Join us this weekend — in person or online. Worship services are Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 8:45am and 10:30am. Note that we now have a sensory-friendly worship service on Saturdays at 5pm in the East Auditorium with gentle lighting, no special effects, controlled sound, and flexible seating.
Below you'll find lots of great things happening at First Christian Church. For a complete calendar, click here.
To receive our WHAT'S HAPPENING digital newsletter every Friday, sign up via email or text FIRSTDECATUR to (217) 875-3350.
Book of Acts
CURRENT SERMON SERIES
Jesus' first followers watched him live, die, rise again... and then ascend to heaven, leaving them with one big question: Now what? No building, no budget, no plan, just a promise. What happened next is the Book of Acts, a small group of ordinary people who turned the world upside down, carrying the gospel from a back room in Jerusalem to the doorstep of the Roman Emperor. And here's the thing about how Acts ends... it doesn't. Luke hands us the pen, mid-sentence, and the story is still being written. Come find out what happens next... and be a part of it!
Pastor & Staff Appreciation
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2026
October is Pastor & Staff Appreciation Month. We encourage our church family to write a note of appreciation to our church staff who dedicate their time and talents to the ministry of First Christian Church. There will be a table in the lobby with note cards where you can drop them a kind word.
— The Elders of First Christian Church
First Steps
WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 10 & 11, 2026
AFTER EACH WORSHIP SERVICE
Whether brand new to First Christian Church or just looking to get plugged in, FIRST STEPS is the perfect place to make connections with other people just like you! Discover our mission and the “why” and “how” we grow and serve together. Along with that, you’ll learn practical next steps for you to get plugged in as well as get to know some of our staff. This 30-minute informational meeting meets AFTER each of our worship services. We will meet in The Hub or just stop by the Welcome Center, and a hospitality member will escort you to The Hub.
If you attend church online, we'd love to connect with you as well! We can meet sometime during the week over a coffee or set up a Zoom meeting. Whatever works best for you. Contact Abbey at aluka@firstdecatur.org or call/text (217) 875-3350 to see up a time to connect together.
Midweek Prayer
WEDNESDAYS FROM 12:15 - 12:45 PM
Jesus is the hope of the world. The Church is Jesus' plan to bring his hope to the world, and prayer is the pathway to bring all of this together! Everyone is invited to join us every Wednesday from 12:15pm-12:45pm in the West Auditorium for a time of prayer and reflection.
The Book of Revelation
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026 FROM 8:30AM-12:30PM
We are excited to partner with Lincoln Christian Institute and Ozark Christian College for a half-day conference: "New Testament University." Matt Proctor, President of Ozark Christian College and author of Victorious Forever, will teach three sessions on the Book of Revelation. Registration will begin at 8am, the first session will begin at 8:30am, and we will conclude at 12:30pm. Registration is FREE.
Kenya Missions Trip
FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 7, 2027
INFO MEETING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2026 AT 10AM
Join us for this church-wide missions trip to Kenya where we will partner with missionaries BJ & Mary Leonard. Together with the Leonards and the CMF Kenya Team, we’ll host Night To Shine, a prom-style event for individuals with disabilities. We will also assist in work projects on the campus of Harvest Missionary College where BJ Leonard leads and teaches. We will conclude with a safari game drive, celebrating God’s creation together. We will host an informational meeting on Sunday, October 25th at 10am. There is a limited capacity for this trip so the spots will be first come first serve.
Fall Seniors Gathering
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 AT 1:30PM
Join us for a fun afternoon with inspiring music performed by members of our worship arts team, a conversation with Pastors Brian and Jonathan, a word of encouragement from Pastor Chris, and of course... dessert! Pastor Brian will share his heart for our church and community, celebrating recent blessings and what's next. And we know that all of this is because of God's goodness and the support from our long-time members such as you... thank you! So invite a friend and plan to join us for a fun afternoon together.
Congregational Meeting
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2026 AT 3PM
Everyone is invited to our bi-annual fall congregational meeting where we will affirm the annual budget as well as hear an update from Pastor Brian. There will a time for questions as well. Copies of the budget will be available at the Welcome Center two weeks prior to the meeting.
Dom Rep Missions Trip
JUNE 8-15, 2027
INFO MEETING SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2027 AT 10AM
Join us as we partner with GO Ministries in the Dominican Republic for this family-friendly missions trip. We will assist with children’s programs, sports outreach, and community work projects as well as build relationships with our Dominican brothers and sisters in Chris. We will end the week with a beach day to rest and reflect before returning home. Registration is open now through January 31, 2027. We will host an informational meeting on Sunday, January 10th at 10am in the Hub.
South Campus Launch Team
We have made great progress on demo as we renovate the South Campus. It's going to take a lot of people to prep for our official launch hopefully happening in February 2027, and we'd love to have you as a part of our launch team. Pray about it! If you can see yourself serving in some sort of capacity at our South Campus, let us know.
Employment Opportunities
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
We are hiring a part-time Production Assistant at $16–$19 an hour, about 10–20 hours a week, with paid time off and a weekend-and-evening schedule. The role supports weekend worship and events by setting up, running, and troubleshooting audio, lighting, video, ProPresenter, and livestream systems at either our MacArthur or South Campuses. This role reports to the Production Manager and requires alignment with the church’s faith statement. Live production experience is preferred but not required. APPLY HERE(opens in new tab)
FIRSTKIDS ASSISTANT
We are hiring a part-time FirstKids Assistant at $16–$19 an hour, about 15–25 hours a week, with paid time off and a weekend-and-evening schedule. The role supports our Birth-5th grade ministry by helping in PreK and elementary rooms, check-in and check-out, safety protocols, and FirstKids events, and it includes some weekday work with the MacArthur Elementary Director. This role reports to the FirstKids Director and requires alignment with the church’s faith statement, a background check, and DCFS training. APPLY HERE(opens in new tab)
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SAY CHEESE!
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COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS
For a complete list of events, click the church calendar button below. Questions?
Please call or text the church at (217) 875-3350 or questions@firstdecatur.org.