Main at Franklin

Wheaton, IL 60187
630.260.1600
www.wheatonbible.org

1893 Chicago
World’s Fair
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend Your works to another;
they will tell of Your mighty acts.
They will celebrate Your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

Psalm 145:3–4, 7

1893 Chicago
World’s Fair
We are Wheaton
Bible Church
W e love God, and we love the church He has knit us together to be. Many of us
have been here for only a few short years, some for generations. Yet, spiritually,
we are all part of the same family.
We hope you will be inspired and awed by the story of our church. We are! Many great
men and women of God have worked together to make WBC the church we enjoy today
— the place we all count on for sound teaching from the Word, a strong commitment to
love and care for one another, and continual challenges and support for using our gifts in
His service, especially to reach more people for Christ.
Like all families, we’ve faced our share of struggles. But because we hold tight to the
Almighty, He has brought us patiently through each valley and rejoiced with us on many
a mountaintop.
Please praise Him with us as you read on about “75 Years for His Glory” at Wheaton
Bible Church.

Because of Him,

Pastor Rob Bugh Elder Chairman Chuck Stair

P.S. We owe a debt of gratitude to Jim Adair and Mark Moring for their incredible writing
skills and assistance in compiling this history.

1
 1860–1928

Before the More than half a century before

our church was founded, the seeds
Beginning were planted at Wheaton College.

I t was 1860. Abraham Lincoln was about to

become president, the issue of slavery was
heating up and dividing a nation. It wouldn’t be long
A new congregation
The majority, siding with Blanchard, reorganized
and formed College Church of Christ. (The
before the country plunged into civil war.
minority group, which continued to call themselves
Meanwhile, at little Wheaton
First Church of Christ, later became First
College, then just seven years old,
Presbyterian Church of Wheaton).
founder and president Jonathan
Charles A. Blanchard, son of Jonathan, became
Blanchard was pushing for a campus
pastor of College Church and later president of
church, independent of the college
Wheaton College. Though independent, the church
itself. Those in attendance agreed,
and the college were
signing the covenant of the new
closely intertwined.
First Church of Christ.
The church used
But not long after our nation’s
campus facilities,
Blanchard Hall: Civil War ended, First Church had
including the chapel
The early seeds one of its own. Many of its members
for its primary place
were sown were involved in the Freemasonry
at Wheaton of worship. College
movement, which Blanchard and
College. students were integral
other church members believed was
to the church, and
“of the devil.” After much heated Jonathan Blanchard:
were among its first
debate, the congregation voted to College’s founder suggested
missionaries.
dissolve in January 1878. an independent church.

1860 First Church 1861–65 1871 Great 1893 Chicago

of Christ formed Civil War Chicago Fire World’s Fair
1878 College Church 1886 Statue
2 of Christ formed of Liberty
dedicated
 As the population of Wheaton grew, so did the church.
And so did its support of missions—especially after World
Why I love
War I—and Christian organizations, including Wheaton Wheaton Bible
i
College.
love WBC most
A divided house for the people and
By the late 1920s, College Church their encouragement.
had more than 500 members. But It would be easy
many members were concerned to pick a particular
about the church’s affiliation with uplifting message
the Association of Congregational by Pastor Bugh. But
Churches, which they believed was it is also the little things: smiles, friendly
drifting toward liberal theology. greetings, and warm hugs. What more can
Dr. J. Oliver On June 4, 1929, one of those a person ask for than to have friendly smiles
Buswell: concerned members, Wheaton and warm laughter be directed toward you
Wanted to cut
ties with a liberal
College president Dr. J. Oliver as you walk through the Atrium?
denomination Buswell, called a business meeting I also enjoy being able to give back by
in Fischer Chapel, where 295 providing meals to those in need, sending
College Church members voted whether to retain their cards, responding to questions in Bible
Congregational affiliation. There were strong feelings studies about real life situations, and leading
on both sides, and when the dust settled, the church a group of high school girls in a Bible study.
decided— by just three votes—to remain in the It has been my privilege to be involved at
Congregational denomination. WBC over the past 16 years.
The minority group—116 people—withdrew, including
–CHRISTY BOLLIER
Buswell and the pastor, W. R. Dodd. What would they do?
Where would they go? The stage was set . . .
Photos on these pages courtesy of Wheaton College Archives

1903 First flight 1917 U.S.

in N.C. enters WWI
1928 Bubble
gum invented 3
 1929–1933

�� � � � � A New Church Despite a church split and the onset of the

is Born Interdenominational Church—now WBC—

T
�������������
he headlines in 1929 weren’t very good.
Mobsters in downtown Chicago made
national news with the St. Valentine’s Day
Congregations coincide
As the Great Depression hammered the nation,
the new Wheaton College Interdenominational
Massacre. And late October yielded the New York
Church and College Church of Christ tried their
Stock Market crash, ultimately
best to pursue peace with one another. They both

��������
sending the nation into the Great
continued to meet on the Wheaton College campus,
Depression.
and the two congregations even met together on
But about halfway between

����
occasion, at least once for a communion service.
those two dark days, something
But in November 1933, the growing college,
good was happening in Wheaton.
which wanted exclusive use of all its buildings,
Almost two weeks after the vote
asked both churches to move off campus. The
that split College Church, 160
Interdenominational Church bought property on
people—after much discussion
the northwest corner of Cross and Union Streets,
Hard times: and prayer—signed a
and leaders began plans to build.
Wheaton charter for a new independent
College Inter- church: the Wheaton College
denominational Interdenominational Church.
Church got its
start just as the
Among those signing the charter
Great Depression were officers and faculty members
was beginning. of Wheaton College and Moody
Bible Institute. (See list of 160 charter
members on following pages.)

������
1929 1931 1932 Scientists 1893 Chicago
Wheaton College Empire State split the atom World’s Fair
Interdenominational 1929 New York Building 1933 Church buys
4 Church formed Stock Market completed property at Cross
crashes
�������������
and Union
 Why I love
Great Depression, Wheaton College Wheaton Bible
got its start in the summer of ’29. Thoughts from a Charter Member

Both churches thriving

Despite intense feelings on both sides, the 1929 vote that
split College Church proved another Paul and Barnabas
j ohn Leedy, born in 1906, was just 23
years old when he, with his parents,
became a charter member of the
Wheaton College Interdenominational
incident. As history has borne out, God used it to His glory,
Church. A landscaper who became a
abundantly blessing both congregations. The Wheaton
popular botany professor at Wheaton
College Interdenominational Church later became
College, Mr. Leedy now resides at Windsor
Wheaton Bible Church,
Park Manor in Carol Stream, Ill.
while College Church—
When asked about the early days of
which has since cut its
the church, Mr. Leedy remembers, “The
denominational ties and
beginnings were exciting, were wonderful.
is now independent—
We felt like pioneers, which we were really.
went on to become the
Action was the word for it. Always some
thriving congregation
action going on. I loved that. Young people
now located at
like action of course. We were all young in
Washington Street
New home: When Wheaton those days it seems. We were very proud
and Seminary. Both
College asked the congregation of that church, the effort that went in to
churches are now
to leave the campus in 1933, make it work.”
the church bought land just a few
among the most active
blocks away. and alive congregations
in northern Illinois.

5
 Charter Members

The First
Flock
O n June 16, 1929, 160 people signed the
“Covenant of Charter Members” to form
the Wheaton College Interdenominational Church
J. Wesley Carlson
Mrs. W.H. Chandler
Grace Chandler
Paul C. Green
Morton W. Hale
Mrs. Mabel Hale
(now Wheaton Bible Church). The covenant Howard Cleveland Clarence B. Hale
affirmed “our belief in the doctrines of the Mrs. Ella M. Commons Ruth Alma Hale
H.S. DeVelde Milton W. Hale
Christian Faith” where members promised, among
Frances DeVelde Gladys Hall
other things, to “walk in communion with the
Ruth DeVelde (Hess) Lorena J. Hammer
brethren in love” and to “endeavor always to walk
Katharine Dodd Irene F. Hammer
worthy of the vocation wherewith our Lord and Margaret Dodd Howell E. Hammer
Saviour has called us.” Mrs. William Dodd Eugene L. Hammer
The 160 charter members were: Mrs. H. Downey Alice Heck
Marian J. Downey James E. Herron
Margaret Allison (Reese) Chrystal Bole (Dutton) Enock C. Dyrness Mrs. Anna Herron
L.T. Barnes Charles Bole Grace Dyrness Clement Heydenburk
Mrs. L.T. Barnes George W. Bond Winona Eggers David Heydenburk
Margaret Barnes (Wood) Mrs. George Bond Walter Scott Elliott Sarah Heydenburk
Clara Florence Barnes Silas W. Bond Eleanor E. Elliott L. Allen Higley
(Cook) C. Ruth Brown (Imhoff ) Edwards E. Elliott Charlotte Ismay Higley
Clarence Benson J. Oliver Buswell, Jr. Henry Englesman Carrie Evelyn Higley
Rena Pearl Benson Helen Spaulding Buswell Mrs. Ida Engelsman (Cleveland)
Clark David Benson J.A. Carlson Robert M. Evans William H. Hockman
S.J. Bole Mrs. J.A. Carlson Charlotte Fleak Mrs. Katie Hockman
Mrs. S.J. Bole Shirley Carlson Howard Fuller Robert Hockman

1893 Chicago
World’s Fair

6
 No place like
home: The church’s
first building had an
auditorium that could
seat 400.

Kathleen Hockman Mrs. Alice Guild Loveless Paul B. Phillips Mrs. Alfred H. Teich
(Fredericksen) J.A. MacKenzie William Irving Phillips Clara Teich
Donald E. Hockman Mrs. J.A. MacKenzie Walter Phillips Mary Jane Teich
C.W. Hilton Mary MacLeod (Howard) Mrs. A.H. Reinhard Anna E. Teich
Mrs. C.W. Hilton Moses S. McDaniel Mary Pearl Reinhard (Kahle) Mrs. Charles Toms
Marie Jensen Mrs. M.S. McDaniel John R. Riebe Margaret Toms
Walter Jensen Beth McDaniel Mrs. J.R. Riebe J.A. VanGorkom
Hilma Johnson (Luttrell) Malcolm McDaniel Lydia D. Roberts Edward P. Webster
Rachel Izkovitch ( Jordan) George W. McGill Jacob J. Schreiber Mrs. E.P. Webster
William Paul Kavanaugh Mrs. G.W. McGill Mrs. J.J. Schreiber O.B. Westley
William King Lorena McShane Elizabeth Schreiber Mrs. O.B. Westley
Louise Brooks King Lewis L. McShane (Ekstrom) Arla Westley (Wright)
George V. Kirk Doris McShane James Schreiber Cyrus Westley
Edith M. Kirk Marjorie McShane (Wilbur) George O. Schuler Roy Westley
Catherine Kirk (Gieser) Adelle Mortenson W. Harold Simons Faith Williams (Reed)
Mrs. Jennie Kirk Elizabeth Mortenson Mrs. W.H. Simons Mrs. S. Elizabeth Winsor
Ruth Kirk (Martin) (Amsler) Grant Stroh Alice Winsor
P.E. Klar Mrs. Homer J. Niece Mrs. Grant Stroh J.B. Wright
Mrs. P.E. Klar Howard K. Nelson Ruth Sykes (Davies) Mrs. J.B. Wright
Howard Klar Dorothy B. Nelson Mrs. Mary Sykes Paul M. Wright
John W. Leedy William I. Phillips, Sr. Paul Sywulka M. Russell Wright
Mrs. John W. Leedy Mrs. W.I. Phillips Hawley O. Taylor
Wendell P. Loveless James E. Phillips Mrs. H.O. Taylor
Mrs. W.P. Loveless Ruth Phillips Alfred H. Teich

7
 1934–1939

Our First Kenneth Amsler gets the nod, the

Pastor & Building Bible Church, and a new facility

A fter those 160 souls joined to form the

Wheaton College Interdenominational
Church in the summer of ’29, the congregation
began to thrive—but without a pastor. For five years,
guest speakers served the pulpit of
the new church.
Then in April 1934, the church
called its first pastor, Kenneth A.
Amsler, a 1932 Wheaton College
grad fresh out of Northern Baptist
Seminary and with a new bride.
Amsler began his duties in June
1934.
Our first At about the same time, the
leader: The membership decided on a new
church called name: Wheaton Bible Church.
Kenneth A. Members agreed the church wasn’t
Amsler to be so much “interdenominational” as
its first pastor
in 1934.
it was simply independent. They
also agreed to drop “college” from
the name, because it was no longer
associated with Wheaton College. And the word
“Bible” was a no-brainer for conveying the church’s
main purpose, stated as such: “Its faith and practice
stand on the foundation of the Bible, which is the
inspired, infallible, and inviolable Word of God.”
A building campaign
On May 3, 1935, Pastor Amsler and the Board of
Deacons sent a letter to the congregation, urging
them to give sacrificially toward a new building—
while still maintaining
its current budgets.
In those days of the
Great Depression, any
giving was sacrificial,
but remarkably, the
congregation raised
some $30,000 in a
matter of months.
By December—just No place like home: The
church’s first building had an
seven months after the
auditorium that could seat 400.

1934 Kenneth 1936 First 1937 Amelia 1893 Chicago

A. Amsler named building dedicated Earhart vanishes World’s Fair
1935 in March
first pastor 1939 World
Social Security
8 War II begins
enacted in U.S.
 Why I love
Wheaton Bible
’Twas 75 years ago was founded,
A church whose mission was firmly grounded.
congregation changes its name to Wheaton One hundred and sixty people made quite
an impression,
is built at the corner of Union and Cross. By starting a church, prior to the Great Depression.
Meeting together to serve Christ was their aim,
fundraising began—the cornerstone was laid on a new The Wheaton Collage Interdenominational Church
was the name.
brick building at the corner of Union and Cross streets. In 1934 Pastor Amsler was the man we sought,
On March 22, 1936, the excited congregation met in the In 1935 Cross and Union property was bought.
new building—and its 400-seat auditorium—for the first Pastor Macaulay came just six years after,
The beautiful singing filling the rafters.
time, dedicating it to God in a
WBC’s 1935 Budget Sunday school and service sizes were growing,
ceremony that featured With new believers as a result of the seeds they
Pastor & pulpit supply $2180
Dr. William L. Pettingill, a were sowing.
Musicians, choir music 530 The building made larger with educational facilities
widely known preacher and
Occupancy 1200 Expanding the church’s ministry abilities.
author, as the guest speaker. Pastor Cronk’s love of the Word was so easy to tell,
Bulletins, bulletin boards 375
Growing our church and helping start others as well.
Countless blessings Printing, stationery, postage 100 A second morning service to meet the
At last in its own building,Flowers, social expenses 75 Gospel’s attraction,
Payments on parsonage, A new sanctuary for worship interaction.
the church experienced
incl. interest, taxes 970 Pastor Seume, our fourth pastor served only a bit,
countless blessings under Faithfully guiding us till health problems hit.
Misc. & equipment 515
strong preaching from Pastor For fifteen years Pastor Lyons played a vital part,
$100 each for 8 missionaries
800 In building ministries, buildings and dedicated hearts.
Amsler and notable guest
Open Door Mission, Chicago 125 In those years we saw the church grow and expand,
speakers—including With a “Can do” attitude on missions, ministries,
Dr. Walter L. Wilson, TOTAL BUDGET $6870 local helping hands
Dr. Howard A. Kelly, Pastor Krentel served as the sixth pastor of ours,
Dr. Charles Woodbridge, Dr. William R. Newell, Adding Hispanic participation near and the Deva
church far.
Dr. J. Gresham Machen, Dr. Henry Thiessen, and Pastor Bugh arrived, with a renewed mission
Dr. A.W. Tozer. for lost souls,
Many people became Christians during these services, Sharing Christ’s love with all men would set
as his goal.
some giving themselves for missionary service. Meanwhile,
God has brought us so far in this 75 years
the Christian education program grew to the point of Celebrating, laughing, worshiping sometimes
overflowing to the parsonage next door—and the Amslers shedding tears.
moved to another location. So as Chris Lyons would say “I guess our time
is short,”
The church indeed was on the move. Compared to eternity with our blessed Lord.

—TIM DUNCAN 9
 1939–1951

Calling Church experiences phenomenal growth—

Mr. Macaulay
and even a spinoff congregation —
under the leadership of Joseph Macaulay.

K enneth Amsler, our first pastor, resigned

in 1937 to assume a pastorate in Ohio,
and WBC operated without a pastor for the next
couple of years until Dr. Joseph C. Macaulay took
the job in March 1939. Two years
later, WBC hired its first assistant
pastor—Joseph Bayly, a Wheaton
College grad school student who
would serve the church about two
years before going on to become a
noted author and columnist.
Meanwhile, World War II had
begun, the Japanese had bombed
Mac’s the Pearl Harbor, Hitler was trying to
man: Dr. Joseph take over the planet—and Wheaton
Macaulay was Bible Church continued to grow
named our at a phenomenal rate. During
second pastor Macaulay’s 11-plus years at WBC,
in 1939.
membership more than doubled,
growing from 321 to 684. The
emphasis on missions grew even
more, as the missions budget grew from $2,000
in 1939 to more than $26,000 in 1951—a 1200
percent increase!
A spinoff congregation
Wheaton Bible not only grew, but it also began to
multiply. In 1944, a group of WBC people started a
Sunday school ministry in a remote area northwest
of Wheaton. That ministry was the beginning of
what is now Pleasant Hill Community Church
on Geneva Road.
As WBC’s
attendance continued
to grow—averaging
about 800 in church
and 500 in Sunday
school—it became
apparent that another
building was needed.
A building committee, If you build it: WBC, growing
under the leadership fast, built a new 2-story education
wing in 1947.

1939 Joseph 1941 Japan bombs 1945 Germans 1947 Education 1948 Famous 1893 Chicago
C. Macaulay Pearl Harbor surrender, wing built “Dewey Defeats World’s Fair
named pastor WWII ends Truman” headline 1950 “Peanuts”
10 comic strip
debuts
 of charter member Dr. Paul Wright, began to lay plans
to expand the main auditorium and to build an adjoining
two-story brick education wing on the north, facing Cross Why I love
Street. The new structure—with a pastor’s study, church
Wheaton Bible
t
office, and 10 classrooms on the second floor—became
a reality in 1947 at a cost of $150,000. his year, we
Macaulay, who received a Doctor of Divinity degree endured a huge
from Wheaton College in 1949, resigned as pastor in health scare for
October 1951 to accept a position as an instructor at our kindergartner
Moody Bible Institute. And now the search was on for son. WBC people
the church’s third pastor. Who would he be? offered prayers and
help in remarkable
WWII Hits Home
ways. One week before our son’s surgery,
On September 16, 1945, WBC held a special memorial service for five of Pastor Bugh’s sermon was about praying
its members who were killed while serving in World War II. They were: through letdowns. “No one is immune to
letdowns. Bring your bitterness and anger
• Lt. Glenn G. Read, killed in a plane crash over the English Channel, 6/11/44 to God. Talk to God and wait. Praying
• Dr. Robert W. Hockman, killed by an explosion in Ethiopia, 12/13/35 and waiting are joined at the hip. Waiting
• Lt. Donald B. Moore, shot down over the South Pacific, 7/26/43
• 2nd Lt. Neal D. Curtis, killed in a plane crash in South Carolina, 8/4/42
in the Lord will renew our strength. Pray
• 2nd Lt. Paul O. Mortweet, died in New Mexico from D-Day wounds, 2/27/45 not to get stuff, but to get through the
letdown.” He quoted a source saying that
“steadiness, not the spectacular, is the
greater accomplishment in life.” Brilliant. It
got us through, and thanks to God, and all
of WBC’s prayers, our son is fine.
–DAVID AND GINA KRAMAN

1951 Macaulay
resigns to teach
at Moody Bible
11

Music
at WBC
A sk three people at WBC what kind of music
or worship style they like, and you’re likely
to get five opinions. And we think that’s just great!
One of the distinctives of our church is our
commitment to doing multiple kinds of worship
—and doing them all well! It’s not the easiest
goal, but God has shown us over the years that He
communicates to us and enjoys our praise in many
languages, media and styles. Whether it be through
the lovely string quartet that drew Mary Bechtel
to choose our church in 1945 or through the lively
Latin rhythms that draw hundreds of Hispanics to
the second floor each Sunday, God is glorified.
Throughout our history, we have enjoyed
immensely talented worship leadership. From the
early days, when the likes of Wendell Loveless, a
charter member and founder of Moody Radio,
helped lead the singing, our traditional-focused era
enjoyed worship leadership by capable paid and
volunteer staff, including Vernon Van Hovel, Dick
Gerig, Jim Draper, and Dan Sommerville, who gave
direction to fabulous choirs and musicians.
As we branched into contemporary worship,
leaders such as Dave Kroeze, Don Duncan, and
Dan Wagner helped us explore both styles and
define each service. With the addition of Hispanic
12
Music & Missions
Many styles, one
purpose: No matter
the style our aim is
to worship the one
true God.
worship, the need for multiple leaders became
evident, so that our current leadership staff includes
Worship Pastor Brian Hogan, Hispanic Worship
Pastor Juan Marcos Gomez, Choir Director Ross
Heise, Orchestra Director Jim Cooper, and Media
Arts Director Bill Swaringim, not to mention the
numerous volunteers who fill out our ranks. While
children’s music training has fallen by the wayside
in many schools and churches, by contrast WBC’s
program is gaining momentum. Vickie Wagner
reestablished the Children’s Choir in the new
millennium, and it flourishes today under the able
leadership of Christy Chiodras, Nina Moring and
other volunteers.
Our multiple language format has allowed us
to grow into new media, such as video and drama.
Yet our traditional worship experience, rich
with excellent organ music provided by Marsha
Foxgrover, is still reminiscent of the good old days
when Alice Oury on the organ and Delores Draper
or Ginny Heck on the piano would shake the rafters
with rousing duets.
While our tastes may differ and change over time,
may we always be one church united in our focus on
worship of the one true God and bringing all glory
to Him.
Going Into
All the World
F rom the beginning, we worked to fufill Christ’s
call in Acts 1:8, that we be His witness in our
local community “and to the ends of the earth.”
near-constant communication, offering real-time
prayer support and enjoying a steady stream of
progress reports. For years, the faithful, prayerful
Even our earliest church budgets included giving Women’s Missionary Circles carefully packed
to missions. In 1933 we raised the support for the barrels of supplies—bandages, clothing, and other
first missionary necessities—to send by sea. Today, dozens of
family during options are available for shipping supplies—
the same the most exciting being carrying them ourselves
time we were as we visit on short-term trips. The missions budget
raising money in 1931 was $600. In 2003, we invested almost
for our first $1.7 million.
building. But Some things, however, remain the same.
when Robert Today, we continually pray for the safety of
and Winifred Charter Member Dr. William our missionaries, who sometimes serve in hostile
Hockman, Hockman: Two of his children environments. It was no different back then. Bob
those first were among our earliest Hockman was killed in Ethiopia in a war-related
missionaries, missionaries. explosion in 1935. Dr. Hockman’s sister Kay and her
left for Ethiopia, traveling to the field took weeks, husband Paul Friedricksen were captured by the
months, and sometimes the better part of a year. Japanese in the Philippines and spent six months
Means of passage included trains, ships, and in a concentration camp. Irl and Flo McCallister,
caravans (the old style with pack animals, not the other early missionaries, were enroute to their
new SUVs). There were certainly no jet planes. mission station in South Africa in March 1941, when
The way we support and build relationships their ship was sunk by a German raider boat and all
with our servants overseas has changed, too. passengers taken captive. (After their release, they
Missionaries used to wait weeks and months for went on to serve with TEAM for 40 years before
letters and prayer requests to make their way back retiring, and Mrs. McAllister was an active part of
and forth across oceans. Today, email keeps us in WBC until going home to the Continued on p. 31

13

Cronk It Up!
Known for his superb preaching, Malcolm Cronk oversaw great growth
and the construction of a new sanctuary—our current place of worship.
F or the better part of the next two decades, if
you had walked into WBC’s empty sanctuary
on a weekday, you might have found its new pastor,
the Rev. Malcolm Cronk, wandering up and down
the aisles, thinking and preaching
silently to himself.
Al Sloat, one of Cronk’s
colleagues, said when the pastor was
pacing the aisles like that, deep in
thought, “We staff members knew
not to disturb him.”
Cronk, who started at WBC in
August 1952, was widely known
Powerful for his preaching ability and his
preacher: gift for expounding on God’s Word.
The Rev. Cronk He almost never used notes, yet his
was known for rich expository sermons delivered
his authoritative in an authoritative, stentorian
preaching from
the Word.
voice attracted increasingly large
audiences for services—including
radio listeners on WAIT—and sent
1952 Malcolm Cronk 1958 Second
named pastor service added
1955
14 McDonald’s
founded
1952–1967
listeners, Bibles in hand, searching the Scriptures.
Sloat called Cronk “a great idea/great concept
preacher, using the biblical text as a launching pad to
build truth upon truth to a motivational conclusion.”
Under Pastor Cronk’s leadership, WBC families
were instrumental in starting Countryside Chapel,
north of Glen Ellyn (1955), Evangel Baptist Church
in Wheaton (1958), and The Village Church of
Carol Stream (1960).
A New Sanctuary
In 1958, WBC added
a second morning
service and purchased
Bartlett Hall, a college
dormitory just west
of the church at Main
and Union. But it was Rev. Malcolm Cronk:
evident the church Greeting worshippers
needed more space,
especially for worship, so a new sanctuary was
planned for the corner of Main and Franklin—
1959 Castro 1893 Chicago
becomes dictator World’s Fair
of Cuba 1959-60 New
sanctuary built
 with an announced seating capacity of 1,300 (it actually
ended up seating about 1,100). Why I love
Ground was broken in April 1959, and about a year Wheaton Bible
i
later, the new $500,000 building was ready for worship
services and Christian n 1982, I was a
education. The new facility new Christian
was dedicated in September, in a new marriage.
highlighted by songs from My wife and I were
George Beverly Shea and looking for a new
messages from church. We heard
Dr. Carl Armerding, Chris Lyons preach
Dr. Lehman Strauss, and knew we had found our church home.
Strong foundation: A new Dr. Harold J. Ockenga, We couldn’t have known how significant
sanctuary—our current house of and Dr. Alan Redpath. the church would be in our lives. Diana has
worship—was built in 1959, and sung in the choir, taught children’s classes,
God’s Word has been faithfully Other Highlights and, while serving with Women’s Ministries
preached within ever since. Dr. Cronk also adopted the under Nancy Barton, has blossomed as
single board concept, dissolving the Board of Deacons a person. I was blessed to have served in
in favor of only the Board of Elders, believing one board many ministries and on missions trips to
would give greater stability to the ministry. The youth Spain and Bolivia.
ministry was also developed at this time, capped by Now more than 20 years later, we look
Missionary Orientation Program (MOP), and the number forward to the preaching of Rob Bugh and
of Wheaton College students at the church continued to the contemporary worship service. We
increase. wish we spoke Spanish so we could hear
Cronk left in November 1967 to teach at Trinity Al Guerra pastor the Hispanic
Evangelical Divinity School. He later served churches in congregation. We’ve enjoyed the worship
California and Arizona before moving to Freeport, Illinois. time lead by Dan Sommerville, and now
Brian Hogan, and the superlative organist
Marsha Foxgrover.
We know God, through WBC, can
change lives, it changed ours.
1964 The 1967 Cronk resigns, –TOM & DIANA MCCLOW
Beatles break moves on
1963 JFK big in U.S. 1967 First heart
assassinated transplant 15

Congratulations
from Overseas
Dear Wheaton Bible Church Family,
h
earty congratulations on 75 years of ministry!
Truly, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations!” Ps. 90
Memories flood my mind, especially of my early
childhood years at WBC, the early 1950s… I believe
it was during a Missions Week. Little model airplanes
hung throughout the old sanctuary (perhaps in
memory of the Ecuador martyrs?)... Pastor Cronk
preaching about the message going behind the “iron
curtain” (which I vaguely associated with the green
curtains that separated the adult Sunday school class
rooms). So often, the emphasis that stays in my mind
was that of the HOPE of our calling, and of Christ’s
return.There were often a lot of wet eyes...
It was an Easter Sunday (1953?) when Pastor
Cronk came to the “opening exercises” of our
Primary Department and explained why Christ had
died on the cross. I was very impressed by the fact
that, on this most important of Sundays, the PASTOR
16
Letter from France
of the church would come and tell us five-year-olds
personally about salvation. I realized how important
the message must be, and I was convicted by my
sinful state. Later at home, my mother sensed my
restlessness. It wasn’t just chocolate bunny–overload;
I needed Jesus’ forgiveness, and that afternoon, I gave
my life to Jesus Christ, at her knee. A few years later,
I publicly testified of this commitment before the
WBC congregation, as Pastor Cronk baptized me.
I remember too, Children’s Church with the
Adairs and Liljas... Pioneer Girls with Mrs. Steele...
Junior Choir with Miss Harrison (Timko) (we even
sang on radio!)... rollicking laughter in Mrs. Scull’s
junior high Sunday school class...They and many
other leaders and teachers stimulated us to true
worship, love and knowledge of God’s Word, a sense
of our worth in Christ, and of Christian community.
WBC played such an important part of my
life in the high school years... those all-nighters in
Fellowship Hall on December 31... Our youth choir
 that sang
EVERY Sunday
for the 9:30
services (the highlight being the Hallelujah Chorus),
with directors like Vernon Van Hovel that mentored
us not only musically, but also in our Christian
commitment, service to the church, and missionary
vision... In 1966, the church’s first “short term” teen-
age missionaries that we ourselves sent out from our
WBC high school department, for one-year terms,
and all our car washes and bake sales that it took to
raise money for the project..
Into my adulthood, women of WBC chipping in
to help me when I lost everything in a gas explosion
that destroyed my residence and belongings out in
New York state…WBC taking on a large share of my
mission support when, as a single woman, I joined
Greater Europe Mission in 1977 to go to Spain...
Pastor Chris Lyons marrying Tom and me in 1978...
The continued support and prayer for our ministry
in Europe...The love and care that has been given
to my parents by members and pastors of WBC,
especially in their fragile years...
Wheaton Bible Church is not a building, nor a
place, nor a club; it is a community of people who
love the Lord, and where the Lord abides, and
blesses, and by His Spirit indwelling, keeps filling with
His love for each other and for the world that He
wants to redeem.
“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring
it to pass.” –I Thess. 5:24
Our prayers and love are with you, and especially
on this joyous occasion!
Tom and Margaret (Cording) Petty
WBC Missionaries to France
17
 1967–1970

The Seume Richard Seume pastored the church for just

three years before a kidney ailment forced him
Resume to resign, but his legacy would outlast him.

N ext up in our pulpit came a man who

didn’t occupy the position long, but left a
legacy—not only with Wheaton Bible Church, but
later with two men who went on to become among
Christianity’s most respected
pastors and authors.
Just weeks after Rev. Cronk’s
resignation, Dr. Richard H. Seume
became the fourth senior pastor
of Wheaton Bible Church. A 1937
Wheaton College graduate, he came
to WBC from Emmanuel Baptist
Church, Richmond, Va., where he
had been known as a gifted preacher
A brief stay:
Dr. Richard and writer. A tall, stately man and
Seume was our an excellent expositor of the Bible,
pastor for only he served WBC faithfully until a
three years. rare and serious kidney ailment
struck, forcing him to live on a
dialysis machine six hours a day,
three to four days a week. His health
declining, he ultimately resigned in late May 1970.
But that wouldn’t be the last the world would
hear from Richard Seume . . .
Jabez, Anyone?
Despite his failing health, Seume accepted a
position as chaplain at his alma mater, Dallas
Theological Seminary (DTS), where he would
have a profound effect on two men—Chuck
Swindoll and Bruce Wilkinson. Swindoll,
now a well-known
author and the
president of DTS, cited
Seume as an inspiration
in his book, David: A
Man of Passion and
Destiny. In a chapter
titled “When God Says
No,” Swindoll recounts
a time when Seume, ill High praise: Swindoll
refers to Rev. Seume as
and jaundiced, said he’d
“a great man of God.”

1967 Richard Seume 1968 Martin 1970 Rev. 1893 Chicago

named pastor Luther King, Seume resigns World’s Fair
Jr. and Robert 1969 Neil
18 F. Kennedy Armstrong first
assassinated man on moon

like to write a book to encourage others. Swindoll would
write, “What a great man of God was Dr. Seume! . . . The
man whose dreams for his own life had been shattered,
chose to invest his last years in the
lives of younger men.
He embraced God’s alternate plan
with all his might.”
Meanwhile, Wilkinson was at
DTS when Seume preached a
message on Jabez (1 Chronicles
4:9–10)—a message that later inspired
Wilkinson’s best-seller, The Prayer
A Person
of Influence: of Jabez. Dr. Seume served at the
A Seume sermon seminary until he went home to the
inspired this Lord after an automobile accident
best-seller. in Virginia in March 1986.
After Dr. Seume’s departure to Dallas, the WBC
Board began a search for the church’s fifth senior pastor.
Why I love
Wheaton Bible
a t first, we
felt WBC
was “too big.” But,
on our first visit, in
Adult Community,
we were asked
to pray for Pastor
Doug & Christine Christgau. I didn’t know
them but contacted them and was amazed
at their openness to share prayer requests.
After the service, we sent a note of
appreciation to Pastor Rob Bugh and were
surprised to get a personal response. We
felt so welcomed and “at home” at WBC
even during the first few months of visiting!
After a year, we learned that all the
WBC pastors are amazing preachers!
Even our teenage son looks forward to the
sermons! In Adult Community, we see the
genuine care and love for those in need,
especially the African refugees we serve.
We feel so blessed to see the Holy Spirit
working.
–ANNA MOVIDO
(FOR SAM, TIM & MIKE MOVIDO)
19
 1971–1986

Lyons- Popular New Englander attracts

more newcomers; third service added;
hearted! new education wing built.

A s the Board considered numerous

candidates for a new pastor, a fill-in speaker
in December 1970 caught their attention. It was
the Sunday before Christmas, and the Rev. Chris
Lyons preached a sermon titled,
“Switched Price Tags”—a memorable
message about how Satan causes many
believers to switch values. The Board
immediately sensed that the Lord had
sent His man for WBC. It wasn’t long
before the church invited Lyons to
take the job, which he accepted in
April 1971.
Pastor Lyons: Pastor Chris, a wiry Rhode Islander
He left a lasting with a delightful New England accent,
impression as a attracted a growing number of visitors
guest speaker. and new members. In time, an 8:15
Sunday morning service was added,
and at that service he preached to a relatively small
gathering of early risers, as well as later to the larger
congregations at 9:30 and 11:00.
New education building
As the church continued to grow, the Elders
reviewed various ideas for larger and improved
facilities. Plans were drawn up to make use of the
entire block east of the church, but leaders ran
into roadblocks, including zoning restrictions.
Ultimately the church would come to own nine of
the twelve parcels in that block, some of which were
used for housing missionaries and staff and some of
the houses were used
as classrooms.
After several
years of continued
growth, planning
and building, at last,
in October 1982,
a new three-story
55,000-square-foot
Classes for the masses: A new
Christian education
55,000-square-foot Christian ed
building—part of
building opened in 1982 – a facility
our current facility— which we still use today.

1971 Chris Lyons 1972 M*A*S*H 1973 U.S. 1974 Nixon resigns 1893 Chicago
named pastor premiers on TV legalizes World’s Fair
abortion 1977 Elvis
20 Presley dies
 became a reality. To make room for the new facility, the
first two WBC buildings had to be demolished, to sadness
of some who had very special memories in those places.
The spacious Atrium that relieved the extremely crowded
narthex was in itself worth the $4 million expenditure for
the entire expansion program—an expansion that almost
doubled classroom space, in addition to new fellowship
and administrative facilities.
Meanwhile, Chris’s wife, Connie, who had a gift for
entertaining and arranging dinners, was instrumental
in launching the church’s Vanguard Program for senior
citizens.
Farewell to Lyons
In April 1986, Chris Lyons preached his farewell message,
after announcing that he believed the Lord had other
plans for him after 15 years. He moved on to a pastorate
in Virginia, and later to Redwood Chapel Community
Church in Castro Valley, California.
And the search was on once again for a new senior
pastor.
1982 New 1986 Lyons
Christian ed resigns
1981 AIDS building opens 1986 Challenger
identified space shuttle
explodes
Why I love
Wheaton Bible
w
heaton Bible
Church has
been our spiritual
home for more than
25 years, honoring
the biblical basis of
our faith. We have
made many friends who have sustained us
in our times of need, and to whom we have
ministered in return. We enjoy the pastors
and staff who provide mature spiritual
leadership and the small groups and adult
communities where we uphold each other
in Bible study and prayer, share our growing
pains, and exercise our spiritual gifts.
One of the things we will never forget
is how our adult communities rallied
around our need for assistance in digging
a trench around three sides of our old
house to thicken its foundation. Pick and
shovel work may not sound like spiritual
ministry, but it was just that to us! This
was the only way we could correct our
frequent basement flooding, and it has
held beautifully!
–PAUL AND CAROL NEVIN
21
 Our Youth

Reaching & Teaching

Children and Students
F rom our earliest days, strong Christian
Education was a key goal. An easy way to
see that commitment is to look at our buildings. We
Student Ministry
In the days since Margaret attended WBC, the high
school and junior high ministries have continued
dedicate a lot of space to classrooms for teaching
their strong mission involvement. In the 1980s,
God’s Word to ensure there is room for everyone to
under Ridge Burns students got a taste for mission
learn more about what it means
service in overseas trips. He also honed the core
to follow Christ.
group ministry. Under Bob Johnson the “Project
To give all the leaders and
Serve” trips were refocused stateside so that more
teachers who have served
students could participate and learn about the need
throughout the years their due
for service in our own nation. “Under Rob Rienow,”
would take several volumes, so
Pastor Johnson says, “the model has been perfected,
perhaps the best way to relive
broadening the focus to include a leadership
what has taken place in our
development track.”
classrooms is to take a trip back
Pastor Rienow stresses that student ownership
Vibrant Worship: with someone who grew up and
of ministry is a primary goal. “We want students
Student-led worship grew in faith at Wheaton Bible
to come to church to see what they can give,” he
is a hallmark of Church. (See the letter from
Student Body. stresses, “not what they can get.”
WBC Missionary Margaret
Pastor Rienow has served longer than any other
(Cording) Petty, pages 16–17).
youth pastor at WBC, even though his beginnings
were somewhat inauspicious. As a sophomore, he
approached Pastor Johnson about volunteering

22
 in youth ministry, hoping that would lead to an shaped much of what we benefit from today. During
internship. “His very first night to attend as a his tenure, Boys Brigade and Pioneer Girls made
volunteer he was showing off for high school way for Awana to engage more children from the
students in the community. Under Joan Whitlock’s able leadership,
gym,” Johnson we expanded from the summer Vacation Bible
recalls, “and School model, which served our children well but
he dunked a rarely drew more than a dozen newcomers, to the
basketball, wildly popular Neighborhood Bible Clubs. In 2003,
shattering the more than 1200 children who don’t attend WBC
backboard. He came to NBCs. And, of course, the fantastic Great
was so scared Family Fun Fair has become the largest outreach
that we would event hosted by the church. Caring for the hurting
Sowing Seeds: From the earliest fire him. We said in our community has become an increasingly
ages, children at WBC learn about no, but he would important way to bring new families into the church,
God’s love. have to pay for the so new ministries include support groups for parents
glass backboard. Being a broke college student, he and children experiencing separation, divorce,
nearly went into shock…until we told him we were disabilities, or other struggles.
kidding!” Reaching children and young people for Christ
continues to be a primary means for ensuring the
Children’s Ministry future of the church, and at Wheaton Bible, with
Mark Senter, now a professor at Trinity, was the God’s continued blessing, the future is in very
Director of Christian Education in the 1970s and capable hands.

23
 1987–1993

The
Krentel Era
Dave Krentel put a renewed emphasis on the
and special projects abroad—and oversaw the

A bout a year and a half after Chris Lyons’

departure, David P. Krentel became WBC’s
sixth pastor. A tall, friendly Pennsylvanian with
an athletic build, Krentel, a graduate of Dallas
Theological Seminary with two
previous pastorates, came with
a zeal to increase the church’s
influence at home and abroad.
Just prior to his arrival, WBC had
purchased the Christian Science
Church at Union and Main—
which soon became headquarters
for our Student Ministries. As
New Student WBC’s attendance continued
Min. Building: growing, so did giving, and during
WBC buys Krentel’s pastorate, the church
Christian
paid off ten years of debt on the
Science building. new Christian education building,
shredding the mortgage papers in
a 1992 celebration service.
Man on a mission
Pastor Krentel was always asking, “How can we do
things better? Let’s fine-tune it.” That attitude led
to growth in the men’s ministry, beginning with a
weekly Bible class, and a sharper focus for WBC’s
missions program. The annual missions festival
became a highlight as Pastor Dave spearheaded
interest in special projects —like raising funds for
an improved water system for the AIM mission
compound at Kijabe,
Kenya. He also sparked
greater interest in
short-term missions.
Meanwhile,
the collapse of
communism in Eastern
Europe opened the
doors for a sister church
Beyond the Iron Curtain:
relationship with a
WBC gives $250K and many
Baptist church in Deva,
man hours to build a sister
Romania. Growing out church in Deva, Romania.

1989 1991 First Gulf 1992 Debt for 1993

1893Krentel
Chicago
Berlin Wall falls War begins CED building resigns
World’s Fair
1987 Dave Krentel paid off 1992 Rodney King
24 named pastor verdict, LA riots

missions program—including the annual festival
launch of the Hispanic Church.
of interest generated in our college ministry, WBC
would eventually give more than $250,000—and send
several short-term missions teams, even through today—
to help them build their church and ministries.
Hispanic church founded
During the Krentel years, Rodrigo Chavarria, a Costa
Rican grad student at Wheaton College, asked WBC
to provide a Sunday school class for local adults who
primarily spoke Spanish. Space was provided, and those
simple beginnings soon led to a fully functioning Hispanic
congregation with its own pastor. (See more on pages 26–27.)
Differences arise
In the early ’90s, differences arose concerning Krentel’s
leadership style. After months of prayer and various
attempts to bring reconciliation, Krentel resigned
in January 1993, taking a leadership position in a
Pennsylvania home for handicapped children.
After his departure, a sizable number of his supporters
also left the church, many of them joining with others to
form a new church—Community Fellowship. As God had
done in earlier splits in our church history, he blessed both
congregations. Community Fellowship is now a thriving
church on North Avenue, about a mile west of the land
WBC has purchased for a future relocation.
And now the search was on for our seventh pastor.
Why I love
Wheaton Bible
a s a high school teen living in the
dorm at Wheaton Academy, I visited
WBC. As a student at Wheaton College,
I reveled the wonderful music and in
hearing God’s. One of the things that drew
me to my husband, Jim, was that he loved
WBC so much.
WBC supported Jim and me as
missionaries through 5 years in Peru and
15 years at TEAM’s home office. Our
children benefited from all WBC offers.
I still enjoy the ministries in which I have
participated for 40 years. My daughters,
son-in-law and grand-children attend.
How I love seeing them loving our
church and spiritually growing.
To say I love WBC is to put it too mildly.
WBC has been one of the greatest gifts
God has given me in my 63 years of life.
The tears flow in gratitude as I write.
–NITA NEWING
25

Iglesia Bibilica
de Wheaton
1990–2004
I t all started in Pastor Gary Dausey’s office in
1990. Rodrigo Chavarria had previously been the
Coordinator of the Association of Bible Colleges in
Costa Rica and was studying at the Graduate School at
Wheaton College. He asked Pastor Dausey if a room was
available where he might get 10 or 12 people together for
a Sunday School class in Spanish.
As the numbers of Hispanics in DuPage County
grew, so did the needs of the growing group that came to
WBC to study the Word in their native tongue. Early on,
we realized the importance for leadership to come from
within the Hispanic community. A pastor was called,
and the group soon took the form of a church.
The Hispanic Church will celebrate its 15th
Anniversary next year. Under the leadership of Pastor
Al Guerra since 1998, the church has more than tripled
in size, nearing 400 attenders on Sunday. The early
offerings were often less than $5 a week. Last year,
they contributed more than $230,000—almost $40,000
more than budgeted. In recent weeks, the ministry
made a contribution of $125,000 to the Share the Light
Campaign for the purchase of our new property—an
incredible sacrifice for a congregation with more than
one-third of its members making less than $16,000
per year.
26
!
Celebrar!
“My prayer is not for them alone.
message, that all of them may be
they also be in us so that the world
The church has become such an integral part of
WBC that we have elected an Hispanic Elder to the
Board twice in recent years. With a heart for raising
up strong Biblical leaders from within the Hispanic
community, Pastor Guerra has initiated a leadership
training course for men, and the church has developed
a youth outreach program to draw younger immigrants.
Efforts are also made to incorporate Hispanic attenders
into the larger fold of WBC, such as providing Spanish
translation at events like the Women’s Retreat.
Through our “One Body: Two Arms” style of
ministry, remaining one church rather than maintaining
a sister- or mission-church relationship, we seek to
demonstrate the work of Christ by being one, just as
the Father and Son are one. The approach is innovative,
and Pastor Guerra
is often invited to
present our model
and his leadership
curriculum to other
churches who seek
to reflect God’s
call to be one Passionate Preaching: Pastor Al’s
multicultural body. sermons are energetic to the point of
gymnastic but always biblically based!
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their
one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May
may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20–21
From the U.S. to Latin America
and Back Again
Our ministry to Hispanics is just one example of the
75-year metamorphosis of approaches to fulfilling the
Great Commission. Over the years we have sent many
missionaries into Latin American countries. Today, we
have men, women and children from more than 15 Latin
American countries coming to WBC to worship.
Missionary Perspective from Venezuela
I love that when I’m back here, I have the option of
worshiping in either language. I keep my Spanish up
and enjoy that spirit of worship I’ve grown acclimated
to down in Venezuela.
This summer I was back in Wheaton and got involved
in the Hispanic church. I saw what deep love they have
for the Lord, and their growing love of missions.
I love that our cultures are getting more access to one
another. When I was speaking to one of the American
children’s classes this summer, a little girl (Victoria Rojas),
came up and said, “I’m from Venezuela!”
–Linda Batz, Missionary to Venezuela
A Venezuelan Perspective
When I came to America six years ago, I left behind 35
years of my life, my friends, my family. I was a single
mother and a professional in the oil industry at home,
but I saw the decline and wanted a better life for my baby
daughter. So I came to America. But here there is a big
wall between the immigrant and the American culture.
I was very lonely, spoke almost no English, and worked
in a restaurant.
My brother and his wife invited
me to WBC. I was impressed
by Pastor Guerra’s passion and
preaching. I had been a Christian
since my childhood but had strayed
far from the Lord. What a joy it was
to find Him here!
Worshiping and learning the Victoria Rojas:
Bible in my own language helps me Connecting with Linda
to understand God more perfectly. Batz in Venezuela
I have many friendships now with Christian women,
deeper friendships because we pray together, sisters in the
Lord. I am also thankful for the children’s programs in the
American church. Vicky loves them.
–Annabel (Rojas) Garza, mother of Victoria (Annabel is now
married to Jesse Garza and has a three-year-old son, Jesse)
27
 1994–present
After 18 months without a senior pastor,
Bugh Takes WBC calls Rob Bugh in 1994—and very quickly,
the Helm the church explodes with innovation and
unprecedented growth.

A fter David Krentel’s departure in January

1993, we went for 18 months without a
senior pastor. A number of guest preachers filled
the pulpit—primarily Donald Cole,
radio pastor of WMBI, whom God
used in a significant way to bless the
congregation. Don’s low-key manner
of preaching and his strong messages
uplifted worshipers, who fell in love
with Don and his wife, Naomi.
All the while, though, the search
continued for our next pastor. The
Pastor Bugh: pastoral search advisory committee
A barefoot screened more than 80 prospects,
waterskier
seriously considering 20 of them.
with a passion
for the lost. On Sunday, July 17, 1994, Chuck
Stair, the committee’s chairman, and
Dr. Glenn Heck, the Board of Elders chairman,
enthusiastically announced the Board’s top
candidate—the Rev. Robert B. Bugh, the preaching
pastor of First Evangelical Church in Memphis,
Tenn. Rob came and preached at WBC services on
two Sundays, and the membership extended a call
to him at a business meeting on Sunday, August 7.
Pastor Rob was formally installed on Sunday,
September 25, with Wheaton College President
Dr. Duane Litfin and Moody Bible Institute
President Joseph Stowell—who had both
recommended Rob to the search committee—
on hand for the big occasion. Dr. Litfin, one of
Rob’s best friends and a former colleague at the
church in Memphis, gave the formal charge,
reminding the
congregation and
Rob that “God
is our boss.”
Dr. Stowell,
meanwhile,
challenged the
congregation
to give the new
pastor “the gift The Bugh Family:
of love.” From back left to front: Alissa,
Shannon, Kyle, Carol, Ryan, & Rob.

1994 Rob Bugh 1994 Mandela 1997 Expand to 4 1997 Princess 1893
2000 RobChicago
earns
named pastor elected Sunday services Diana dies hisWorld’s Fair
doctorate
president 1995
28 Oklahoma City
bombing
 Why I love
Wheaton Bible
w
A changed man
At the age of 19, Rob Bugh would not have seemed heaton
like a man on track to pastor any church, much less a Bible
Bible church and one of the largest congregations in Church has been
Chicago’s suburbs. As a freshman at Southern Methodist a place of spiritual
University, he was a non-believer without a care for the heritage for my
claims of Christianity. But as a sophomore, through the family. My dad,
encouragement of a classmate, Rob began his search for Dr. Donald
truth. After reading C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, he Hockman and his parents, Dr. William and
became convinced that God indeed exists. Soon thereafter, Kate Hockman were charter members,
while reading John Stott’s Basic Christianity, Rob decided as were my Dad’s siblings: Dr. Robert,
to trust Christ as his Lord and Savior, and God began to Charles, and Kay (Friederichsen).
radically change his life. Two seminary students started Dr. Robert and his wife, Winnie, were
mentoring him, and he became involved in a solid the first missionaries supported and sent
Bible-believing church. by WBC.
A few years later, Rob felt challenged to consider Pastor Malcolm Cronk preached
seminary and the pastoral ministry. In 1976, he enrolled sermons that convicted our hearts.
in Dallas Theological Seminary. While there, he met Following an evening service when I
Carol Ann Weichmann, a nurse from Deerfield, Ill. was six years old, I accepted Christ.
They were married on May 26, 1979, and Rob earned Miriam Harrison Timko, director of the
his Th.M degree a year later. (Twenty years later, in 2000, Junior Choir, taught us love for music
Rob added a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity and to pursue the highest quality, as we
Evangelical Seminary.) were doing so unto the Lord. We grew
Pastor Rob came to WBC with a wide range of tremendously through Pastor Chris Lyons’s
experience. He had worked with Young Life in Dallas in passion for the Word. There were so many
the mid-1970s. From 1977 to 1980, he served on the youth special people, I could not begin to mention
them all.
Continued on p. 30
From the beginnings, those who
faithfully served the Lord, prayed and lived
the testimony they professed, wove a rich
heritage for Wheaton Bible Church. God
2002 2003 has blessed their gifts to us and the future
U.S. Saddam generations to follow.
2001 Terrorists invades Iraq Hussein 2004 –RAYNIE HOCKMAN SMITH
attack U.S. captured Wheaton Bible’s 29
75th anniversary
 1994–present
Continued from p. 29 Outreach minded
staff of Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, During Rob’s tenure, there has also been an
Texas. From ’80-89, he ministered in Neenah,Wis., increased emphasis on global and local outreach.
at the Calvary Bible Church, then it was off to Our youth groups have taken multiple missions trips
First Evangelical in Memphis until he got the call locally and throughout the U.S. Many adult short-
from WBC. term teams have gone abroad, and Rob himself has
Today, Rob and Carol have four children— made several overseas trips to preach and encourage
Shannon, Kyle, Alissa and Ryan Robert. missionaries. WBC continues to maintain contact
Vision and growth with our sister church in Deva, Romania, sending
short-term mission teams annually.
One of Pastor Rob’s first priorities at WBC was to
At home, Rob’s leadership and superb preaching
work with the Elders and pastoral staff to finalize
more than doubled our total attendance at Sunday
work they had begun to sharpen and clarify the
worship, from a low of about 1,000 in 1993-94 to its
church’s mission, vision, and values. A longtime
current rate in the mid-2,000s, an all-time high. Our
staff member describes him as “a visionary leader
Hispanic ministry grew from its modest beginnings
who believes in building a strong team around
to a fully functioning congregation of just over
him and then valuing their input and counsel.” He
400, and the children’s Sunday School now draws
constantly asks, “What would the Lord have us do?”
an average of more than 800 per week. Student
Before Rob’s arrival, the Elders were planning to
Ministries grew to full capacity in Main Street
add a contemporary service on Sunday mornings.
Chapel, and Adult Communities flourished, with
Rob embraced the idea, and three weeks after his
four of them meeting in rented space at Franklin
arrival, the new service began, drawing more than
Middle School. Most notably, the Women’s and
350 that first Sunday in Fellowship Hall. In a matter
Men’s Ministries became major new entry ports into
of months, it outgrew that room and had to be
the church, and both ministries became centerpieces
moved to the sanctuary. Two and a half years later,
of evangelism and discipleship. In addition, our
a second contemporary service was added, so that
weekday preschool continued to serve and minister
by 1997 there were four Sunday morning worship
to families inside and outside the church.
services—one traditional, two contemporary and
There are reasons for this unprecedented growth,
one Hispanic service.
of course. The Lord is clearly at work, and people
Under Pastor Rob, we’ve further sharpened
clearly recognize that. As one visitor to our church
our worship ministry with commitments to
commented, “You can just tell that God is doing
excellence in all of our services. WBC began
something special in this place.”
a program with small group meetings in homes
on alternate Sunday evenings.
30
 Going Into
All the World Continued from p. 13

Lord in November 2003.) The stories of great courage and church planters, as well as accountants, graphic
and sacrifice are too numerous to recount. artists and photographers among our missionary family,
Today, our 85 missionaries and their families serve spread across every continent and more than 30 agencies.
in 44 countries doing everything from church planting, The sun never sets on our missionary impact around
evangelism, and teaching of nationals in schools of every the world.
sort to many kinds of support ministries, such as working In the past seven years we have sent out dozens of
in mission agency offices or teaching missionary children. short-term mission teams, 11 in 2003 alone. Our unique
Of our missionary twist is that most of our teams were invited by one of
families, 45 have deep our missionaries to serve a particular need, running
roots at WBC by virtue the gamut from construction, to university teaching,
of having grown up to ESL, to working with children at Christian summer
here, having lived here camps. Our missionaries relish the opportunity for their
for many years before new community
going to the field, to meet their
or by being second American
generation WBC community, and
MOP means missions: missionaries. our ties grow
Paper drives were just one of the In recent years, stronger as both
many activities pursued by young men
through substantial communities work
in the Missions Orientation Program
begun during the Cronk era. counsel and financial together to meet
and prayer support, local needs.
we have helped to send new missionaries to Bolivia, Papua For 75 years Short trips, big dividends:
New Guinea, South Asia, The Dominican Republic, and counting, Short term missions change lives—
France, Costa Rica, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Austria, and the WBC has truly both ours and those of the people
we serve.
Middle East. We have recently learned that WBC supports gone into all the
the most Wycliffe missionaries (10) of any church in the world to preach the gospel. Until the Lord returns,
U.S. — helping to ensure the translation of the scriptures may it always be so!
into many more languages. We have teachers, evangelists

31
 2004–future
As our phenomenal growth has continued,
What’s we’ve had to look elsewhere for more room to grow—
Next? and we found it: a beautiful estate on North Avenue
in DuPage County.

B y the mid-1990s, it was clear that we had to

figure out how to accommodate the growing
numbers. A committee looked into the options at
A glimpse into the future
What will our new church look like? The natural
beauty of the site will provide a warm welcome—a
our current site but concluded there was no good
winding entrance lined by ornamental trees, tiered
long-term solution. In January 1998,
parking areas divided by grassy swales, and the
�������� the church decided to look for a
������������������
peaceful influence of beautiful ponds, connecting
������������� new location.
�����������
����������������

�
������������

�����
waterways, and walking and jogging paths.
An extensive search led to a
The building itself will be attractive,
prime 47-acre site—the beautiful
approachable and inviting. When entering the
Morton Estate at the corner of
main doors you will be
��
North Avenue and Morton Road in
������������

greeted by a spacious
unincorporated DuPage County.
�������� Atrium that will be
On April 18, 1999, the membership
filled with natural
voted to buy the land for future
��������
������� � light and punctuated
����� expansion. That October, an
by casual seating
agreement was signed for WBC to
areas and rich foliage.
Just five miles buy the land over the following five
The Atrium will be a
away!: WBC years, and a capital campaign—
is purchasing major gathering place
Share the Light—was launched to God-preserved estate:
47 acres. where one can meet
raise the funds. God-willing, beautiful Morton
with friends, garner
In September 2000, the DuPage County Board Manor will be our new home.
information, join others
gave formal approval for our proposed use of the
for coffee, or browse the nearby bookstore, library or
land. Since then, our Building Steering Committee,
media center. It will be the entry point to the main
pastoral staff and Board of Elders have been giving
West Worship Center, the East Worship Center
considerable time to projecting our ministry plan
(accommodating our Hispanic Ministry), or the
into the future and translating that plan into an
Chapel. 1893 Chicago
architectural design that can support and enhance
From the Atrium, you’ll see the entrance to World’s
the Fair
every phase of our ministry.
Children’s Ministry Center, catching the eye of
32
 Why I love
Wheaton Bible
children of all ages. Beyond that, you’ll find a state-of-the-
art Student Ministry Center for junior and senior high
students. Comfortable and inviting Adult Community
i love Wheaton
Bible Church
because I see the
rooms will be situated throughout the facility, and there people in the church
will be a number of large meeting areas for big gatherings reaching out to
or sharing meals together. people because they
Phase 1 will roughly double our present square footage love Jesus. I see the
to approximately 212,000 square feet, and our final build- members caring for
out will increase the new facility size to about 340,000 the sick and lonely. I see people quietly
square feet. Our main Worship Center will seat 1,400 going the second mile by driving people to
people initially and expand to 2,400 in the final phase. church or work or doctor appointments. I
see the good news shared form the pulpit
Challenges ahead and in the large variety of ministries. People
As a congregation, we now face some big decisions at Wheaton Bible are being the hands and
regarding what God has in mind next for Wheaton Bible feet of Christ.
Church. Purchasing the land has been a huge step of faith
–RUTH GIBSON
for us, and the challenges ahead will be even greater.
But as Pastor Rob says, “We serve a big God who has
called us to minister in big ways. We must continue to
dream big, pray big, ask big, and give big for the future of
Wheaton Bible Church. Then, like those who have gone
before us, we can continue to Share the Light of Christ
in DuPage County and around the world.”

33