Where is Salem, Illinois?

            Salem Church is not located near Salem, Illinois, which is a community in Marian County, Illinois.

            Also, we are not near or part of New Salem, Illinois (now a state park) where Abraham Lincoln spent his young adulthood from 1831-1837. Nor are we located near the current village of New Salem in Pike County, Illinois.

            Our rural address is Gridley, Illinois (link here:). We are located in Livingston County, Illinois south of the village of Flanagan and north of the village of Gridley.

If you are not located near Salem, Illinois, why are you called Salem Church?

            One of our early pastors, Christian R. Egle (1858-1926), described the naming of the church this way in 1925: “The name Salem was given to the church when the deed to the church ground was made in reference to the word Salem in the Bible, meaning the city of peace.”

            So, our name is a Biblical name and reminds us that Jesus Christ is our peace with God (Romans 5: 1-2), our peace with one another (Ephesians 2: 17), and our peace with others (Romans 12: 18). If you desire peace with God in your life receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, repent of your sin, and live in Him.

Are you a Mennonite Church?

            We have roots in the Anabaptist movement of during the Protestant Reformation which was committed to upholding the Gospel. Three basic tenets of Anabaptism that are foundational for us today are 1.) the necessity of the new birth in Christ, 2.) the mission of the church to go and make disciples, and 3.) the primacy of the Scriptures as God’s Word.

            Henry Egly (1824-1890) was an Amish bishop in Adams County, Indiana who became convicted that the church needed to regain a vision of new birth in Christ as the way conversion happens. A following of churches developed, including the Salem Church, which called themselves the Defenseless Mennonites as early as 1871, the Evangelical Mennonite Church in 1947, and the Fellowship of Evangelical Church in 2003.

We are not part of either Amish groups like the Old Order Amish or of mainline Mennonite denominations like the Mennonite Church USA.

What is the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches?

            We are a fellowship of 41 churches and 6 church plants and four affiliated ministries: Salem Ranch, Christian Service Foundation, Miracle Camp, and LifeChange Camp. (You can link here for more information: Fellowship of Evangelical Churches

Are you the same as Salem4Youth?

            No. Salem Church and Salem4Youth are separate ministries. We are located approximately 4 miles from each other. We are closely related.

Salem Children’s Home, usually called Salem Ranch, is located at 15161 N 400 East Road, Flanagan, IL 61740. Salem Ranch is an affiliate ministry of the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches (FEC). The students at Salem Ranch attend Salem Church worship services, Sunday school, youth group, and are involved in other aspects of congregational life. Some are involved in Bible quizzing.

It is a joy to have this close association with Salem Ranch. (You can link here for more information: Salem4Youth)

What do you believe?

            Our statement of faith is available here:

Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God.  We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.  We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration is absolutely essential.  We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.  We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that those in Christ are saved unto the resurrection of life, and that those without Christ are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.  We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Jesus.  We believe in the personal, visible and premillenial return of Christ Jesus our Lord, the first stage of which is the rapture of His church.

How old is the church?

            The congregation was founded in 1866. The first church building was erected on the current site in 1875. New buildings followed in 1893 and 1903. The 1903 received major upgrading and additions until it was destroyed by fire in 1965. In 1967 the current facility was dedicated and has been in use since then. 

What is your neighborhood like?

We are in a rural area strategically located among several communities. Our address is Gridley, a village of approximately 1400 on Route 24. Link to www.city-data.com/city/Gridley-Illinois.html and www.unit11.org for information on the community and the local school system.

We are about the same distance from Flanagan, a village of approximately 1100 on Route 116. Link to www.city-data.com/city/Flanagan-Illinois.html and www.flanagank12.il.us for information on the community and the local school system.

            We also relate to the communities of El Paso, Graymont, Meadows, and Chenoa.

We are seeking to impact communities and our rural neighbors with the truth of Christ’s gracious love.

What is your attendance?

            Attendance varies from Sunday to Sunday. Our average attendance in 2009 was 70 per Sunday in Sunday school and 100 per Sunday in the worship service.