First Baptist Church of Niles Addendum The Culture of First Baptist Church of Niles – Who We Are We are the First Baptist Church of Niles; a “country church” set in the Chicago suburb of Niles, IL.  We are an Independent Baptist Church, as an independent Baptist church, we are not affiliated with any particular Baptist denomination or ruling body.  Because of this we can support our own missionaries, select our own leaders, and support institutions that believe as we believe.  In short, our church answers to the headship of Jesus Christ rather than a denominational body.  We are Baptistic by conviction and principle, not by affiliation.  This means that we believe the basic Bible teaching for which Baptists have historically stood. As Baptists, we believe the following: The Bible is our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice. The church should be autonomous or self-governing. Every Christian has equal access to God personally. God’s Word gives us two ordinances for the church: baptism and the Lord’s table. Each person is individually responsible for his decision to accept Christ. The believer is eternally secure and cannot lose salvation. There are two Biblical offices in the church – Pastors and Deacons. We are a community of believers represented by every social and economic classification, multiple races and nationalities, and every living generation.  We join together in worship, service, prayer, fellowship and endeavor to provide a nurturing, warm and friendly atmosphere, because we believe that all people matter to God. In a day of moral compromise, relative truth, and intolerant tolerance, it matters where we stand.  The Bible is a Book that transcends time and culture and speaks relevantly to the issues we face today.  Proclaiming the Word of God and being faithful to Biblical Doctrine are integral, as well as, the use of hymns, choruses and special groups to reinforce and enhance our worship experience.  We stand on the truth of God’s Word so we might be obedient to Christ in teaching others and that future generations might have a solid foundation on which to build their lives. When you walk the steps leading to the vestibule, you find a traditional white church building with pews, a pulpit, communion table and baptistery waiting inside.  The building has been modernized with the latest technology for worship, while maintaining its classic charm and simple appearance. Over the years we’ve had more and sometimes we’ve had less, but weekly we welcome around 80 active members.  Niles Baptist is much more than a church building filled with people, we are a family of believers working together to further His kingdom.  We are a service minded community that enables our members to run the weekly operations of the church.  Our Deacons, Trustees and Church Officers are some of the leaders that help with every aspect of running the church. We believe in a church service that includes our members and gives them ownership over the church.  Whether it is one of our college students taking up offering, or one of our children playing their instrument as a special music, we believe our community involvement is what makes us special.  Our members drive in from as far north as Gurnee and as far west as Wheaton to attend our services.  The love that our congregation shows for one another, whether you have been here 30 years or just visiting is why we have been a light in the community for over 50 years.  We look forward to welcoming you to our family in Niles.