ABOUT US
Welcome to New Beginnings!
At New Beginnings, we believe Jesus changes lives, and He invites every person into a life of growing faith, authentic community, and meaningful purpose.
Our mission is simple: To awaken and mobilize the generations to a fully devoted life in Jesus.
We exist to help people of every age take their next step with Jesus. Whether you’re exploring faith for the first time, returning after years away, or looking for a church to call home, you’ll find a family that is passionate about following Christ together and sharing His love with our community and the world.
Our Vision
We believe God is calling us to reawaken the spiritual family, from the youngest to the oldest, to a passionate, life-changing pursuit of Jesus. As we grow together in discipleship, love for God, love for one another, and love for our neighbors, we desire to see Decatur awakened to the hope and Good News of Jesus.
We believe that it can be "in Decatur as it is in Heaven!"
Our Values
Everything we do is shaped by these commitments:
-
We are FOR Jesus. We pursue Jesus above all else.
-
We are Authentic. We are real with God, ourselves, and one another.
-
We are Kingdom-Oriented. We celebrate and partner with the Church beyond our own walls.
-
We are a Family on Mission. We grow together while helping others discover life in Christ.
-
We are Servants. We love people through practical acts of service.
-
We are Industrious. We work with excellence, creativity, and faithfulness.
-
We are Fun. We believe joy is part of following Jesus and doing life together.
Our Story
New Beginnings Church was birthed in June 1992 when Pastor Mark and Susie Smith opened their home for a small group Bible study. Within three months, Sunday services began in their garage. Around the same time, a nearby church was seeking a pastor. After prayer, God brought the two groups together, and in November 1992, New Beginnings officially launched with 35 people who shared a vision for something new.
Growth came quickly. By 1999, the church had outgrown its facility. That same year, the old Carter Lumber property was purchased and remodeled, becoming our new home in January 2000. Continued growth led to the completion of our 600-seat sanctuary in 2004.
From the beginning, New Beginnings has had a heart for multiplication. Over the years, we've planted five churches: locally in Illinois, and globally in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela; impacting thousands of lives with the gospel.
Pastor Mark Smith retired from ministry in 2023, and Pastor Scott Bons was selected to lead New Beginnings into its next season of ministry.
We’d love to meet you. Whether you’re new to faith, returning to church, or searching for a place to belong, we invite you to join us this Sunday and experience what God is doing in our midst.