So, on October 20, 2001, Eastside Family Church held their first service in a little room of a mini strip mall in Maryville, IL. There were only 40 chairs and 34 showed up the first Sunday without any advertisement! After another week, EFC moved into the Coligny Professional Complex in Collinsville, IL where it stayed until October of 2002 and grew to a congregation of 65 members.

One year later, another big step was taken… Abundant Blessings Church of Troy, IL merged with Eastside Family Church. Jack & Jan Walter founded and pastored Abundant Blessings Church which had been in existence for almost 15 years. The Drakes and Walters became very close friends and felt the leading of the Lord to bring the churches together.

Two years before their meeting one another, Jack had been told by two prophets that a young man would come into his life and work with him in the ministry. Although he had met several young men in the ministry, after meeting Jeremy & Lori, the Walters felt a confirmation in their hearts that the prophecy was coming to pass.

So, in June of 2002 the Walters approached the Drakes and told them how God had spoken to them about merging the churches. After 3 months of prayer and many meetings, the congregations of Abundant Blessings Church and Eastside Family Church were joined in a special ceremony that took place on October 21st, 2002. It was exactly one year after the conception of the original Eastside Family Church.

This fulfilled the prophecy given to the Walters as well as a prophecy given to Jeremy in September of 2001 which told him "Not to let his age cause doubt about whether people would accept him. God would give him influence and much favor with other Pastors and businessmen much older than himself and that it would begin to happen immediately."

At the time of the joining of the churches, Jeremy was 29 years old and Jack was 59. It was decided willingly by Jack that Jeremy would serve as Senior Pastor and he himself would serve as Executive Pastor, administrating the church. Not exactly a normal situation now is it? That is how God works. Remember, it says in the Bible that, "God uses the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise". His ways are not our ways.

The Drakes continue to serve as Pastors at EFC, while the Walters moved to Omaha, NE in the spring of 2004 where they have established T.E.A.M. Ministries, but are still extended members of our church.

Eastside Family Church moved into the former Abundant Blessings Church facility in Troy, IL in October of 2002 and stayed until September 2006. After recognizing the growth limitations in the facility and purchasing land for a future site, EFC left the location at 200 Collinsville Rd in Troy and began holding services in The Great Skate where it continues to meet today. The skating rink has given the church room to grow until the building of the new facility is completed.

Over its brief history, EFC has seen God do many great miracles! Sick people have been healed, families put back together, and most of all many have found new life by becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

Today, Eastside Family Church is full of people from all walks of life who are looking forward to growing as a family. We look forward to our future building facility which will stand on our current 5 acre property 2 miles south of Troy on Troy O’Fallon Rd. This facility will allow us to grow and house the vision that God gave our pastors just a few years ago.