West Side was established in 1901 and is affiliated with the Independent Christian Churches, a loosely-associated group of churches numbering nearly 6000 congregations in the United States. These churches emerged from the Restoration Movement, which developed and grew rapidly during the 1800s in response to the ever-widening divisions that were occurring in denominational churches. The Restoration Movement began as an effort to unite Christians by requiring only that they declare allegiance to Christ, and by restoring the teachings and practices revealed in the New Testament. Rather than complicated denominational distinctions, these Christians proclaimed simple New Testament Christianity. Some of the early slogans which demonstrated the spirit of the Restoration Movement were:
- No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible
- We are not the only Christians, but Christians only
- In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; and, in all things, love
Because West Side is not part of a denomination, all decisions about our teaching and ministry are made by local church leaders based on biblical teaching. We strive to adhere to the biblical doctrine, while permitting freedom in areas that are not clearly determined by scripture. West Side is not obligated to follow the directives or doctrinal slant of any outside entity. We support missionaries and outside ministries that are biblically sound and meet the approval of West Side's leaders.
For decades, West Side met and grew at the intersection of State and Edwards Streets in Springfield, Illinois. In 1996, we relocated to our current site on Cider Mill Lane and Veterans Parkway to permit continued outreach and growth. Although our past is rich, we believe that our best days lie ahead as we continue to seek God's direction for the church.
