First Time Visit? 

We know it's not easy visiting a church for the first time.  You may be asking yourself questions such as: 

• Will I be welcome?
  
  • Will I be conspicuous? 
    
    • How should I dress? 
      
      • Will my kids like it? 
        
        • Will they ask me for money? 
          
          • Am I welcome if I am not sure I believe? 

Here are the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions...

FAQ's

Where are you located?

Family Bible Church meets in the West Auditorium of Portage High School. The Auditorium entrance is entrance "G" as in "God". The school is located at the corner of U.S. 6 and Airport Rd. in Portage, IN.

Google Map it HERE

What should I expect when I visit for the first time?

We want your visit to be a stress free, enjoyable experience, so here is a brief overview of what to expect at Family Bible Church.

The Worship Service begins Sunday at 9:45am.

What should I wear?

When it comes to Church clothes think -"Relaxed Fit" The people at our church dress in a variety of ways. You will see the whole gamut of attire from T-shirts and jeans and other casual wear to people wearing nice dresses and suits. The point is not "what are you wearing?" What matters most is that you've come with a heart open to hearing from God and to connect with His people

Where do I park?

When you arrive at the High School, park near and enter through entrance "G".  You will be greeted inside the front door by our friendly volunteers who will say hello and direct you inside.  If you indicate that you are a visitor, they will answer any questions you might have and help you find your way around. 

What type of children's and youth ministries do you have?

We have a nursery that is safe and comfortable for your child during the service.  Just before the Message, children in K thru 3rd grade are dismissed for "Wee Worship", a program set up to teach the scriptures and connect with the students at their age level.

Following the service we offer Bible Classes for all ages. Classes finish at Noon. It is a great time for everyone to connect with their peers as they learn more about God and his word.

What should I expect during the service?

Just outside the Auditorium, one of our ushers will provide a bulletin which has information about upcoming events and opportunities at our church.  The service is different each week, but will always include a time of worship through singing and prayer.  We take an offering, but no one need feel obligated to put money in the plate.  We want you to be our guest. People that call Family Bible Church home give out of gratitude for all that God has blessed them with.

After this first part of the service is over, the senior pastor will give a message that is based on the Bible and relevant to daily life.  The teaching will last about 35 minutes, and we generally end the service with prayer and sometimes a song.

We celebrate communion monthly (often the first Sunday of the month), and if you are a committed Christian, you are welcome to share communion with us.  If not, you can sit back and enjoy the music during this time.

The music at Family Bible Church is a mix of contemporary and traditional.  The style is informal and the music teams do a great job leading the worship services, and you will enjoy learning new songs and occasionally singing some old favorites.

After our worship service concludes around 11:00am you can stay for Bible Classes that are offered for all ages or pick up your children from their classrooms and then stay and enjoy some coffee and cookies as you get to know people.

Our senior pastor will be available with others from our "Family", staff and community to talk with you, get to know you and answer any questions you may have.  We also periodically have newcomer luncheons.  If you leave your contact information at The Welcome Center you will receive an invitation to the next newcomer luncheon.

Family Bible Church is a member of The Evangelical Free Church of America.

Click Here to Find Out What That Means                                  

Click Here For Our Doctrinal Statement

Who is Family Bible Church?

We are a casual and contemporary church committed to becoming Involved with People so that they will:

1. Know Christ personally,
2. Follow Him completely, and
3. Make Him known broadly. 

We have something very special here - Family Bible Church is a great group of people dedicated to a common purpose and working hard toward the same objective.  Those who call FBC their church home do not come to visit a building or to subscribe to a program.  They come to take their place in a community of like-minded believers in Jesus Christ united to share the message of His grace with as many people as possible.  

People occasionally ask, "Where is your church?"  We currently meet in the Portage High School West Auditorium.  So they will sometimes follow up with, "When are you going to get a real church?" Of course, I know exactly what they mean but what a fantastic opportunity to teach them that:

...the church is not a building, the Church is PEOPLE and after all,
PEOPLE are the most important part of a church anyway...

Our church is bigger than any building because the Church is everywhere we are.  It's in the steel mills. It's in the schools. It's at the grocery store and on the everywhere else we go.  It's in downtown Chicago, the stores and neighborhoods in and around the Portage community.

So meeting at the High School makes perfect sense, it's a place that smacks of people and community, and that's what we're all about.

"As you browse our website, I hope you will be encouraged to stop in and pay us a visit and perhaps become a part of Family Bible Church."