Village Bible Church || Sugar Grove, IL || Sugar Grove, IL

The birth of Village Bible Church of Sugar Grove resulted from a weekly Bible study begun in the home of Omar and Rose Sutherland in January 1971.  Pastor Dick Martin led the study under the auspices of Plano Bible Church.

The first worship service was held on June 27, 1971, in the Sugar Grove Elementary School gymnasium.  Those early days brought the excitement of new families, new believers, and new challenges.

The Lord brought Pastor Jim Harper and his wife Judy in June of 1972.  Jim served as the first pastor of Village Bible Church.

Our present site at the intersection of Bliss Road and Route 47 was purchased in June of 1974. A metal building, later to be used as a gymnasium and fellowship center, was constructed in the fall of 1975.

After the Harpers left in June 1976, the Lord brought Pastor Dick Martin and his wife Grace to serve full time from September 1976 until October 1982.

David Owens and his wife Jeanette then ministered full time at Village Bible Church from October 1983 until November 1985.  The Owens went on to serve as missionaries to Japan.  In January of 1986 Jim Harper and Pastor Dick Shumaker, together with his wife Lucille, began service as co-interim pastors for six months.

In September of 1987, the Lord directed John and Susan Avery to begin serving at Village, John full time in the youth ministry and Susan part time in directing the music and worship ministry. They served until July 2001.

Pastor Harper became the full-time pastor for the second time in June 1986, serving until August 1991.  During this time he encouraged and motivated the building of our present sanctuary and Christian education facility, which we began using in March 1991.

Paul Michalek, who had been nurtured through the ministry of Village Bible Church, served as interim pastor from September 1992 until February 1993, when God called Pastor John Fornelli and his wife, Cheryl, to minister full time.  The Fornellis resigned in October 1994 to serve as missionaries to Spanish-speaking people and are now serving as our missionaries in Latin America.

For the next 15 months, the Lord raised up three of our elders, Bill Badal, Dave Haidle and Henry Penner, to fill the pulpit and perform administrative duties, as well as to provide godly shepherding.

In January 1996 Dave Haidle became acting senior pastor and, along with his wife, Kathy, brought stability and vision to Village Bible Church attendees and members.

After a long search and in God's perfect timing He led us to Pastor Woody Dilts and his wife Mary, who were called in August 1996 to come and minister full time. He served until April 2002.

In March 2002 the Lord directed Mario Arindaeng, together with his wife Beth, to serve full time as our Student Ministries Pastor.

In June 2004 Tim Badal, alongside his wife Amanda, began serving part time as our primary Preaching Pastor.

In August 2005 we called Keith Duff, alongside his wife Kate, to serve as our Shepherding Pastor.

In September 2006 we called Scott Capp, alongside his wife Amy, to serve as our Equipping Pastor.

While history tells us where we have been and lays the foundation for who we are, it is the future that most excites us. In recent years our fellowship has been characterized by great unity, accompanied by exponential growth and the experience of great blessings from God.

Nothing is too big for God to do through His people in the days to come.  As God continues to guide us, we look forward with great excitement to see how he will use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for Him and His Kingdom.