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West Ridge is a unique and special church not only for the way it has touched people's lives and the surrounding community, but also in the way that it started. While most church start-ups begin slowly, West Ridge began with a bang in September, 1997. As a result of four direct mail postcards mailed to 75,000 homes in the area, 853 people packed the Visual and Performing Arts Center auditorium that first Sunday. Years later, West Ridge continues to grow and about 650 people call West Ridge home. When Co-Pastor Darren Sloniger felt God's calling to lead a new church, he approached the Chicago District Evangelical Association, a Chicago based church planting organization, and Church Planting Ventures in Atlanta. With the financial backing of these two non-denominational organizations, Darren was able to realize the dream of forming a church that would be Never Church as Usual. He envisioned a grace-filled place where people could Encounter, Embrace, and Embody the radical love of God. Because West Ridge was not planted out of another church, it allowed people from many backgrounds and experiences to start on the same page and significantly impact how the church developed and grew. At West Ridge, authenticity and genuine community are essential to the make up of who we are. For West Ridge it is not the staff or a building, or even the service on Sunday morning - it's lives being changed by people seeking God with the help and support of other people.
Today, West Ridge is still growing, with about 650 people attending each week. We are inspired and excited about the future of this community of people. January 21, 2007 was the Grand Opening of our new facility. Listen to Darren Sloniger's account of how we have achieved this long-term goal.
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