Spring Creek Church
Encyclopedia
Spring Creek Church is a large, non-denominational, evangelical Christian church located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin
, a suburb of Milwaukee. The church is autonomous and independent of any denominational control. However, Spring Creek recognizes the benefits of cooperation with other churches in world missions, and in its national, state and local expressions it affiliates with conservative Baptist
denominations. Spring Creek currently averages 1,500 people in attendance per week and is a member of the Willow Creek Association
.
By 1951 a new building was added adjacent to the old one, housing the growing number of congregants. In 1964, continued growth mandated another move, this time to the suburb of Wauwatosa
. In the decades to follow, a strong Bible school and a flourishing AWANA
program reached and trained hundreds of children in Biblical studies. Involvement in worldwide missions also expanded to include dozens of families serving around the globe.
In 1987, William "Chip" Bernhard was installed as senior pastor. Under Pastor Bernhard, the 1990s were marked by significant growth and vision in the church to reach future generations. Once again outgrowing facilities, the church leadership began to earnestly study solutions. After consulting Dr. Lyle E. Schaller, among other noted church growth consultants, Garfield Baptist embarked on yet another plan to relocate to 99 acres (400,639.1 m²) of land in Pewaukee. In October 1997, the church family made an historic drive down Capitol Drive to the new facility. In 2001, the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Spring Creek Church, which better reflected the new location and the church's desire to reach beyond its traditional Baptist roots.
Also in 2001, Spring Creek completed the Building for the Harvest capital campaign and opened a new, $4.2 million, 850 seat worship center. In 2006, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. After doubling attendance in the decade since moving to Pewaukee, in early 2008, construction began on the And 1 campaign, which included a $6 million expansion to the worship center (increasing capacity to nearly 2,000), a new foyer
, bookstore and coffee bar, along with a new Christian education wing. The project was completed in January 2009.
in 1977 and earned a Master of Divinity
degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
in 1980. Bernhard started his pastoral ministry at Shawnee Baptist Church in Vincentown, New Jersey
, where he served for seven years as an associate pastor. In 1987, he came to Spring Creek Church as the senior pastor.
Bernhard is currently a trustee at Cedarville University and is on the board of Shepherds Baptist Ministries, a care facility for the mentally disabled. He is married to Margie and they have three adult children: Kelly, Karl, and Ben. Pastor Bernhard enjoys sports, yard work, and has been a chaplain
for the Milwaukee Bucks
for several years.
to prevent the Wisconsin Energy Corporation
from building an electrical substation
on a portion of the property. Among the reasons for the suit, cited at the time, was the church's plan to build facilities for a day care
and senior housing. The church assisted the energy company in locating a more suitable parcel of land, ending the legal battle.
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Pewaukee is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The population was 11,783 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated from what was formerly the Town of Pewaukee. The Village of Pewaukee, which was incorporated out of the town before it incorporated as a city, is surrounded by the city...
, a suburb of Milwaukee. The church is autonomous and independent of any denominational control. However, Spring Creek recognizes the benefits of cooperation with other churches in world missions, and in its national, state and local expressions it affiliates with conservative Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
denominations. Spring Creek currently averages 1,500 people in attendance per week and is a member of the Willow Creek Association
Willow Creek Association
The Willow Creek Association , a 5013 not-for-profit ministry, is an international, evangelical Christian association of more than 9,000 member churches from 90 denominations and 45 countries.-Mission:...
.
History
The church was founded in 1881 as Garfield Baptist Church, when a small group of Christians wanting to reach their community for Christ started a little mission church. The church's earliest days unfolded in a small, wooden-frame building on the corner of Second Street and Garfield Avenue in Milwaukee.By 1951 a new building was added adjacent to the old one, housing the growing number of congregants. In 1964, continued growth mandated another move, this time to the suburb of Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area...
. In the decades to follow, a strong Bible school and a flourishing AWANA
Awana
AWANA is an international evangelical nonprofit organization founded in 1950, headquartered in Streamwood, Illinois...
program reached and trained hundreds of children in Biblical studies. Involvement in worldwide missions also expanded to include dozens of families serving around the globe.
In 1987, William "Chip" Bernhard was installed as senior pastor. Under Pastor Bernhard, the 1990s were marked by significant growth and vision in the church to reach future generations. Once again outgrowing facilities, the church leadership began to earnestly study solutions. After consulting Dr. Lyle E. Schaller, among other noted church growth consultants, Garfield Baptist embarked on yet another plan to relocate to 99 acres (400,639.1 m²) of land in Pewaukee. In October 1997, the church family made an historic drive down Capitol Drive to the new facility. In 2001, the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Spring Creek Church, which better reflected the new location and the church's desire to reach beyond its traditional Baptist roots.
Also in 2001, Spring Creek completed the Building for the Harvest capital campaign and opened a new, $4.2 million, 850 seat worship center. In 2006, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. After doubling attendance in the decade since moving to Pewaukee, in early 2008, construction began on the And 1 campaign, which included a $6 million expansion to the worship center (increasing capacity to nearly 2,000), a new foyer
Foyer
A foyer or lobby is a large, vast room or complex of rooms adjacent to the auditorium...
, bookstore and coffee bar, along with a new Christian education wing. The project was completed in January 2009.
Chip Bernhard
Pastor Chip Bernhard graduated from Cedarville UniversityCedarville University
Cedarville University is a private, co-educational liberal arts university located in Cedarville, Ohio.At its founding, the school was affiliated with the conservative General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America. Today, Cedarville is a Southern Baptist school known for its...
in 1977 and earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary of Cornerstone University is a multidenominational evangelical Christian seminary located in Grand Rapids, Michigan...
in 1980. Bernhard started his pastoral ministry at Shawnee Baptist Church in Vincentown, New Jersey
Vincentown, New Jersey
Vincentown is an unincorporated area within Southampton Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 08088....
, where he served for seven years as an associate pastor. In 1987, he came to Spring Creek Church as the senior pastor.
Bernhard is currently a trustee at Cedarville University and is on the board of Shepherds Baptist Ministries, a care facility for the mentally disabled. He is married to Margie and they have three adult children: Kelly, Karl, and Ben. Pastor Bernhard enjoys sports, yard work, and has been a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
for the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
for several years.
Land Use and Development
Over the years, Spring Creek has faced serious hurdles with regard to the planned use of their Pewaukee property. In December 2003, the church filed a lawsuit in Waukesha County Circuit CourtCircuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
to prevent the Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Wisconsin Energy Corporation , based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin serves more than 1.1 million electric customers in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula and more than 1 million natural gas customers in Wisconsin through its utility subsidiary, We Energies...
from building an electrical substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
on a portion of the property. Among the reasons for the suit, cited at the time, was the church's plan to build facilities for a day care
Day care
Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family...
and senior housing. The church assisted the energy company in locating a more suitable parcel of land, ending the legal battle.
External links
- www.springcreekonline.com - Official web site