Loving God, Loving People, Lighting Their World
Friendship Baptist Church sits along Route 59 in Plainfield, Illinois, just north of Renwick Road, and has been a steady presence in this Will County town for more than sixty years. Members describe their congregation with a simple three-part rhythm: Loving God, Loving People, and Lighting their World. The church's name has changed twice over the decades, but the mission has stayed the same - help people become disciples of Christ who are growing in their commitment to those three loves.
Friendship is an independent Southern Baptist church that cooperates with other churches in its association and joins with Southern Baptist congregations across the country to send missionaries around the world. The church subscribes to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which it points visitors to as a summary of its beliefs.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday, and the building fills with families who tend to dress casually. Greeters welcome people at the door and help first-time visitors find a seat wherever they would like to sit. The music is a blend of contemporary songs and familiar hymns, and the sermons aim to be both challenging and encouraging.
Before the service, at 9:15 a.m., Connections small groups meet for every age. These informal Bible studies cover a range of topics and are designed to be a safe place to grow in faith and in friendships. Visitors are encouraged to try several groups until they find the right fit.
For young families, greeters arrive early to help get nursery and preschool-age children checked in. The children's ministry takes child safety seriously, releases children only to their parents, and asks about food allergies in case snacks are served. Sunday school classes run through fifth grade, and nursery care is available during the worship service itself.
Bible Study, Prayer, and Crafting All Week Long
The fellowship at Friendship extends well beyond Sunday. On Wednesday nights at 7 p.m., adults meet for a weekly Bible study. A separate Wednesday morning ladies' Bible study gathers in a member's home; those interested can contact the church office for location details.
On the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m., the church opens its doors for a community prayer time, lifting up the country, the community, the church, families, and friends. On the third Saturday, ladies who love to create gather for Ladies Crafting, bringing their own projects and supplies to share in fellowship. Each gathering reflects the church's conviction that spiritual growth happens in everyday rhythms, not only on Sunday.
Children and Students
Friendship takes a generational approach to discipleship. Children through fifth grade receive teaching every Sunday, and the nursery welcomes little ones during the worship service. Vacation Bible School is a yearly highlight, full of crafts, music, and snacks; the church has been experimenting with hosting a smaller version in a local park to better reach neighborhood families.
Student ministry serves grades six through twelve and meets for Bible study on Sunday mornings before worship, mixing teaching with plenty of fun. The student calendar also includes two or three retreats and conferences each year, ranging from weekends at Streator Baptist Camp to DNOW weekends in Wilmington and the Ignite Conference in Oswego. Each summer, students pack into vehicles for a week of PCY mission work (painting, construction, and yard work) in cities such as Chattanooga, Nashville, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Madison, and Louisville. The trips are open to students who have completed seventh grade.
Women of Worth and Forging Friendship
Two named ministries anchor adult life at Friendship. Women of Worth (WOW) gathers women of all ages for Bible studies, girls' nights out, a quilting class, an annual ornament exchange, conferences, and retreats. The ministry builds around Proverbs 31:29-30, which praises the woman who fears the Lord.
Forging Friendship is the men's ministry, named for Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Monthly breakfast meetings, Operation Christmas Child, golf outings, trap shooting, trivia nights, and cruise nights give men regular ways to connect, serve, and grow together. Both groups are open to newcomers and emphasize friendship as much as programming.
Serving Plainfield and Beyond
Friendship sees Plainfield as home, and the church invests in it accordingly. Members volunteer with local food pantries, partner with the Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center, and pack meals with Feed My Starving Children. The church property opens up each year for neighbors to view the Plainfield fireworks, and Plainfield Fest brings the congregation out into the community. Every fall, the parking lot transforms for Trunk or Treat, where decorated cars, games, and plenty of candy welcome more than 150 guests from the surrounding neighborhoods. The church welcomes new ideas and asks members to help "Light Our World" wherever they see a need.
Online Tools and a Free Streaming Library
For those who can't attend in person, the Sunday worship service livestreams at 10:30 a.m. on the church's YouTube channel, where past services and devotions are also archived. Giving can be done online, and members and regular attenders can stay connected through an Instant Church Directory app and a Text in Church event reminder sign-up. The church also provides every member and regular attender with a free RightNow Media account, described as a "Christian Netflix" with thousands of Bible studies, kids' shows, and devotionals.
More Than Sixty Years on Route 59
Friendship's story goes back to the years 1957-1959, when a group of believers met regularly in Plainfield for prayer and fellowship. In 1959, Calvary Baptist Church in Aurora sponsored a mission in Plainfield, and the first worship service drew thirteen members. The church was formally constituted in November 1960 as Plainfield Missionary Baptist Church with forty-one members, meeting on Mill Street.
In 1967, the congregation purchased three acres at Route 59 and Norman Avenue, the same property it occupies today, and constructed its first building there. The first services were held in February 1968, an educational wing followed in 1978, and the name was changed to First Southern Baptist Church of Plainfield. A tornado caused significant damage to the building in 1990, and within about a year the congregation completed a rebuilding and remodeling project that added a new Welcome Center.
By 1989, the church had called Dr. Michael Nolen as pastor, a minister who served until 2002. Rick Mullan joined the staff in 1998 as Minister of Education and Worship Leader and served until his death in March 2017. The church took its current name, Friendship Baptist Church, during this period. Dr. Odis Weaver followed as Senior Pastor in 2004 and served until his retirement in October 2021. Doug Anderson came on staff in 2007 as Director of Student Ministries and Technology. Craig Arnold began his ministry as Senior Pastor in late October 2025.
Meet the Staff
Craig Arnold, Senior Pastor. Craig was ordained in 2024 after planting a church in Crest Hill, where his leadership produced baptisms and renewed walks with God. Before ministry, he worked in systems engineering and support management, and he brings a practical, organized approach to pastoring. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Marianne, and they have three grown children and an energetic Siberian Husky. His passions are biblical teaching, discipleship, and community outreach.
Doug Anderson, Director of Student Ministry and Technology. Doug joined the staff in February 2007 after a twenty-year career in information technology. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Western Illinois University and a Master's degree in Youth Ministry from Northern Seminary. He and his wife, Kelly, have been married for twenty-three years.
The church office, at 15801 S Route 59, is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at (815) 436-2380 or office@fbcplainfield.com.