Pontiac
Illinois
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Pontiac Bible Church
History
In January of 1968, Ray Tuley, Bob Cramer, and Ron Beach saw the need for a Bible-believing church...
They wanted a place where their children could learn the Word of God and be challenged to serve Him. Ray remembered Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” They adopted the slogan, "The End of Your Search for a Friendly Church." Ron later hired two men to help with his business, Jon Dewald and Warren Parr. Both men became active at PBC.
The men working on the constitution, by-laws, charter, incorporation and statement of faith were Ron Beach, Ray Tuley, Bob Cramer, Gerry Bennett, Cliff Seeth, Tom Bloyd, and John Clevenger.
Paul Henrichs came to PBC from a church that was disbanding near Cullom. He brought his entire family. His son, Roger was in Viet Nam at that time and came shortly after his discharge.
A missionary, Art Mikesell of C.A.M., challenged the church to begin a tent project, and the tents were used during an earthquake in Guatemala, giving Art and another missionary, Ken Hanna, the opportunity to witness to the casulaties of the quake. God greatly used this project and blessed the church for being obedient to his call.
Don Tuley was a teen at the time his dad, Ray, helped start the church. Don married Donna Bloyd, who had moved to Pontiac with her parents in the early days of PBC. Her father, Tom, taught a young married class and her mother, Grace, started a kids club similar to AWANA. It was a successful program.
Pontiac Correctional Facility hired a new Assistant Warden, Don Harvey. As the result of an evangelism call by Ron Beach and Gordon Williamson, Don and his wife, Val, are still a part of the church.
Within a one year period the Parr family moved out of town, Ron Beach and his family moved out of state, Tom & Grace Bloyd moved north, and Paul Henrichs was killed in a work accident. But God cared for His ministry in Pontiac, as Gordon Williamson, Roger Henrichs, Paul Becker, and others took their place alongside Ray Tuley and Jon Dewald.
Rev. Frank Beaty came to PBC in 1975 as pastor, hiring Rev. Stan Wiedeman in 1978 as the first full-time associate pastor and youth leader.
In 1979, the church moved into a new facility west of downtown Pontiac, where it remains to this day. In 1982, Pontiac Christian School began as a ministry of PBC. The AWANA program and the school were instrumental in the growth of the church, along with fellowship banquets.
Pastor Bob Wiedman (no relation to Stan Wiedeman) came to PBC in 1995 from California, after reading about an opening for a senior pastorate on the Internet. In 1996, Geoff Pfeil joined the church as youth pastor.
Early in 1999, Pastor Wiedman left the church to take a position with World Team Associates. This led to the hiring of PBC's present head pastor, Brian Bill, whose family was fresh off a three year stint as missionaries in Mexico.
In the spring of 2001, Geoff Pfeil left for a youth position in his native state of Oregon, and was replaced by Jeff Williams in November.
In 2002, construction was completed on a large addition to the church, the Family Life Center, which added much needed classroom space, a large fellowship hall, new kitchen, and nursery.
As a result of increased growth, the church advertised for an Executive Pastor in 2004, to work more directly with staff, ministry, and small group leaders and help free up the Senior and Youth pastors. After a year of searching, the church hired Dick Van Dyke in July of 2005.
In January of 1968, Ray Tuley, Bob Cramer, and Ron Beach saw the need for a Bible-believing church...
They wanted a place where their children could learn the Word of God and be challenged to serve Him. Ray remembered Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” They adopted the slogan, "The End of Your Search for a Friendly Church." Ron later hired two men to help with his business, Jon Dewald and Warren Parr. Both men became active at PBC.
The men working on the constitution, by-laws, charter, incorporation and statement of faith were Ron Beach, Ray Tuley, Bob Cramer, Gerry Bennett, Cliff Seeth, Tom Bloyd, and John Clevenger.
Paul Henrichs came to PBC from a church that was disbanding near Cullom. He brought his entire family. His son, Roger was in Viet Nam at that time and came shortly after his discharge.
A missionary, Art Mikesell of C.A.M., challenged the church to begin a tent project, and the tents were used during an earthquake in Guatemala, giving Art and another missionary, Ken Hanna, the opportunity to witness to the casulaties of the quake. God greatly used this project and blessed the church for being obedient to his call.
Don Tuley was a teen at the time his dad, Ray, helped start the church. Don married Donna Bloyd, who had moved to Pontiac with her parents in the early days of PBC. Her father, Tom, taught a young married class and her mother, Grace, started a kids club similar to AWANA. It was a successful program.
Pontiac Correctional Facility hired a new Assistant Warden, Don Harvey. As the result of an evangelism call by Ron Beach and Gordon Williamson, Don and his wife, Val, are still a part of the church.
Within a one year period the Parr family moved out of town, Ron Beach and his family moved out of state, Tom & Grace Bloyd moved north, and Paul Henrichs was killed in a work accident. But God cared for His ministry in Pontiac, as Gordon Williamson, Roger Henrichs, Paul Becker, and others took their place alongside Ray Tuley and Jon Dewald.
Rev. Frank Beaty came to PBC in 1975 as pastor, hiring Rev. Stan Wiedeman in 1978 as the first full-time associate pastor and youth leader.
In 1979, the church moved into a new facility west of downtown Pontiac, where it remains to this day. In 1982, Pontiac Christian School began as a ministry of PBC. The AWANA program and the school were instrumental in the growth of the church, along with fellowship banquets.
Pastor Bob Wiedman (no relation to Stan Wiedeman) came to PBC in 1995 from California, after reading about an opening for a senior pastorate on the Internet. In 1996, Geoff Pfeil joined the church as youth pastor.
Early in 1999, Pastor Wiedman left the church to take a position with World Team Associates. This led to the hiring of PBC's present head pastor, Brian Bill, whose family was fresh off a three year stint as missionaries in Mexico.
In the spring of 2001, Geoff Pfeil left for a youth position in his native state of Oregon, and was replaced by Jeff Williams in November.
In 2002, construction was completed on a large addition to the church, the Family Life Center, which added much needed classroom space, a large fellowship hall, new kitchen, and nursery.
As a result of increased growth, the church advertised for an Executive Pastor in 2004, to work more directly with staff, ministry, and small group leaders and help free up the Senior and Youth pastors. After a year of searching, the church hired Dick Van Dyke in July of 2005.