Coronavirus Updates (COVID-19) | Wheaton Bible Church

We want to update you on what’s happening at Wheaton Bible Church, Tri-Village Church, and Iglesia del Pueblo in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are following this evolving story with great concern. We have received guidance from and are in communication with the DuPage County Health Department on how to move forward.

Reviewed 6/30/2020 11:00 am

Updated 6/30/2020 11:00 am

Are we gathering at our campuses for Sunday services?

Starting July 12 we will begin gathering on-campus again. You must reserve a seat because our capacity is limited to help with social distancing. For more information, visit our campus registration site.

Registration opens July 1

West Chicago Campus Tri-Village Campus Iglesia del Pueblo

We will be live streaming full worship services for our Traditional service at 8:30 am Streamwood and West Chicago English Contemporary service at 10:30 am, and our Spanish service at 12:15. All live streams are available to rewatch on-demand on our website. To worship through giving, you can give online.

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For on-campus worship, why are you taking additional precautions?

We believe that the physical gathering of God’s people is an important priority when it can be accomplished safely and with wisdom. We are taking every measure to do just that. Hence, we are aiming to provide the best in-person experience possible without compromising the health of our congregation.

What is required of me to attend?

Commit to wearing a face covering for the duration of the worship service
You must not be exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19.
You must not be under a quarantine condition due to a potential COVID-19 exposure.
You must agree to maintain physical distancing throughout your time on WBC’s premises.

Why not wait longer to reopen (when there are less restrictions in place)?

There are a wide range of opinions regarding when it is best to reopen. Our goal has been to accommodate this range of viewpoints by providing several different safe and impactful opportunities for people to gather for worship (either physically or digitally). We encourage you to choose the opportunity that aligns best with your own safety conscience, and also provides you with the best worship experience (all things considered).

How do I make a reservation to attend?

Please follow this link to our Worship with Us page that will have a registration link for each service on each weekend. In order to permit everyone a chance to attend, we ask that each household only make ONE reservation per two-week interval.

Do I need to provide proof of my reservation?

It will be easiest if you bring a proof of registration with you, but as a backup we will check for your name on our list of reservations when you arrive.

What if I have young kids?

Children of any age may attend most worship gatherings, but they must follow all required protocols (physical distancing, wearing a face covering for the duration of the service, etc.).

If you and your spouse wish to attend different services (so one can stay home with your children), an exception to the one reservation per household is permitted.

Who is encouraged to stay home?

Persons ages 65 and older are encourage not to attend (per Illinois and CDC guidelines)
Persons with high COVID-19 risk factors are asked not to attend (per Illinois guidelines)
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or are under a quarantine condition due to potential COVID-19 exposure.

How are you handling the offering?

We recommend you give online or by mail. We will not pass offering plates during the service. There will be offering drop-boxes in the back of the worship center.

Will there be communion in our worship services?

No communion will be taken at this time to protect the health and safety of our congregation. We are employing alternative ways to provide communion however (small groups, special ministry/campus gatherings, etc.).

Will there be coffee service, Gathering grounds or paper bulletins?

There will not be beverages available at church or paper bulletins will be available at this time.

Will bathrooms be available?

Yes, but we encourage them primarily for emergency use only.

What about IDP and Streamwood campus?

We are planning on both being open at the same time as North Ave Campuses.

What about other ministries opening up?

Presently, our priority is opening our weekend services. Conversations are underway to determine when other ministries can gather in-person.

Is the West Chicago Campus open for me to stop in?

No. For the safety of you and our team, the building is closed to the public at this time. If you’d like to give to the church, please mail a check or give online at wheatonbible.org/give. If you need help or would like to speak with a pastor, please visit wheatonbible.org/help. Thank you for your understanding. You must preregister to join for worship on a Sunday morning.

How can I help?

Give Help/Get Help — If you can provide help to those in your community, see our Give Help/Get Help portal page. We'll match you with a need in our community. If you have a need, you can also submit your requests on that page.

Give — During the COVID-19 outbreak we continue to conduct ministry in alternative ways and incur the associated costs. An important and practical way you can help is by giving to support the ministries of Wheaton Bible Church. Our staff (including hourly employees) are still working (most remotely) and our global missionaries who rely on our support are still serving.

Give Online

You can also text WHEATONBIBLE or IGLESIADP or TRIVILLAGE TO 77977. or mail your check to the church. Thank you!

Are any events, or small group gatherings impacted?

Yes. No groups are to meet on-campus. This includes but is not limited to Care Groups, Adult Communities, Bible Studies, Prayer Groups, etc.

Where can I get updates on the church's response?

This page, wheatonbible.org/coronavirus-updates will be updated over time. When it is safe to do so and we form plans to resume meeting in-person, we will send out notifications through email (sign up for the weekly enews), social media, and our website.

How should I respond spiritually?

Pray – Pray for those impacted by the virus, as well as their families and loved ones. Pray we will not be driven by fear but be guided by love. Pray for the churches who are in the area of infected communities. Pray for them to love their community and care for the sick like never before!

Trust God – While we cannot control any virus, the spread, or the impact it has in our church, we’re doing everything we can to make our campuses as safe and clean as possible. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that. We must also remember that God has not called us to live in fear but in faith. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit of God does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” We pray that God will fill all of us with these three gifts, no matter what comes our way. For additional help managing anxiety around the virus, the American Psychological Association created this resource.

Give – During the COVID-19 outbreak we continue to conduct ministry in alternative ways and incur the associated costs. An important and practical way you can help is by giving to support the ministries of Wheaton Bible Church. Our staff (including hourly employees) are still working (most remotely) and our global missionaries who rely on our support are still serving. You can donate online at wheatonbible.org/give.