1962-Present
Judson Chapel Baptist Church
Champaign Illinois IL
In November, 1962, Judson Chapel Baptist Church was begun as a mission project by the First Baptist Church on Mahomet, Illinois. Located in Champaign, IL the congregation began in a wooden building moved to the location from Chanute Air Force Base near Rantoul, IL. Judson Chapel was conceived to serve an industrial neighborhood with dead-end streets near the Market Place Shopping Center and the Salvation Army headquarters in Champaign. March 24, 1970, the building was hit by lightning and burned requiring the construction of a new facility. Using insurance money, the congregation rebuilt and continues to serve its target neighborhood.
Judson Chapel has two points of uniqueness in its ministry. This small congregation has had the largest Christmas-help program in central Illinois outside their neighbors at the Salvation Army. In 2018 Judson Chapel helped 2130 families with average per household of $422 worth of clothing, toys and essentials. This required the generous contribution of five shopping sites and utilities in facilities equal to the square footage of a typical Walmart Store.
The other uniqueness is that pastor Rick Smith, who came to the congregation in 1984, tells a joke every Sunday which is often the highlight of the preaching hour. Judson Chapel Baptist Church identifies itself this way, “We are an Independent Baptist church. We believe in the Bible, the Trinity, and fellowship between the brethren. We’d love to see you at any service!”[1] Pastor Smith has the second longest tenure of any pastor participating in the ABC cluster in Area 3 of the Great Rivers Region.[2]
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[1] https://www.facebook.com/jcbc1962/
[2] Telephone interviews with Brian Romanowski, Area 2 of Great Rivers Region, ABC, and Rick Smith, pastor, Judson Chapel Baptist Church, Champaign, Il. January 13, 2023