Or should we say “HIS-Story?” In 1995 God led a small group of followers of Jesus to start a new church with the desire to serve the Fox Valley area. Grace Church of the Valley was “born.” During those first 10 years, we met at Goodwin Elementary School and later Jewel Middle School. The church was characterized by faithfulness in the teaching of God’s word, love for one another, and close knit relationships among other things. At the same time, we believed God was also calling us to refine our missional focus and to reach our community more intentionally than we were.
It was also during this time that God led us to join with a larger family of church planting churches called Crossway Network for church planting strategy and coaching, encouragement, support, and connection to something much bigger than one local church. God’s desire for us to plant healthy reproducing churches and to serve and connect with our surrounding neighborhoods with the mission of Jesus led us to re-plant a new church at a new location on Rt. 31 (Lincolnway) just North of I88. After months of prayer, planning, dependent strategy, and a lot of joyful service and hard work, God gave us the privilege of opening as Crossway Chapel Fox Valley* to serve North Aurora and the Fox Valley area on April 12, 2009. It was an amazing journey of building both physically and spiritually and the move positioned us to make real and lasting impact in our community.
Over the next 5 years God brought many to Christ and we saw steep growth in the church’s desire to love and reach their friends, family, and neighbors with his good news of forgiveness and abundant life. In 2015 God provided for the purchase, remodel, and move to a permanent church facility at 115 Oak St. in North Aurora where we currently gather. The facility and property have served as an amazing gathering place and missional beachhead in the center of North Aurora as we grow together. By his grace, we continue to press on in our mission to serve, love, and lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Our hope and prayer is that many will come to follow the way of Jesus and know the abundant life he gives!
Like any short history, we’re certainly missing some details and significant seasons that have shaped who and what we are as a church. At the same time, we hope this gives a good snapshot of God’s grace and faithfulness to his church and it’s life changing mission over many years. We’d love to have you here for a visit any time. You will find people genuinely committed to God, to his word, and to you. Crossway is led by a growing team of pastors, deacons, and a ministry staff whose goal is to follow Jesus Christ in a way that humbly provides an example for the life he desires for people. We trust that you will see him and his work in our lives on display if we were to have the privilege of meeting you. Come and be a part of his continuing story here at Crossway Fox Valley.
*In 2020 our Network of churches shortened its name from the “Crossway Chapel Network” to “Crossway Network.” With that change, Crossway Chapel Fox Valley also removed “Chapel” from its name.