CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

A new church is getting started in Champaign, Urbana, Illinois - The Fields Church.

Church Planter Tyler Penn says the Fields Church name signified two thoughts -

all the corn fields around the towns

the fields near and far that he wants the church to reach.

The church meets in a photography studio.  It is close to downtown Urbana (and the University of Illinois) and the rent is cheap.

Sandy and I went to be with the Penns  last weekend for their 2nd preview service.
The chairs are all set up before the service.

Refreshments were available before church.  Most of the crowd was young people.

Kyle did a good job leading worship.

Here is Tyler as he starts to preach.  He started on the stool and would stand periodically.  His sermon was on Lost and Found and he did a good job.

Kellie (Tyler's wife in yellow sweater) helps to pack up after the service.  She taught the children during the service.

Almost everyone helped tear down and pack up after service.

The chairs didn't have to be loaded in the trailer, but almost everything else did.

Tyler took me out on Monday and showed me around the two cities of Champaign and Urbana.
Here is Tyler in front of the Quad at the University of Illinois.
The University of Illinois has over 40,000 students and thousands of them are from other countries.  Two of the biggest student groups are from China and India.  What an opportunity to reach young people in these countries that are closed to new missionaries!

Tyler, Kellie, Mason, Millie, and Madden

They would love to have people move there to help them in this exciting work.