ABOUT US

Loving God and people since 1952

To God be the glory, great things He hath done

Marion Hills Bible Church traces its roots back to May 5th, 1952, when Rev. William Shunk initiated an organized Sunday School. Initially held in the basement of Lace-Marion Hills School, leadership soon passed to Arthur D. Pelzer

Incorporated as Marion Hills Sunday School on December 10, 1953, the church purchased a lot on Plainfield and High Roads for $1,000. Construction began in August 1954, aided by financial support from Cicero Bible Church and community volunteers.

Regular services commenced on January 1, 1956, with Mr. Pelzer as Pastor. The church was formally dedicated on May 6th, 1956. Over the years, growth necessitated expansions, including the addition of a bell tower in June 1959 and new pews.

Pastors

Reverend Matthew Grider

Back in 1990, Matt and Faith crossed paths at MHBC, sparking the beginning of their story. Fast forward four years, and they tied the knot. They're both teachers, using their knack for education to connect with the youth at MHBC.

Matt's journey through education took him to the College of DuPage and Cedarville University before landing him a BS degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He's been wearing many hats at MHBC for years - youth pastor, assistant pastor, you name it.

In 2022 Matt was ordained and now shares the pastor duties at MHBC with Larry Banaszak, further solidifying his commitment to the MHBC congregation.

Reverend Larry Banaszak

Denise and Larry's love story began back in high school, where they started dating during their junior year. They married in 1978 at Cicero Bible Church, and began building their family. They've been blessed with two daughters, Andrea and Rachel, and a son, David.

At Cicero Bible Church, Larry taught Sunday School at all levels, worked in AWANA, and investing in the teen youth ministry for an impressive 13 years. Additionally, Larry served on the church board as both a deacon and church clerk.

Larry graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1986 with a major in Theology/Hebrew. At Marion Hills Bible Church, he continued his journey of service by teaching Sunday School, serving as an elder.

Larry was ordained in May of 2022 and co-pastors Marion Hills Bible Church alongside Matt Grider.

Staff

Karen Bacon, Ministry Advisor

After Pastor Ross and Karen Bacon retired from Lagrange Bible Church in April 2018, they graciously accepted the invitation to assist with preaching and pastoral care at Marion Hills Bible Church during a period of leadership transition. They embraced the opportunity to serve the Lord and support the Elders and their spouses. However, little did they know that Ross would embark on his journey to be with Jesus in February 2022.

Since then, Karen has been actively involved in facilitating Women's Bible Studies and providing support and guidance to the ministry team. Her dedication to serving the congregation remains unwavering, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

Denise Banaszak, Building/Financial Director

Denise began by teaching Sunday school at the primary level, engaging young hearts with faith and love. Her involvement extended to AWANA, where she served as a game leader, igniting joy in the hearts of children.

In partnership with her husband, Larry, Denise dedicated 13 years to nurturing the youth of the church as youth directors, leaving a lasting legacy of mentorship and guidance.

Currently, Denise serves as the Building/Financial Director at Marion Hills Bible Church, where her responsibilities encompass the meticulous management and upkeep of church properties, as well as overseeing the church's finances with care and diligence. Her commitment to the well-being and flourishing of the church community shines through her dedicated service in these crucial roles.

Faith Grider, Missions Director

Faith holds degrees from COD, Wheaton College, and Dallas Theological Seminary, and she thrives in various roles within the church community. Lately, she has taken on the crucial task of managing the missionaries we support, diligently ensuring the congregation stays informed about their prayer requests and needs. Additionally, Faith spearheads our church email communications, fostering a sense of unity by keeping everyone connected through prayer updates and important announcements.

What We Believe

  • God's standard is perfection, but none of us can measure up to God's standard. The reason we fall short is because of our sin. 

  • The word 'death' here is not just talking about physical death, but also spiritual death. Eternity in Hell. When we work we earn a wage, it is what we deserve. The wages (earnings) of our sin is death. We deserve it. 

  • Not wanting to leave us in a state of death because of our sin, God showed us how much he loves us by Christ dying for our sin. Jesus paid the punishment for sin that we deserve. 

  • God calls trusting Christ, or calling on the name of the Lord, being saved. We are saved from the penalty of sin (death) that we deserve because Jesus died in our place. Are you trying to earn your way to heaven? You can't do it because you can never know if you did enough. But Jesus did it all for you! There is nothing left to be done except to trust Him as your Savior, and trust in not what you can do, but in what He did for you. 

  • Is inspired by the Lord and is God's infallible, inerrant, revelation to people. It is a believer's final authority for truth, faith, and practice. It gives a message of life, hope, and purpose from an almighty God.

  • There is only one true God, eternally existing in a profound mystery of three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each possesses a full and equal deity.

  • God the Father is fully God and a divine member of the trinity. He is infinite, eternal, and immutable as He is the same yesterday, today, and forever

  • Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of a virgin, fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect sinless life, performed miracles, was crucified in our place, was resurrected from the dead Three days later He defeated death and ascended into heaven where He makes in- tercession for believers. In God's ordained time, Jesus Christ will return for His Church

  • We believe in the Holy Spirit sent from, and being coequal with, the Father and the Son, to seal and indwell each believer fully at the moment of saving faith. The Holy Spirit is a councilor, comforter, and helper, empowering Christians to live a life set apart unto God for His glory.

  • Consists of all those who have believed in Christ as their personal Savior and hold to the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. It is the body of Christ and the family of God. It is to be on a mission where the Lord leads, guides and directs.

  • Jesus will return again! When He does heaven and earth as we know them will pass away and a new heaven and earth will replace them. Believers will live in eternal bliss in this new creation glorifying God by enjoying Him forever. God will judge all people - bless- ing those found in Christ with eternal life and condemning those who die in rebellion to eternal damnation.

  • We believe that though man was created perfect in God's image, through Adam's sin, every person became spiritually dead and fell out of a right standing with God. God, in His mercy, sent His Son (Jesus) as the perfect sacrifice to reconcile mankind and redeem all of creation by His atoning blood. Those who trust solely in Christ's completed work are reconciled to God forever and adopted by Him as children; those not trusting are condemned already.

  • Salvation comes only by the grace given by God through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross. All who are born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ are eternally saved and may be assured of living with God forever in heaven.

    All believers, by reason of their new identity in Christ should endeavor to live holy, spirit empowered lives, motivated not by compul- sion, but rather, as a loving response to their Heavenly Father, striving to love God and others as Christ loves us.