A House of Prayer on Birch Street
Winnetka Bible Church sits at the corner of Birch Street and Elm Street in Winnetka, Illinois, two blocks west of Green Bay Road on the North Shore. The congregation describes itself as "a prayer-driven spiritual home for all peoples and all ages," with a focus on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and grounding every ministry in the Word of God. It is a church shaped by expository preaching, intergenerational fellowship, and a robust missions vision that reaches both across the street and around the world.
Sundays at Winnetka Bible Church
Sunday mornings at WBC follow a steady rhythm. Bible classes for all ages begin at 9:15 AM, with an Adult Bible Class meeting in the Lounge and a Family Bible Class gathering in FLC 104 for married couples and families with children. Children's classes run at the same hour, with toddlers through age 5 in the nursery and children ages 5 through 12 in FLC 104 with their parents.
At 10:30 AM the congregation gathers for the worship service. Nursery care is available during this hour for steady walkers through age 4. A livestream is offered for those unable to attend in person, and a YouTube archive of recent sermons is maintained.
A Statement of Faith Rooted in Scripture
Winnetka Bible Church holds to a detailed statement of faith that begins with the conviction that the Old and New Testaments are "verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writing" and of "supreme and final authority in faith and life." The church affirms one triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and confesses the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning sacrifice, bodily resurrection, ascension, and present high-priestly ministry of Jesus Christ.
Salvation is by faith in Christ's atoning blood and resurrection, with the Holy Spirit regenerating all who believe. The church holds to a personal, premillennial, and imminent return of Christ, the resurrection of both the just and the unjust, and a definition of marriage as the lifelong covenantal union of one man and one woman. Further convictions include a commitment to biblical justice, expressed through "daily acts of love and human kindness."
Worship That Spans the Generations
The church's worship philosophy centers on exalting the Triune God and being "transformed more into the likeness of Christ" through corporate gathering. Music plays a central role. With music directors, choirs, musicians, and song leaders, the congregation sings "a variety of music, including psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs," both time-tested and freshly written. All believers are encouraged to participate, regardless of age, using their gifts to build up the body of Christ.
Children, Students, and Families
The Director of Children's Ministries oversees programming for the youngest members. Hillary Kolssak, who grew up and raised her family at WBC, brings a lifelong love of children, learning, and history to the task of teaching kids about Jesus.
Awana, the church's flagship children's outreach, meets Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall, running September through April for children age 2 through 12th grade. The program is both a discipleship tool for church families and an evangelistic outreach to the wider Winnetka community; whole families encounter the gospel through a child's involvement. The church also supports a Bible Quizzing Team.
For older students, the Student Ministry meets Sundays from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Lounge. Open to 6th through 12th graders, the program partners with parents in discipleship and aims to build a "gospel-centered community where students are equipped to grow in maturity, ministry, and mission."
Adults at Every Stage of Life
The Adult Bible Class, meeting Sundays at 9:15 AM in the Lounge, takes a deeper look at the Scriptures and is open to adults of all ages.
Women's ministry is broad. Pauline Limberg directs women's discipleship and counseling, and an intergenerational Bible study meets Tuesday evenings in person and Thursday mornings over Zoom. Mothers Together gathers Tuesdays from 9:15 to 11:15 AM with childcare provided, Precepts offers line-by-line Bible study on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, and a women's prayer group meets Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.
Men's Bible study is offered twice weekly: Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:15 PM and Thursday mornings from 6:00 to 7:30 AM, both in the Lounge.
Young adults ages 18 to 30 meet on the first and third Fridays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, in the Lounge on the first Friday and at a host home on the third.
A dedicated Seniors Ministry focuses on equipping "senior saints" and offering varied opportunities for older believers to connect and serve.
Prayer and Missions
A weekly prayer meeting gathers Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Lounge or on Zoom. The intergenerational gathering lifts up requests and praises from the congregation, staff, and missionaries, and regularly features updates from ministry leaders and mission partners.
WBC supports both long- and short-term missionaries through a Missions Team that facilitates support and inspires the congregation on the value of global gospel work. Faith Works, an outreach ministry sustained by congregational giving, helps meet practical needs within the church and surrounding community.
The Pastoral Team
Steve Mason serves as Senior Pastor. He holds a diploma in Pastoral Studies from Moody Bible Institute, a BA in Psychology from Trinity College, and an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, with more than 25 years of pastoral experience in church planting and large-church ministry in Chicago. His great hope is to see revival sweep through the land as many come to saving faith.
Daniel Stalker serves as Associate Pastor. With a BA in Bible from Moody Bible Institute and an MA in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, he is passionate about teaching the Word and connecting the gospel to daily life.
Hillary Kolssak directs Children's Ministries. Pauline Limberg directs Women's Discipleship and Counseling, holding an MDiv and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Moody Theological Seminary. Andy Thisse directs Music, holding a BA in Communications from Moody Bible Institute and a passion for grounding the church's expression of praise in God's Word.
Visiting Winnetka Bible Church
The church is located at 555 Birch Street, Winnetka, IL 60093, at the corner of Birch Street and Elm Street. Parking is available in front of the church on Birch Street, and after 6:00 PM in two nearby Village of Winnetka Zone A parking lots: one at Birch and Spruce Streets next to the church, and a larger lot on Elm Street across from the church near Dwyer Park.
Services are livestreamed, and a YouTube archive of past sermons is maintained. Giving can be made online, by mail, through bank bill pay, in the offering plate, or via stock transfer. For more information on any ministry, the office can be reached at info@wbc.org.