Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) Ephesians 6:2

El Vista Baptist Church

Serving the Lord in Peoria since 1949

6301 North Syler Street
Peoria, Illinois 61615
(309) 692-8675

Joey Watt, Pastor

Phil Lancaster, Asst. Pastor, Music Director

Daniel Higgason, Youth Director

Jorge Montoya, Spanish Pastor

Sunday School .......9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Service .....10:30 a.m.
Sunday Training Hour & Choir .......5:00 p.m.
Sunday Evening Service .......6:00 p.m.
Monday Good News Club .......3:30 p.m.
Tuesday B'nai B'rith Bible Class.....10:00 a.m.
Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study .......7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Patch the Pirate Club .......7:00 p.m.
Thursday Ladies Visitation.......9:30 a.m.
Thursday Soul Winning.......6:45 p.m.
Friday Everlasting Nation Fellowship.....10:30 a.m.
Saturday Bus VisitationVarious Times

God's Simple Plan of Salvation

*Our Mission*

El Vista Baptist Church desires to glorify God by winning souls to Christ at home and abroad, to bring believers to maturity through Bible Preaching and teaching, and to enlist servants who give their best to advance the cause of Jesus Christ.

At El Vista Baptist Church, we strive to fulfill our mission through the following services, programs, and activities: (Please point and click on any of the following items for more details. Select the BACK button on your menu bar to return to these options.)

God's Simple Plan of Salvation Special Services Sunday School
Missions Youth & Teen Activities The Academy
Current Events Directions Music
Friendly Connections Using Tracts Sermons

*Sunday School*

Sunday School gives many people an opportunity to serve the Lord in teaching, visiting, praying, and encouraging one another. We have a graded program for the children beginning in the nurseries. Our teen department includes junior and senior high school students. It is a great ministry for all of us at El Vista Baptist Church.

Sunday School is not for children only! We have adult classes for personally applied Bible Study and fellowship. The Discovery Class class is for single young men and women, Foundations Class for young married couples, and New Converts Class for the recently saved to study God's Word. Keenagers and Young at Heart classes keep spiritual fires burning in the lives of middle and senior adults. Come and join us this Sunday morning at 9:30 sharp.

Bienvenidos! We have started a Sunday School class and morning service for our Spanish-speaking friends. They will meet in the Fireplace Room. Please pray for souls to be won to Christ.

Nursery Care for the infants, walkers, and toddlers is provided during both the Sunday School and Worship hours. Our nurseries are safe, clean, and well-staffed to provided your little ones an environment of fun, song, and Bible learning.

El Vista Baptist Church has been improving the Children's Church Ministry over the past few years. Now consisting of three groups during our morning service, our skillful workers love the children, and on an age-sensitive basis teach the Word of God. Many have been won to Christ and lessons for Christian living have been taught.

*Youth & Teen Activities*

The El Vista Teens have a full schedule of fun activities and spiritual training. Led by Daniel & Allison Higgason, the Teen Group meets in Sunday School at 9:30 AM, then has Teen Soul Winning at 5:00 PM. Wednesday night Power Hour and prayer time start at 7:00 PM.

Brother Higgason has worked with our young people under Brother Benjamin since 2002. We appreciate the time he gives to the young people -- teaching, visiting, planning, and hosting a number of activities every year. Our desire is to see the young people come to know the Lord Jesus as Savior; to walk with Him in daily life at home, school, and neighborhood; and to yield their lives to Him in following His will. Pray for our teens, their parents, and our outreach to them.

Upcoming Youth & Teen Activities

*Current Events*

Are you ready if the Lord Jesus would return in 2012?

Five-a-Month Bible Memory Passage - May: Galatians 5:22-26
  • May 16...7:00pm...Next Step with Benjamin Watt
  • May 17...7:00pm...West Coast Bible College - Dr. & Mrs. Rasmussen and a mixed trio
  • May 20...6:00pm...Annual Tribute to Israel Service - Joey Clapp will be our guest speaker
  • May 22...7:00pm...Next Step is a ministry that seeks prayer support. We will host a prayer meeting at the church for this work.
  • May 27...10:30am...Sixty-Third Anniversary Sunday - Youth Group Reunion
  • May 31...7:00pm...Academy Spring Program & Kindergarten Graduation

  • Sundays...5:00pm...Sign Language, Choir Practice, Al Reed on Genesis

  • We would like to encourage all of our members to be faithful in the work of the Lord through our church. Regular attendance at our services will help you grow. Involvement in soul winning and other ministries will help you be used of the Lord. Personal Bible reading and prayer are disciplines that all of us need on a daily basis.
    Congratulations Graduates!

    Harshal Yunus...Pensacola Christian College
    Kyle Stalter....Dunlap High School
    Aly Weiler......Dunlap High School
    Richard Cotton..Limestone High School
    Karin Murali....Limestone High School
    Audrey Lawson...Richwoods High School

  • Please remember to silence your cell phones during all services

    We are thankful for the Lord's blessings on the academy during the school year. Changes in staff arrangements will help the school financially this year, but offerings for the school will also be helpful.
    We have an opportunity for you to help strengthen this part of our ministry. For years, we have resisted the appeal of commercial fundraising to carry out our church ministries. In addition to your prayers and financial gifts, you may consider a freewill gift of discarded cell phones, gold or silver pieces. These have considerable value today and could be a great help to us. Reference: 1 Kings 10:25

    Three to Thrive!
    The phrase is not original, but it is significant. We believe that faithful attendance on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday Prayer Meeting is a key to spiritual growth. Come and see what you have been missing in these gatherings of God's people.

    In Haiti, the people of the church started by Biz Lerisse in St. Marc have opened their homes in a remarkable way. Fifty families have taken in refugees to stay with them. Clean water, food, and necessary supplies remain lacking. They plan to open a children's home for orphans. Please continue to pray for these and other efforts being made to relieve the situation. We are giving through Victory Baptist Mission, and welcome your continued designated gifts for Haiti Relief.

Bibles are provided for your use during services. Our ushers will assist you.

*Sermons*

*Music*

Our Music Director, Brother Phil Lancaster, oversees the musical ministry which has much to offer. A conservative style of music is used. Opportunities for service include the choir and orchestra. Children in grades 1 - 6 participate in the Patch the Pirate Club Sunday nights at 5:00 p.m.

*Special Services*

The Lord's Supper
Once a month we spend time during an evening or morning service to observe the Lord's Supper. This is a memorial of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross for our sins. It bestows no saving grace, but causes us to examine our hearts and confess our sins to Him as our Great High Priest. It is an expression of our communion together with the Lord and with one another. As a church ordinance, we believe that those who partake should be saved, scripturally baptized, and in good standing with a church of like faith.

Bus transportation is available in some areas of Peoria. El Vista Baptist Church has been in the bus ministry since 1965. Hundreds of young people have been saved and many have followed the Lord into His service. Pray for the drivers, captains, helpers, riders, and their families that God will have His way in every life. Bro. Herb Gress assists in this work with a monthly workers meeting. Call the church office at (309) 692-8675 or e-mail Pastor Watt for more details.

Services are interpreted for the hearing impaired. A Sunday School Class is conducted weekly, and activities for the hearing impaired are held monthly. Beginning Sign Language Classes are taught annually during our training hour on Sunday evenings.

El Vista Baptist Church has been recording the services for many years. Though we do not maintain an archive for very long, through our CD Ministry most services are available for a few months after the service. Several recorded services are currently available on-line at sermonaudio.com. If you are interested in a CD of any service, please contact the church.

*Missions*

Missionary Support List

Visit Missionaries on the Web

The Faith Promise Plan for Missionary Giving is how El Vista supports missionaries at home and around the world. Through generous giving, we currently help support missionaries in places such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Haiti, Germany, Navajo, Zambia, and several others. We also support the Bible Tracts ministry, Jewish Evangelism, and our Bible College students. Frequent missionary speakers and an annual Missionary Conference in October keep our hearts concerned for the lost around the world.

*The Academy*

Academy Spring Program & Kindergarten Graduation...May 31...7:00pm

Academic Calendar 2011-2012
Supply List

El Vista Baptist Academy is our Christian Day School which offers instruction in grades K-4 through 8 using A Beka curriculum. Since 1981, we have had the privilege and responsibility of ministering through the El Vista Baptist Academy. Deuteronomy 6:4ff and Ephesians 6:4 positively declare the Christian's duty to train our children in the ways of the Lord. Psalm 1 declares the negative, that we are not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

Tuition may be paid annually or monthly. Families with more than one child enrolled receive a discount for the second and third children. If you are interested in attending El Vista Baptist Academy, please call (309) 692-8675 for a free information packet or click the following link: Academy Application Packet (Save/Download to your computer - Cannot be submitted on-line)

*Directions*

6301 North Syler Street, Peoria, IL 61615

Peoria Area Directions
From I-74 exit 89, go west on War Memorial Drive (Hwy. 150) approximately two miles to North Big Hollow Road and turn left. Go 1/2 mile to Creighton Terrace and turn right. Go one block to Syler Street and turn right. Take the first left in to the parking lot drive.
From I-474 West, merge onto SR-6 North. Continue 2.7 miles and take Exit 2 for War Memorial Drive. Turn left at intersection for US 150/War Memorial Drive. Continue for about 1/2 mile and turn right at North Big Hollow Road. Go 1/2 mile to Creighton Terrace and turn right. Go one block to Syler Street and turn right. Take the first left in to the parking lot drive.


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*Friendly Connections*

Visit some of our friends on the World Wide Web:
(Radio stations may require a media player)
The Sword of the Lord Faith for the Family
Bible Truth Music FBN Network
Heaven 88.7 FM Kids 4 Truth
Old Christian Radio Bible Tracts
Daily in the Word

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