Our
Story

Get to Know Us

Park Avenue Church of God was founded as the Herrin Church of God in 1965 by a small but faithful group of believers led by Pastor Walter Joplin. In 1972, after outgrowing their original building, the decision was made to build a new church at our present location on Park Avenue. Walter Joplin continued as Pastor until his passing in 1989, serving the Park Avenue congregation for 24 years. Pastor J.K. Tiffin followed, serving for a total of 20 years until his retirement in 2009. Since 2009, Park Avenue has enjoyed the ministries of several notable Pastors. Included are Pastor Daniel Maples who served as the Illinois State Youth Director at the time, and would go on to serve Internationally as the Church of God Youth and Discipleship Coordinator, and Pastor Rod Joplin, an Illinois State Councilman and the son of Founding Pastor Walter Joplin. In July of 2023, Pastor Philip Rexing was appointed to serve the Park Avenue congregation as their Lead Pastor, he also serves as the Chairman of the Illinois State Youth and Discipleship Board.

We Believe...

In the verbal inspiration of the Bible
In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost.
In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.