Eastview Christian Church sits at the heart of Bloomington-Normal, a twin-city community in central Illinois anchored by Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. With two campuses, a larger main campus on North Airport Road in Normal and a smaller neighborhood expression on West Union Street in West Bloomington, the church describes itself as "loving, life-giving people bringing hope and healing in Jesus." Sundays bring a steady rhythm of worship services at 9 AM and 11 AM, a packed kids wing, a buzzing student ministry, and a food pantry that has served more than 1,800 households in a single year.
Two Campuses, One Church
Eastview's Normal campus, at 1500 N Airport Road, is the larger of the two locations and functions as the main hub. Worship services run at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, with junior high students meeting at 9:00 and 11:00 and high school students meeting at 11:00. The Bloomington campus, at 401 W Union Street, is described by the church as a "smaller, neighborhood church in West Bloomington," with the same 9 AM and 11 AM worship times. Junior high and high school students gather there on Sunday mornings during the school year, and Wednesday-night small groups for students meet there from September through May.
Both locations share the same vision, the same staff team, and the same sermon series preached by Lead Pastor Brandon Grant. Online, livestream of each Sunday service is available at 9 AM and 11 AM Central, with full sermon series and sermon downloads posted afterward.
Sixty Years on Airport Road
The story of Eastview begins in 1955, when 19 people in Normal, Illinois started a church with a simple vision: to follow God's Word, worship Jesus, and share the good news. From that small beginning, the congregation grew into a multi-campus church that now averages more than 4,100 in Sunday attendance across both locations.
Brandon Grant became Eastview's fifth Lead Pastor in 2024, returning to Illinois with his wife Jamie and their four children after a decade in San Diego, where he had planted Rise City Church. Grant had been Eastview's college pastor from 2006 to 2012 before moving west. Two Executive Pastors, Tyler Hari and Mark Warren, share directional leadership with him. Mark Dossett serves as the Bloomington Campus Pastor, Amy Nika as Next Gen Pastor for the Bloomington campus, and Jay Nelson as Associate Pastor of Worship and Ministry at Bloomington.
In 2025, the church launched a new vision and a refreshed visual brand after becoming debt-free in August of that year. A new logo built around a central cross is paired with four icons representing love, life, hope, and healing. The vision statement is simple and repeated throughout the church: "Loving, life-giving people bringing hope and healing in Jesus."
What to Expect on Sunday
Each service runs about 75 minutes and includes worship music and a sermon. Parking team members direct visitors to spots as they arrive, and a Welcome Center greets guests with information and answers to first-time questions. Visitors are told to "come as you are," meaning casual clothing is entirely appropriate.
For families, Eastview Kids offers programming for every age from birth through fifth grade during both Sunday services. A secure check-in system prints name tags for children, and families can pre-register online to speed up the first visit. Volunteers complete applications, background checks, and reference checks before serving with children.
For students, junior high meets at 9 AM and 11 AM at the Normal campus, and at 11 AM at the Bloomington campus. High school students meet at 11 AM at both campuses. A "New Student Check-in" welcomes first-time visitors and connects them with a snapshot of the year ahead.
For adults and students with special needs, a sign language interpreter is available at the 9 AM Normal campus service. The Special Needs ministry offers a Buddy Program, sensory rooms, adaptive curriculum, individualized tip sheets, and a class for adults during the 11 AM Normal service.
Eastview Kids: Birth Through Fifth Grade
Eastview Kids is structured by age and stage. The Nursery welcomes children aged 0 to 2 with simple routines and gentle Bible time. Early Childhood spaces for ages 3 and up use stories, music, and play to introduce God's love. Pre-K through first grade offers worship, small groups, and consistent leaders, while second and third grade adds higher-energy services with practical Bible lessons. Fourth and fifth graders dive deeper through worship, teaching, and gender-specific small groups that build strong friendships ahead of the middle school transition.
The kids ministry team includes Lori Tate as Pastor of Early Childhood, Val Burcham as Nursery Pastor, Laura Carr as Pastor of PreK through 1st Grade, Joseph Thomas as Pastor of 2nd and 3rd Grades, Rachel Warren as Pastor of 4th and 5th Grades, and Jason Smith as Next Gen Pastor overseeing the broader scope. A separate Associate Pastor of Special Needs for kids, Shari Weitekamp, supports families navigating disability.
Seasonal events include DADCAMPmini for dads and their children, outdoor movie nights, and grade-specific activity nights. Kids Camp is a major summer draw, with 745 cumulative camp attendees reported in 2025.
Eastview Students: Junior High and High School
Eastview Students is split into junior high and high school ministries. Junior High Small Groups meet on Wednesday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Normal campus during the school year (September through May). High School Small Groups meet the same nights but in host homes across Bloomington-Normal, gathering in same-grade, same-gender settings led by adult leaders. High School Care Groups offer a more intensive space for students walking through specific life challenges.
Matt McClane serves as Pastor of Junior High Students, and Zach Thompson as Pastor of High School Students. They are supported by a sizable team of associate pastors focused on small groups and worship for each age. Brianne Heimer is the Associate Pastor of Students Special Needs. Eastview Students maintains its own Instagram and YouTube channels and produces two Spotify podcasts, ES Junior High Podcast and ES High School Podcast, so students can stay connected through the week.
Average combined student attendance on Sundays is 590, with 81 active small groups and 902 participants in total. Notable events include an 8th Grade Overnight at Little Galilee Christian Camp, Junior High Dads and Daughters at Hancock Stadium, and High School Activity Nights on the Normal campus.
Rooted and Small Groups
Rooted is the front door of community life at Eastview. The experience gathers a small group of people who start as strangers and end up knowing each other's stories. Together they dig into who God is, who they are, and what following Jesus looks like in everyday life. Groups meet for ten weeks on Tuesday evenings at the Normal campus, followed by a celebration meal. A $20 fee covers materials, though scholarships are available. Books can be purchased on Sundays in the Family Room.
After Rooted, the next step is one of the standing small groups that meet throughout the week, in homes, online, or on either campus. Demographic-specific groups include Couples with Kids, Empty Nesters, Men's, Women's, Multi-Generational, and Young Adults groups. There is also a dedicated Bloomington campus set of groups, and an online option. Jason Sniff is the Pastor of Small Groups, with Chuck Fishel and Kathleen Brown serving as associate pastors.
All small groups follow a similar pattern: honest conversation, Scripture, prayer, and shared life. Each group sets its own rhythm, and no one is locked in. When life changes, the church helps members finish well and find their next group.
Care Ministry
The Care Ministry walks with people through life's hardest moments through prayer, counseling, and practical support. Care Appointments offer a scheduled time to meet with a pastor to share a story, ask spiritual questions, receive encouragement, and pray. Hospital visits are available Monday through Thursday at local hospitals, and the Visiting Ministry reaches seniors who can no longer attend church in person.
Care Groups are specialized small groups that meet for seasons to address specific hurts. The current list includes Betrayal and Beyond for women, Hope for Men, Seven Pillars of Freedom for men working through compulsive patterns, Sexual Integrity 101 for men, Help Her Heal, Unraveled for women, Sanctuary in Trauma for Women (a 12-week group), GriefShare (a 13-week support group), Financial Peace University, the AiM Parent Care Group for parents of children with special needs, Single Moms groups at both campuses, and Widow's Support with monthly meetings around town.
Funeral services are available Monday through Saturday at no charge, though pastor honorariums are welcomed. Trained funeral coordinators guide families through planning, selecting a pastor, and reserving space for a reception meal. Eastview also offers weddings for regular attenders, officiated by pastoral staff after required premarital mentoring sessions. A wedding planning guide is available online.
Marla Smith serves as Care Ministries Coordinator. Pastoral counseling referrals are available through a list of trusted Christian counselors for ongoing mental health support.
Food Pantry and Community Outreach
The Eastview Food Pantry distributes food, paper products, detergent, and personal hygiene items at the Normal campus. It is open Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and 6:00 to 7:30 PM, and Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Visitors are asked to bring a photo ID and a second document with their name and current address dated within 30 days, such as a lease, utility bill, or insurance statement. One resident per address may use the pantry each month.
In 2025, the pantry served 1,836 unique households. A monthly Stock the Pantry collection Sunday gathers donations, and the pantry is supported by the broader outreach team. Diane Haab serves as Food Pantry Coordinator. The church provides a printable list of other McLean County food pantries.
Celebrate Recovery meets Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Bloomington campus. Free childcare is available with advance registration. The program is open to anyone with a hurt, habit, or hang-up. The church's outreach team also partners with Home Sweet Home to provide housing-related support and with Convoy of Hope for disaster relief.
Other hands-on opportunities include the Eastview Stitching Sewing Circle, which meets the first and fourth Monday of each month at the Bloomington campus to create items for local charities, and various mission dinners and community dinners held throughout the year.
Special Needs Ministry
Special needs ministry at Eastview is woven into the life of the church rather than separated from it. The goal is full participation in worship, fellowship, and ministry for individuals of all abilities.
For Eastview Kids and Eastview Students at both campuses, support includes a Buddy Program pairing children with trained volunteers, sensory rooms for those who need a quieter environment, adaptive curriculum, and individualized tip sheets for parents. There is an adult special needs class during the 11 AM Normal service in room 1201. The Special Needs Parent Care Group meets monthly during the school year and occasional respite events give parents an evening out.
Shari Weitekamp leads the kids special needs team as Associate Pastor, while Brianne Heimer serves in the same role for students.
Sports at Eastview
Eastview Sports is one of the larger community-facing arms, with more than 4,000 participants in a single year across youth and adult leagues.
Youth offerings include Upward flag football in the fall for K through 5th grade, Upward basketball for K through 8th grade in seasonal leagues, and school-league basketball for 4th through 6th grade boys and girls. School-league volleyball partners with more than 40 schools across McLean County for 5th and 6th grade girls. Additional programming includes junior high cross country meets, sports camps, and clinics.
Adult sports feature indoor volleyball leagues at recreational, intermediate, and advanced levels on the church's four indoor courts, indoor basketball in the summer, and pickleball open play nights in the recently remodeled gym. The adult sports ministry also partners with local events like the St. Jude Half Marathon and CICA cricket and ultimate leagues.
Doug Roberts is Pastor of Sports Outreach, with a team of coordinators supporting leagues and tournaments.
Eastview Young Adults and Encounter
Eastview Young Adults gathers 20-somethings for community and faith formation. The signature gathering is a monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Bloomington campus, blending worship, teaching, and connection. Weekly men's, women's, and married couples small groups run throughout the city, along with online options.
Through a partnership called Encounter, the church also serves college students from Heartland Community College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Illinois State University. Encounter hosts small groups, worship nights, and events for students wanting to follow Jesus during their university years. The ministry is staffed by a dedicated team of young adult leaders.
Josh Jacobs is Pastor of Young Adults, with Allison Rancour as Associate Pastor. In 2025, the ministry reported about 300 active participants, 260 in small groups, and 15 young adult baptisms.
Worship, Music, and the Arts
Worship at Eastview blends contemporary music with a steady diet of Bible-saturated teaching. Ben Kafer is Pastor of Worship at the Normal campus, Camden Radecki is Associate Pastor of Worship, and Jay Nelson serves the Bloomington campus in a similar role. Two executive pastors of high school worship, Cooper Smith and Teron Fairchild, lead student-led worship alongside adult leaders. A Tech Team runs sound, lights, and media each Sunday, supported by Technical Arts staff.
For broadcasting, services are livestreamed each Sunday at 9 AM and 11 AM, and a sermon podcast is available on the church's YouTube channel. Sermon notes and study guides for the current series are posted each week. A separate kids video library on YouTube and a Spotify music account round out the digital worship offerings.
Beliefs and Attitudes
Eastview describes itself as a non-denominational Christian church. Its statement of faith holds to classic Trinitarian theology: God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect community. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, born of a virgin, lived without sin, died for sin, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will return. The Holy Spirit lives within believers, convicts of sin, gifts for service, and transforms lives into the likeness of Jesus. The Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is the uniquely inspired Word of God, without error in its original form, serving as the rule of faith and practice.
Salvation is by grace, not earned, offered freely to everyone through faith in Jesus. Initial expressions include believing and confessing Jesus as Lord and repenting of old ways. Next steps include baptism by immersion and ongoing growth in Christ.
Beyond doctrine, the church has distilled its values into eight memorable "attitudes," rooted in Bible stories: We Choose the Better, We Watch the Wind, We Pass the Salt, We Rip the Roof, We Grab a Towel, We Empty the Jar, We Say Thank You, and We Send Out Workers. Each attitude is paired with a specific Scripture reference and a short description of how it shapes everyday life at Eastview.
The Elder Leadership Team serves as the final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application for the church.
Elders and Leadership
Eastview's spiritual oversight is provided by a team of elders. Aaron Traeger serves as Elder and Chairman. Brandon Grant serves as Lead Pastor and Elder. Other elders include Dale Avery, who retired from State Farm after a 36-year career; Travis Johnson, a software engineer at State Farm who serves with his wife Stephanie as a CASA for McLean County; Matt Knobloch, COO of Spread Truth Ministries, who is active in the 4th and 5th grade ministry with his wife Summer; Josue Santana, who serves with his wife Lindsey in children and student ministry; and Todd Wilcox, who has attended Eastview since 1987 and serves at the Bloomington campus.
The Directional Leadership Team includes Grant, Hari, Warren, plus directors overseeing Human Resources (Marla Bennett), Guest Services (Jack Patterson), Finance (Mark Zimmerman), IT, Creative and Communications (Mitch Nelson), Building Services, Café 19, and more. The church maintains an extensive list of pastors for every age and ministry area, plus staff that supports weddings, funerals, and administrative operations.
Global Ministry
Eastview Global extends the church's mission beyond Bloomington-Normal. The church partners with local leaders in Kenya, Haiti, El Salvador, and India to support ministries through short-term trips, long-term sending, and local outreach in McLean County. In 2025, the church gave $371,500 to global partnerships.
A four-week class called Mission Rev introduces participants to what God is doing around the world and explores what part they might play. Global Kickoff is an annual gathering to launch the year's global ministry efforts, and monthly prayer meetings on Teams gather intercessors for the work. Sarah Oehler serves as Eastview Global Teams Coordinator.
Giving
Eastview accepts gifts online, in person, by mail, and in the form of stocks, mutual funds, and grain. Online giving can be one-time or recurring through debit card, credit card, or bank account. In-person gifts can be dropped in giving boxes during any service or delivered to the office Monday through Thursday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Gifts by mail are sent to Eastview Christian Church at 1500 North Airport Road.
Total giving in 2025 reached $11,715,905, and $1,044,875 was raised in the Annual Christmas Offering, with every dollar given away to outreach. Benevolence received $714,252, with $442,700 to local partnerships, $236,607 to youth camp scholarships, $140,000 to Brave Church for church planting, and $52,363 to Convoy of Hope. A 2025 Giving Impact Report is available online.
Worship Spaces and Café 19
The Normal campus hosts the main sanctuary, kids wing, and student spaces, along with a gym used for sports ministry and events. Café 19, named for the year Eastview was founded, is a gathering spot run by Adam Hinkle and his team. The Bloomington campus hosts the smaller neighborhood sanctuary and student meeting spaces.
Both campuses are smoke-free and alcohol-free. The church maintains employment applications and a list of current open positions, with roles currently posted for Child Care Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, Communications Designer, and Associate Pastor of 4th and 5th Grades at the Normal campus.
Getting Connected
Visitors are warmly welcomed. Starting Point is a one-hour tour and introduction held several times a year at the Normal campus, hosted by Pastor of Involvement Nicki Green. The New People Party is a lunch with Lead Pastor Brandon Grant and his wife Jamie, with kids welcome. A Connect Card helps visitors take a first step. Small groups, Rooted, baptism classes, and serving opportunities are all available entry points.
Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 AM to 4 PM, at 1500 N Airport Road in Normal. The phone number is 309-451-5000.