A 1971 Merger in the Heart of Normal
College Park Christian Church has stood at 116 N. Cottage Avenue in Normal, Illinois since 1971, when two local congregations merged to form a single, blended family. More than fifty years later, that heritage still shapes the rhythm of the church: two identical Sunday morning gatherings, weekly communion, a deep bench of lay elders, and a calendar that includes everything from classic rock concerts to children's AWANA nights.
Visitors walking up to the cottage-avenue building are greeted first at a Welcome Center, where volunteers hand out information and a small gift. A free coffee station sits just inside, and the whole check-in flow is built so that a first-time family can move from the door to a nursery or Sunday school class without much fuss.
Two Identical Sunday Mornings
Sunday is the centerpiece of life at College Park. Two identical worship services are held at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with the same format and the same music at both hours. Each gathering includes congregational singing, the observance of the Lord's Supper, an opportunity to give, Bible teaching, prayer, and a chance to respond to the morning's message. The singing mixes great hymns of the faith with worship choruses from the 1990s to today, plus newer arrangements of older classics, so the room tends to feel familiar to anyone who grew up in a Christian church while still leaving room for newer voices.
All-ages Sunday school runs alongside both services at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m., with separate adult classes at 10:30. The 9:00 a.m. service is also livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, and replays remain available on demand. An adult Sunday school group also meets via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. for those joining from home.
Communion Every Sunday
At College Park the Lord's Supper is not an occasional add-on but a regular part of every worship gathering. Communion is treated as a covenant meal: trays are passed, the congregation partakes together after a brief message and prayer, and the morning moves on. The church's statement of faith traces the practice directly to Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 11, and members observe it weekly as a remembrance of Christ and of their relationship with one another.
What They Believe
College Park describes itself as an independent Christian church, and its statement of faith reflects the classic Restoration Movement stream that runs through the Christian churches. Beliefs include:
- God as Trinity - one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus of Nazareth as the incarnation of God the Son, Savior and Lord, now holding all authority in heaven and on earth.
- The Holy Spirit at work in the world and indwelling the Christian, producing Christlike character.
- The Bible as the uniquely inspired Word of God, the authoritative rule of faith and practice.
- The Church as the body of Christ on earth and the community of believers, with the priesthood of all believers and a mission shaped by the Great Commission.
- Human beings created to walk in fellowship with God, each one bearing the image of God from the moment of life.
- Salvation as a gift of God through Christ, received through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism.
- Baptism by immersion, in which a person dies to self, is buried with Christ, is raised to new life, and is clothed with Christ.
- The Second Coming of Jesus as a personal return as Savior and Judge, with the bodily resurrection of the dead and eternal life for believers.
cpKids and Wednesday J.A.M. Night
The children's ministry, called cpKids!, has a simple motto: lead children to LIVE, LOVE, and LEARN the truth about Jesus. Sunday school classes meet at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. for every age from infants through fifth grade, with a check-in system that matches each child only with approved adults. On Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m., the church hosts J.A.M. (Jesus And Me), an AWANA-based program where kids learn Scripture, build friendships, and grow in their understanding of who Jesus is. All adult volunteers go through background checks and a volunteer application, and the rooms are split by age once the larger group meets together.
On a first visit, families are directed as follows: infants 0-18 months to the Nursery; toddlers 18 months to 3 years to the Toddler Classrooms; and Pre-K through 5th grade to the Youth Addition, where children gather briefly as a large group before splitting into age-based small groups.
cpYouth: Wednesdays and Sunday Mornings
cpYouth is built for the teen years and beyond. Youth Group meets Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m., and a separate Sunday school hour runs at 9:00 a.m. during first-hour worship. Teaching is biblical and relevant, with time built in for friendships and for learning how to be a disciple who makes disciples. Parents of teens - and friends who know one - are encouraged to point their students toward either gathering as a positive, Christ-centered environment.
Men's, Women's, and Senior Ministries
The women's ministry organizes a weekly Ladies Bible Study on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m., running September through May at the church and facilitated by Martha Gerdes. Studies range across books and topics with an emphasis on personal application for daily life. A February simulcast is also a regular feature of the women's calendar.
The men's ministry, known as ROOTS, focuses on spiritual growth and maturity through study, mentoring, and fellowship. A Tuesday morning Men's Bible Study meets at 9:00 a.m. at the church, led by Pastor Brent Salm.
Just Older Youth (J.O.Y.) is the ministry for retirees and seniors, offering fellowship outings that include off-site field trips and shared meals.
An Elder-Led Congregation
College Park is an elder-led church, with six men currently sharing that responsibility: David Butler, Joshua Bland, Michael Escoubas, Toby Gerdes, Douglas Kelsey, and Scott Vogel. Each elder brings his own gifts, but they share a common calling to point the congregation toward Christ. The team handles finances, preaching support, and spiritual oversight, and several of them teach Bible study or lead small groups as well.
Brent Salm is the lead pastor. Brent has served at College Park for more than thirty years, beginning as youth minister, then as associate minister, and now as the church's lead preacher. He and his wife Debra have five children, a growing list of grandchildren, and a deep affection for John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." A Spanish-speaking associate pastor on staff shares the gospel and leads outreach, drawing on more than twenty-six years of ministry that began in a Christian orphanage in Mexico.
Worship Team, Choir, and Tech
Worship minister Bob Mitchell oversees the music ministry, which blends hymns and modern worship songs. The adult choir, directed by Rachel Bland, normally sings during Sunday morning worship and occasional evening services, though the choir is currently on hiatus. The Sound/Tech Team works behind the scenes to support an immersive environment for worship, teaching, and community events, living out the call of Psalm 150:2 to "praise Him according to His excellent greatness." The Video/Tech/Media team, led by Clay Johnson, runs the streaming booth and production studio that bring services and special events online.
Small Groups and Prayer
Small groups meet around the church and around town, with Joshua Bland leading the team. The church lists prayer as a ministry in order to make clear that it is meant to be the power behind every other ministry. Members are encouraged to build strong individual and church-wide prayer habits that fuel the rest of the church's work.
A Commitment to Missions Near and Far
College Park's Missions Team supports a long list of partner organizations through monthly giving, including:
- Bring Good News International
- Encounter - ISU Campus Ministry
- F.A.M.E.
- His Eyes - Honduras
- Home Sweet Home Ministries
- I.D.E.S.
- Kentucky Christian University
- Kuki Christian Church Mission
- Light Global Missions
- Little Galilee Christian Camp
- Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center
- Polish Christian Ministries
- Salvation Army Safe Harbor Shelter
- TCM
- Voice of the Martyrs
Congregants regularly travel on short-term trips (recent teams have packed food for IDES and served in Honduras), and a Ladies Day Retreat is held each fall at Little Galilee Camp.
Fellowship, Pork-a-Palooza, and the Sounds of ROCK ON
Fellowship is its own ministry at College Park, led by Lisa Johnson, and the team keeps the calendar busy with potlucks, game nights, seasonal celebrations, and outreach events. The biggest annual event on the fellowship calendar is Pork-a-Palooza, a community fundraiser featuring a hearty pork supper and two evenings of classic-rock music by the church's own eight-member band, ROCK ON. Donations support the church's Benevolent Fund and mission partners, including the Pregnancy Resource Center, Home Sweet Home, the Salvation Army, and camp ministries. Raffles for a Kanileʻa ʻUkulele and a professional guitar round out the evening. The Spotlight video series and the church's annual Messiah's Story presentation give members additional ways to share their faith and their stories.
Plan a Visit
First-time guests can expect a friendly greeting at the Welcome Center, a free coffee station, and clearly marked pathways for children from nursery to Pre-K through fifth grade. Sunday school runs at both 9:00 and 10:30 a.m., adult classes meet at 10:30, and a livestream is available at 9:00 a.m. on YouTube and Facebook. The CPCC Connect Card is the easiest way to let the church know you're coming; giving is available online through Elexio; and RightNow Media accounts are offered to members and regular attenders for at-home Bible study. Parking is free in the church lot and on the street. The address is 116 N. Cottage Avenue, Normal, Illinois, and the office can be reached at 309-452-1598 or office@collegeparkcc.net.