About Us

Why is there a New Horizon?

Because you matter to God! After a lengthy study, United Methodist Churches in this area decided to launch a church to meet the needs of spiritually unconnected persons in the Champaign/Urbana area. With electric excitement, New Horizon was born on March 5, 1995 with 388 people attending the first worship service at Centennial High School. We continue to grow as more people connect to a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, a community of friends in small groups, and their life purpose. After a short stay at the Hawthorne Suite, New Horizon moved to Watterson Court in Champaign. We stayed there until September 2001, when we moved to our permanent location at 3002 W Bloomington Road, Champaign.

Our Mission

To turn seekers into disciplers in community. We accomplish this mission when we:

• Invite people to a loving community,
• Offer a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ,
• Develop authentic examples of Christian character & conduct, and
• Mobilize teams for ministry in the church and mission in the world.

Our Core Values

• Spiritual seekers matter to God, so they matter to us.
• Personal prayer is the key to spiritual and societal renewal.
• The Bible is culturally relevant and personally transforming for modern people.
• Every follower of Christ is a minister of Christ.
• Authentic faith in Christ is expressed in personal witness and social activism.
• Whole-hearted devotion to Christ is normal for the believer.
• Life-change happens optimally in the context of a small group.
• Excellence honors God and inspires people.

Vision Statement

Vision is about picturing a preferable future which inspires and gives direction. Without that picture, lofty goals degenerate into self-centered agendas, people become confused and restless, and new creations die before they are born. Scripture says: "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). The following is a brief attempt to put into words the vision God has given us for New Horizon United Methodist Church. We believe God is raising up a new part of the body of Christ that will touch people's lives in these five ways. We will be a:

• TEACHING CHURCH
  With clear focus on Jesus Christ as the object of our faith, we will provide a Biblical core of beliefs to live by which produces both Christian character and conduct. Good teaching produces love of God and love of neighbor (Mark 12:29-31).


• CARING CHURCH
  Small groups provide the kind of caring community people seek today. This expanding network is our primary means of leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It will produce healing ministries of support and recovery to bring God's wholeness into our lives (John 13:34-35).


• CONTEMPORARY CHURCH
  In music, speaking style, & ministry approach we will help people apply the truth of Christ in terms they can understand. Our children's & youth ministries will build Christ-like self-esteem and turn kids loose for ministry (Matthew 19:14).


• MISSION CHURCH
  True to our Wesleyan roots we will combine a personal encounter with Jesus Christ with a deep commitment to social activism, breaking down the walls of race and socio-economic backgrounds. Spiritual gifts will be discovered and employed for ministry in the Church and mission to the world (Matthew 25:31-46).


• PRAYING CHURCH
  The power of God is released through prayer. We will be devoted to daily personal prayer, family prayer and corporate prayer, never being afraid to expect too much from God (Luke 11:9-10).