About
Our History
Many of our founding families have the same testimony. They grew up in China, came to the United States for graduate school, started attending a Bible Study, and then accepted Christ as their Savior. Due to their shared experiences, these families developed close relationships. After graduation they started attending Chinese Christian Fellowship Church in Wilmette, IL.
In 2006, these families felt the burden to plant a church in southern Lake County in order to share the gospel and meet the needs of Chinese families that live in the Vernon Hills and Buffalo Grove area. With the gracious support and blessing of CCFC, South Lake was born. In the years since that time we have hosted many evangelical events, sent teams to serve at various camps and conferences, and helped Chinese immigrants in many ways. It is our hope that God will continue to guide us and use us for his glory.
Our Mission
The focus and mission of this church is to love God with all of our heart and all of our soul and all of our mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-39). This includes obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8) which calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus Christ has commanded us. Our purpose is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:5-7; 2 Corinthians 4:15).
Our Beliefs
We believe that the Bible (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the inspired word of God and is without error in the original manuscripts. It is the highest authority for our beliefs and lives. (Psalm 119:89; John 12:47-48; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
We believe that there is one God who eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God created the heavens and the earth, including human beings. (Genesis 1:1, 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and was sinless throughout his life. He was crucified for the sins of the world, was buried, and three days later rose bodily from the dead. After appearing to the disciples and other believers, he ascended into heaven where he now sits at God’s right hand serving as our High Priest and Advocate. At some point in the future, he will return to establish God’s kingdom and judge the world. (Matthew 1:18, 1:22-23; John 1:14; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Hebrews 7:22-25; 1 John 2:1-2)
We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and regenerates sinners. He also indwells in believers, guiding, equipping, and empowering them for godly living and service. (John 14:16-17, 14:26, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-16, 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 John 2:27)
We believe that mankind was created in the image and the likeness of God. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, sin entered the world and mankind was separated from God. Due to our fallen state, we are unable to save ourselves from God’s righteous wrath, and thus are in need of a Savior. (Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3, 3:5, 3:7; Romans 1:18, 3:23, 5:12, 5:18-19, 6:23, 10:9, 10:13)
We believe that Jesus Christ died in our place to bring us atonement with God. He paid the penalty for our sins so that we can be forgiven, have a restored relationship with God, and someday go to heaven. This is not something we could earn through our own efforts but is entirely by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12; Romans 3:24, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that the church is the Body of Christ, and Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The universal Church consists of all born again believers. The local church is the gathering of believers in different places to worship, pray, teach the word of God, fellowship, and serve together. (John 3:3; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23; Colossians 1:18)
We believe that there are two ordinances established by Jesus Christ to be observed by the church: baptism and communion. However, these ordinances are not required for salvation. (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:37-38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
We believe that the blessed hope of the church is the visible, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will descend from heaven in glory on the day God has appointed, establish his kingdom, and make a new heaven and a new earth. (Acts 1:11, 17:31; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 4:14-17; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:8-10; 1 John 3:2-3)
We believe that the dead will be bodily resurrected. Unbelievers will be judged and given eternal conscious punishment in hell. Believers will enjoy eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth, living with God. (Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:15, 21:1-4)