History of This Church Community

Since the 1970s, the Lord has led many people from all over the United States as well as other nations to the Mahomet, Illinois area to join together in Christian Community for fellowship and witness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Starting in the late 1970s, the small congregation of believers grew steadily as families and individuals, both locally and from many other places, joined together, first in Urbana-Champaign and then later in Mahomet. By the direction of God, it was called Living Word Omega Message Church (LWOM).

There were many older, mature servants of God who traveled here regularly to Central Illinois and faithfully gave what they had received from the Lord. Among them were Tom Campbell, Cecil duCille, Ric Durfield, Tommy Cook, Clayt Sonmore, and others. Each one faithfully delivered the portion of the Gospel that they had received, according to the gifts that God had given them. Those who heard and received the Word of Life that was shared, grew, and matured in their walk with God.

During the late 1970s and through the 1980s, LWOM became associated with like-minded fellowship groups throughout the US, and some in other countries as well. All of these groups together were loosely related under the banner of Sonlight Gospel Association. People who were part of these groups began to be sent by God to other countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia, including the Czech Republic, India, the Philippines, Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, Poland, and Iceland. The believers in these places were compelled to hear and see what the Lord had been doing and saying among us here in the US. The hunger for the Word of God also encouraged these foreign brethren to travel to Mahomet to join us for our annual conventions.

Throughout our history until 2019, one high point of each year was an annual summer convention. People from all over the US and many foreign countries descended upon Central Illinois for several days of preaching, worship, and fellowship together. Many of the praise and worship times were very anointed by the Lord. A good number of new songs came to us through these years by the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit. Most of these songs can be heard in the music library here on this website.

In the mid-1990s, a 10,000 square foot building on 9+ acres just north of Mahomet, Illinois, was built by volunteer workers from all over the country, led by a small team of professional builders who donated their time. God provided the land. He also moved upon the hearts of some to donate building materials. The people of God also generously provided the finances needed to complete the project.

The number of congregants grew steadily during the 1990s and through the first decade of the 2000s, including many families and individuals who moved to the Mahomet area from other areas of the country and even from overseas. Many have come and gone, yet through the years, one thing has remained the same: the commitment to preach and teach the Word of God in truth without compromise, for we firmly believe that “the Church of the living God [is] the pillar and ground of the truth” (Ist Timothy 3:15).

From its humble beginnings at the “Little White Church” in Urbana, Illinois, to now, God has used this Church Community of Living Word Omega Message to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have had “ears to hear”. Through weekly meetings and Bible Studies, missions to many nations, annual conventions, in-depth teaching, books, music, other publications, and distribution of video and audio recordings, the Truth of the Word of God has gone forth.

This is just a brief summary of the work that has been and is being done in the lives of many we have come to know, both nationally and internationally. What the Lord has done, He is continuing to do among all who will yet be taught and led by Him.

Peter Schneider, an LWOM elder, has been here from the beginning of this move of God since the Lord called him in 1974. Peter has been a witness to all of the changes that have taken place from those earlier years up until now. He gives us a detailed historical account of his life and what took place among this body of people from the 1970s to date.