, Wheaton Bible Church’s Spanish-speaking congregation and Executive Pastor.
In May of 2021 he was confirmed as Wheaton Bible Church’s Senior Pastor. Hanibal serves on the Counsel for The Gospel Coalition both in English and Spanish. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry at Covenant Theological Seminary.
Hanibal Rodriguez is a graduate of Northeastern University where he received his undergraduate and Master’s degree in Education. He also has a Master of Arts in Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary. He has been on staff at Wheaton Bible Church, West Chicago IL, since 2005 serving in several pastoral roles including Youth Pastor, Lead Pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo, Wheaton Bible Church’s Spanish-speaking congregation and Executive Pastor.
In May of 2021 he was confirmed as Wheaton Bible Church’s Senior Pastor. Hanibal serves on the Counsel for The Gospel Coalition both in English and Spanish. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry at Covenant Theological Seminary.
Hanibal has been happily married to Heidi, whom he met in high school, and they have two daughters, Camila and Alejandra.
Hanibal has been happily married to Heidi, whom he met in high school, and they have two daughters, Camila and Alejandra.
Our Building
Our Story
In June of 1929 a group of 160 people signed a charter to form a new independent church called the Wheaton College Interdenominational Church. The church met on the campus of Wheaton College. This was just before the stock market crashed and at the front end of the Great Depression.
In 1934 we called our first pastor, Kenneth A. Amsler. Later we renamed the church “Wheaton Bible Church” because our faith and practice stand on the foundation of the Bible, which is the inspired, infallible, and inviolable Word of God.
In 1935 and still during the Depression, we purchased property at the corner of Cross and Union Streets in Wheaton, Illinois. Members sacrificially gave $30,000 toward the new building while not forgetting the missionary and current expense budgets. We dedicated our first building in March 1936. Very soon our Sunday school rooms overflowed. People often came forward after worship services to accept Christ.
In 1940 we called our second pastor, J. C. Macaulay. Four years later we started a Sunday school ministry that became Pleasant Hill Community Church. The Christian education ministry flourished and in 1947 a two-story education facility was added.
In 1952 the church welcomed its third pastor, Rev. Malcolm Cronk. God used Dr. Cronk’s love of the Bible to grow the congregation and start others. Members left to start Countryside Chapel in 1955, Evangel Baptist Church in 1958, and The Village Church of Carol Stream in 1960.
By 1958 we had added a second morning service. We continued to purchase homes around the church and in 1960 we dedicated a new sanctuary building on the corner of Main and Franklin Streets in Wheaton.
Dr. Richard H. Seume became our fourth senior pastor late in 1967. An excellent Bible expositor, Dr. Seume served faithfully until a serious kidney ailment ended his ministry with us in late 1970.
In 1971 the church called Rev. Christopher Lyons to serve as its fifth pastor. We soon added an 8:15 Sunday morning service and started our Vanguard Program for senior adults.
In 1982 we completed a three-story Christian education building. Dr. Lyons left in 1986 and in 1987 Dr. David P. Krentel became our sixth pastor. While he was here we started a Hispanic Sunday school class that evolved into Iglesia del Pueblo.
With the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, he also contributed significantly to the construction of a new building for a sister church in Deva, Romania.
In 1994, we called Pastor Rob Bugh to become our seventh senior pastor. One of the first things Pastor Rob did was to clarify the church’s mission, vision, and values. Soon a contemporary service was added. By 1997 we were offering four worship services, including a Hispanic service.
God used Pastor Rob’s ministry to grow our church and His Kingdom. There was an increased emphasis on reaching the world for Christ. Our Hispanic ministry grew to a fully functional congregation of more than 400. The Children’s Sunday School continued to break attendance records. Student Ministries packed out Main Street Chapel, and we had about 20 Adult Communities.
After a thorough study of future ministry options, we took a visionary step of faith by voting to purchase 47 acres of land for future expansion and the purchase agreement was finalized in October 1999.
God continued to grow our church and Christ’s Kingdom. In 2005, we launched Step Out/En Marcha, our capital campaign, to pay for our new campus at North Avenue and Morton Road in West Chicago, IL. God moved our people to give more than $19 million in cash and commitments.
We broke ground and began construction in 2006, but more than buildings were being built. God used this time to grow our ministries and our faith and to unify us as a church body. In 2007, we adopted a new mission statement: love God, grow together, and reach the world. It almost immediately provided our ministries clarity and focus.
On July 20, 2008, we met for our first services at our new campus on North Avenue in West Chicago. Following the move to the new campus on North Avenue in West Chicago, both the Wheaton Bible Church and Iglesia del Pueblo congregations grew in numbers—reflecting a greater focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ and helping others to do the same.
We also added or increased our ministry “on ramps” for connecting with more and more people—both those who were new to the Christian faith or and for those new to our expanding ministries—in an increasingly diverse community (racially, ethnically, and socio-economically).
This included the initiation of Alpha—a 10-week class for adults to explore the meaning of faith from a Christian perspective. Then, following the common belief that the church “is a hospital, not a country club,” we also encouraged a culture of humble transparency—expanding our recovery groups, family support ministries, and introducing the new Re|Engage marriage ministry.
With the move to West Chicago, God also opened many doors to serve and reach out to those in need within our immediate region. Understanding that the Gospel we embrace is not a social gospel, but it is a Gospel with social implications, the church launched the Puente del Pueblo ministry in West Chicago. It soon became the largest social service provider in West Chicago, offering case management services for families, adult literacy programming, summer programs, and after school programming for children and youth.
In 2015, Iglesia del Pueblo, while continuing its ministry in Spanish, added a second worship service in English. The church and its two congregations also saw a dramatic increase in involvement in both global and local outreach, including the support of 90+ missionaries or mission partners globally, GO Teams, Hunger Team, CareFest, Refugee Resettlement, Adoption and Foster Care, and Administer Justice.
In the fall of 2016, Wheaton Bible Church took a step in responding to God’s call for us to reach out to a broader region of people in surrounding communities who are not attending any church where they can hear about new life in Jesus, and who would be more likely to visit a church nearer their homes.
A second campus, Tri-Village Church, was launched in Streamwood, Illinois, with a team of 150 adult volunteers from Wheaton Bible Church and Iglesia del Pueblo. They focused on serving the people who live in and around the communities of Streamwood, Bartlett, and Hanover Park.
In 2019, WBC celebrated its 90-year anniversary of serving and reaching people in the surrounding communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We celebrated the 30-year anniversary of Iglesia del Pueblo (IDP), our Spanish-speaking congregation, in September 2020. We’ve been blessed to partner alongside IDP and to see this congregation grow and flourish as more and more people gather to worship on our campus.
In September of 2021, after 26 years of visionary leadership, preaching, shepherding, and pointing us to the Gospel, Rob Bugh retired as senior pastor of Wheaton Bible Church. In his letter to the congregation, he reminded us “…the most important Name in this church is Jesus Christ. He is the head of WBC… He will lead us, He will guide. He loves this church… the most important thing you can do is pray, pray that God by His Spirit will do incredible things here at WBC.”
Indeed, God continues to do incredible things. In October 2021, Hanibal Rodriguez was installed as our eighth senior pastor. Hanibal had most recently served as the lead pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo as well as a member of the executive leadership team serving the entire church. In early 2023, Pastor Hanibal further expanded WBC’s vision to reach more people for Christ and modified our mission and values.
In September of 2022, Tri-Village Church (TVC) held its final service. God used the staff and people of TVC to serve the residents of the Tri-Village area for six years. Many lives were touched and impacted for the Gospel during these years. WBC was informed that TVC would have to relocate, and the Lord did not open any permanent doors. After seeking wisdom and direction from the Lord, leadership came to the conclusion that Tri-Village’s season of ministry had come to an end.
Puente del Pueblo, our local outreach ministry serving residents in West Chicago, celebrated its 15-year anniversary in Fall of 2023. God continues to use the ministry of Puente to serve youth in after-school programming and a summer program, as well as serving adults in case management and literacy services.
God continues to use the ministries of Wheaton Bible Church to fulfill His purposes—a continued cultivation in an ever-expanding way.
