Christ Church Bloomington Campus
Septebmer 2025 - Church Plant Foundations Hour Kickoff
Last Sunday we started a Foundations Hour class for those interested in being part of the church plant. We were very encouraged by the level of interest in the church plant. For the next five weeks Mike is teaching on the vision and values of the church plant and encouraging people to pray about whether or not it is a work God is calling them to join. From this group we're hoping to form the official launch team for the new church.
September 2025 - Mike Caponigro Passed PCA Oral Exam by Committee
Mike's major first task was to work through the ordination process, so he could officially become a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. Throughout the summer he completed five written exams (on the Bible, Theology, Church History, Sacraments, and the Book of Church Order), went though an oral examination by a committee, and finally answered questions on the floor of the presbytery. Pictured above is the presbytery meeting on Sept. 13. He passed with flying colors!
August 2025 - Speaking at WIU
Above is a pic of Mike speaking to a Campus Outreach group at Illinois Wesleyan University at the beginning of the new fall semester. One of the aspects that drew us to church planting in Bloomington is the opportunity to stay connected to the CO ministry and build off of the fruit of that ministry. Some of the key couples interested in the church plant were involved in the CO ministry at IL Wesleyan or IL State University as students and have since graduated and found jobs in the area. Amazingly, it looks likely that the church plant will be allowed to begin public worship services in the chapel on campus at IL Wesleyan!
Feruary 2025 - Mike Caponigro Called
During a stated session meeting on February 9, the session voted in favor of calling Mike Caponigro as the assistant pastor of the Bloomington campus church plant. Mike has graciously accepted this call. In May, Mike will graduate from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis and be formally ordained by the Presbytery this summer. He and his wife, Laura, along with their three kids will then move to town and officially join the Christ Church staff team in the fall. We are excited to have Mike and Laura join our team as we faithfully persue God's call to plant a church on the west side of our community.
January 2025 - Candidating Weekend
The pastoral search committee has invited Mike Caponigro and his family to visit Christ Church for a candidating weekend in early January, 2025 (he was scheduled to come in November, but was unable to come due to illness)! We are very excited to welcome him and his family back to Christ Church. He will spend the weekend attending several organized events with the search committee and members who have been involved in church plant activities. Then on Sunday of the weekend he is here, Mike will preach during worship service. After service ends, he will be interviewed by several members of the session.
September 2024 - Pastoral Search Committee Formed
We are very excited to announce that on Saturday, September 21, the session voted to establish an official pastoral search committee to begin the process of selecting a full-time assistant pastor for the Bloomington Campus church plant.
The following individuals were asked to be on the search committee: Sarah Martin, Judy LaBerge, Quinn Riley, Jonny Smart, CJ Schneider, Tom Kelly, and Luke Pogue. Please pray for them as they seek the Lord in prayer for wisdom and discernment throughout this process.
The committee is currently receiving a prospective candidate's resume and recommendations, with the hope of beginning the interview process in mid-October. From there, the committee hopes to make a recommendation to the session by the end of November.
August 2024 - Prayer Opportunity
Please join others at Christ Church in prayer as we seek the Lord's will, guidance, and direction for this new campus. Every other week, join us Sunday morning during Foundations Hour, upstairs in the youth house as we gather and pray specifically for what the Lord would accomplish through the Bloomington Campus. For more information and details, please contact CJ Schneider.
Years in the Making - Church Plant Calling
The desire of Christ Church is to follow the Lord’s calling to cultivate gospel transformation starting in the hearts of our church members and regular attenders, extending to the Bloomington/Normal area and ultimately to the ends of the earth. Christ Church has always had an aim to be a church planting church. Consensus among our leadership was that once our campus was maximized, we would set out a vision for planting a new church.
We are quickly approaching the time when we will feel that the need to expand is upon us and we are praying for our people to join us in this exciting new chapter of Christ Church.
Please partner with us in prayer about the planning for this new endeavor. We are excited to see where the Lord leads!
For more details on some frequently asked questions, please read Pastor Brad's letter to learn more.