Beginning October 15, 1981, a group of people began meeting in private homes for the purpose of seeking God’s will about starting a new church in Carlinville. This group had their first morning worship service on November 22, 1981, in a rented building that was formerly the Macoupin Locker Plant, located at 114 South Oak Street. Rent was $450 per month. Church furniture was donated by a recently disbanded church.

Carlinville Southern was established officially as a church on January 10, 1982, with 35 members. Charter membership was closed on November 21, 1982, with 80 charter members. Carlinville Southern called her first Pastor, Bill Loafman, on April 4, 1982. In December 1982, we purchased our current property located at 19453 Hurricane Drive at a price of $39,000 for 5.22 acres. IBSA helped support this purchase with $10,000 from its State Missions Offering.

Our current building was built June 18-26, 1987, with help from 110 volunteers from Alabama known as “Carpenters For Christ.” Then, 17 volunteers from Arkansas came August 3-7, 1987. The building was completed by Carlinville Southern folks over the next several weeks, and the building was dedicated and an open house was held on November 22, 1987. In order to obtain a loan of $150,000, 11 families co-signed and mortgaged their own properties, while others gave personal loans to the church for monies needed above $150,000.

Rev. Loafman resigned as pastor on March 18, 1990. On August 26, 1990, the church called her second pastor, James Holloway. Rev. Holloway resigned on January 17, 1999. Our third pastor, Tim Rhodus, was called February 20, 2000. Since that time, our attendance has grown from 90 to 400+. We have begun many new ministries and hired four ministerial staff, as well as two secretaries.

Having outgrown our building and property located at 19453 Hurricane Drive, we have a purchased the local Wal-Mart building. But, we are driven by vision and a sense of purpose, not by a building. We have first-time guests in nearly every service, and they arrive at our church from the unchurched and dechurched population of our community. No, it’s not about a building, it’s about a life-transforming ministry and the limitless possibilities to see God meet unlimited needs.