History
Beginnings
The Osco Community Church began as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Osco Township in October 1859. They met at the Osco Center School House until 1866 when a meeting house was erected across the road. In 1885 that building was moved into the town of Osco in hopes of arousing more interest. The church was put on logs and rolled over the farmland approximately three miles. They needed permission from the farmers to roll the church over their land and one farmer, reluctant but unable to deny permission to the church, agreed with the stipulation, “You can’t ever move a church over my land again.” The church organized on February 4, 1930, as the Osco Community Church.
Fresh Wind
In 1965 the Moody Bible Institute started a radio station in the area (WDLM), which God used to spark a revival in the church and prompted the church to seek out a full-time pastor. As there were not enough Methodists pastors for OCC to have a full-time one, contact was made with Rev. Paul Berggren at the First Evangelical Free Church in Moline. He spoke at the morning services for six months during which time most of the people in the church made decisions for Christ. On January 1, 1970 Rev. John Hedlund became the first full time pastor of this church of 35 people. The church was received into the Great Lakes District of the EFCA in 1971.
Building
The church was growing and in March of 1979 the congregation voted to build a new sanctuary with a full basement. The first service was held in the new sanctuary on January 20, 1980. After further growth, the congregation decided to expand the building further with the construction of a Christian Education wing and gym, which were completed in 2004. The mortgage for this new addition was paid off in short order due to the generous and sacrificial gifts of the congregation.
Today
Osco Community Church has affectionately been nicknamed “the miracle in the cornfield” given all that God has done to build and use this church in the little town of Osco, IL. We have seen that impact locally through the church’s involvement in the community and how it is made up of people from many of the surrounding towns. We have also seen that impact around the world through short term mission trips and ongoing missionary partnerships. We are blessed to have a rich history that serves as a testimony and reminder of God’s faithfulness and are excited about not only what God has done in the past but what He will do in and through us in the future as we continue To Know Him, To Make Him Known, and To Share His Love!