History of the Evanston Vineyard

The Evanston Vineyard started in January 1976 as a non-denominational congregation of about forty people called Christ Church of the North Shore. The founders of the church (Steve Nicholson, Tom and L’Tishia Suk, Bill and Cheryll Hanawalt, and others) had experienced the power of God in the charismatic revival of the late sixties/early seventies, and were yearning for a church that would place a high priority on contemporary worship, Biblical teaching, openness to the Holy Spirit, and committed relationships. The church grew steadily, meeting in many locations. By 1980 the church had reached a growth barrier with 150-200 people, and both numerical and spiritual growth stagnated. In 1983 the church felt led to seek God earnestly for a new move of the Holy Spirit in our midst, for a renewed renewal.

In 1984 and 1985, through the ministry of John Wimber and the Vineyard Movement, the Holy Spirit began to do some new things in our midst, and to make a number of unexpected changes. Our lives and relationships with God were powerfully changed. We began to have a new heart, vision and boldness for evangelism and ministry to the whole person. We discovered anew our original call to be a church for new life and mercy to those who had not or could not make it in the traditional church. In August 1985 the church recognized a commonality of vision with the Vineyard Movement and became a member of the Association of Vineyard Churches.

In July 2004, we moved into our new building on 2495 Howard St. The next few years we spent rehabbing the building so that we could have our Sunday services here as well. We moved our Sunday services into the building the last Sunday in April 2006.