A Church for People Ready to Grow.

Plan a visit

If you’re hungry for more, you’ll feel at home here.

Axess is for people who are tired of drifting through faith and ready to take Jesus seriously. Maybe you believe in God, but you know your faith is meant to become more real, more grounded, and more active in your everyday life.

Whether you are returning to church, new to following Jesus, or trying to build a stronger foundation, Axess is a place to grow with others who are learning to follow Jesus with their whole lives.

A woman with brown hair in a ponytail, wearing a denim jacket and earrings, smiling and raising her hand.

We exist to cultivate passion for Jesus through risk-taking faith.

Passion for Jesus is not something we manufacture through hype. It is cultivated through God’s presence, Scripture, prayer, obedience, community, serving, and courageous steps of faith.

Following Jesus is more than agreement. It is surrender, movement, obedience, and growth. We want to see people deeply formed in Christ and boldly alive in faith.

Why we exist

We’re Not Building a Comfortable Church.

We’re Building a Courageous One.

Axess is a young, Spirit-filled church where worship is passionate, preaching is biblical, prayer is expected, and growth is part of the culture.

We are not here to create passive church attenders. We are here to help form courageous disciples of Jesus — people who host God’s presence, stand on Scripture, fight with prayer, serve faithfully, and take bold steps of faith.

The Culture You’re Stepping Into.

  • We believe the presence of God is not just something we talk about. It is someone we make room for. At Axess, we want our worship, prayer, preaching, serving, and everyday lives to be marked by an awareness that God is near and actively working among His people.

    That means we do not rush through church as a program to complete. We come ready to worship, listen, respond, and make space for the Holy Spirit to move.

    You’ll see this through:

    • Passionate worship on Sundays

    • Space to respond after the message

    • Prayer moments during and after service

    • Encouraging people to build a daily life of prayer, worship, and time in God’s Word

    • Teaching people to recognize and respond to what God is doing in their lives

  • Prayer is not our backup plan. It is our first response. We believe we do not fight people — we fight in prayer. Before we try to fix everything, control everything, or carry everything ourselves, we bring it to God with faith.

    This shapes how we handle pressure, conflict, spiritual battles, needs in the church, and decisions about the future. We want to be the kind of church that prays with conviction, not just as a formality.

    You’ll see this through:

    • Monthly prayer nights

    • Prayer during Sunday gatherings

    • Altar prayer and ministry moments

    • Praying for people who are sick, discouraged, or in need

    • Encouraging people to pray before reacting, gossiping, or giving up

    • Teams and leaders praying together before serving

  • We believe the Word of God is our highest authority and our unshakable foundation. Culture changes, emotions shift, and opinions come and go, but Scripture anchors us in truth.

    At Axess, we do not want people to only hear the Bible on Sundays. We want people to learn how to read it, understand it, obey it, and build their lives on it. Real growth happens when God’s Word moves from information to obedience.

    You’ll see this through:

    • Biblical preaching that challenges real life

    • Encouraging sermon notes and personal Bible reading

    • Discipleship classes that help people build a stronger foundation

    • Teaching that connects Scripture to decisions, relationships, money, habits, calling, and character

    • Helping new believers learn how to read the Bible without feeling overwhelmed

    • Measuring spiritual maturity by obedience, not just knowledge

  • Faith requires movement. We believe following Jesus will often call us beyond what feels safe, familiar, or comfortable. Risk-taking faith is not recklessness. It is obedience when God asks us to take a step.

    At Axess, we want to be a church where people do not stay stuck in “someday.” We want to help people say yes to Jesus today — whether that means serving, praying for someone, joining discipleship, giving generously, sharing their faith, or surrendering an area of their life to God.

    You’ll see this through:

    • Inviting people to take clear next steps instead of staying on the sidelines

    • All Axess helping people learn the house and discover their gifts

    • Serve teams giving people a place to step into purpose

    • Community outreaches that move our faith outside the walls

    • Encouraging people to pray bold prayers and obey God’s leading

    • Challenging people to follow Jesus even when it stretches them

  • We believe people grow best in a culture of honor, encouragement, and truth. Building people up is more than being nice. It means using our words, gifts, time, and influence to strengthen the faith of the people around us.

    At Axess, we want to be a church where people are welcomed, challenged, encouraged, and called higher. We reject gossip, division, and spiritual passivity because we believe every person has a role in strengthening the body of Christ.

    You’ll see this through:

    • Warm hospitality for guests and first-time visitors

    • Serve teams that create a welcoming environment

    • Encouraging words, prayer, and prophetic ministry

    • Leaders and volunteers helping people take their next step

    • A commitment to resolve conflict biblically and protect unity

    • Creating space for people to discover and use their gifts

  • We believe God still moves today. We expect the Holy Spirit to work in ways that reveal the life, love, and power of Jesus. That means we pray with faith, worship with expectation, and make room for God to do what only He can do.

    We do not want a version of Christianity that is only informational. We want people to know God personally, experience His presence, and learn to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit with humility, wisdom, and love.

    You’ll see this through:

    • Praying for healing and breakthrough

    • Making room for the gifts of the Spirit

    • Teaching people about the Holy Spirit

    • Expecting God to speak, lead, convict, restore, and empower

    • Creating space for testimonies of what God is doing

    • Encouraging people to live with faith beyond what they can produce on their own

Sundays at Axess are alive, honest, and centered on Jesus. You can expect passionate worship, biblical preaching, prayer, and space to respond to what God is doing in your life.

We worship with energy, open the Bible with expectation, and believe church should help people encounter God — not just sit through a service.

If expressive worship or prayer ministry is new to you, that is okay. You will not be pressured to perform or pretend. You are invited to come hungry, come honest, and take your next step.

What to Expect on a Sunday

Your Pathway Into Life at Axess

  • A young man with dark hair, glasses, and a checkered shirt speaking into a microphone.

    All Axess

    Ready to go deeper? All Axess is two weeks that take you from visitor to family. You'll explore who we are, what we believe, and exactly where you belong in the life of this church.

    Get On The List
  • A young boy in a white T-shirt is handing a yellow water bottle to a girl at an outdoor water station during a youth football camp, with other children in the background.

    Serve at Axess

    God gave you gifts and talents and there is a place for you to express them at Axess Church. Explore the many ways to serve eachother at Axess Church.

    Explore Serve Teams
  • A person in a yellow shirt sitting at a wooden table, reading a large open book inside a black zippered cover.

    All In

    ALL IN is a 17-week discipleship journey for anyone ready to go deeper. Small groups. Personal coaching. Built specifically for Axess.

    Learn more

What do we believe?

  • God is One, self-revealed to his creation in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). God is fully righteous, holy, and just in all he does. Although there are many false gods and those who claim to be gods, the God of the Bible reigns supreme, creator and ruler of all.

  • Jesus, the Son of God, is both fully man and fully God. Born of a virgin, walked the earth in flesh, died on the cross, buried, and raised to life once again in bodily resurrection. He will return again to set all things right and bring about the New Creation of all things. At this time, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

  • Holy Spirit is fully God, present in eternity with the Father and the Son. He is the advocate sent to us by Jesus to dwell within us, bring new life to the children of God, convict the world of sin, and much more. He is worthy of our praise and worship.

  • The Bible (66 books) is God’s inspired Word — true, relevant, and the only reliable foundation for what we believe and how we live. The Bible is alive and active and unlike any other book in this world. Reading and studying scripture is a daily practice.

  • Salvation is by grace, through faith. It is the free gift of God which we cannot earn apart from the saving grace extended to us in Christ Jesus. Although salvation is not earned by works, true salvation will produce good works in our life as the Spirit empowers us to live like Jesus. All that we freely receive in this gift of salvation, we freely give to those around us.

  • We practice full immersion water baptism and communion in accordance with the Biblically assigned sacraments. Anyone who has confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord is eligible to receive communion and be water baptized. You do not need to be a member of our church to receive communion. We do not water baptize infants, as they are not yet able to make their own confession to follow Jesus. We do practice infant dedication to the Lord, like Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1.

  • The gifts of Spirit, as outlined in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12–14 are still in operation today and available for each member of the Body of Christ. We affirm the gifts of prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, and miracles. Additionally, we seek the five ministry offices that Jesus has given to his church as outlined in Ephesians 4 (Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists).

    Additionally, we emphasize the necessity of the Baptism of Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues for each believer. Although this is not necessary for salvation, it is a vital endowment of the Spirit’s power for victory in this life.

  • The Church is Christ’s bride, for whom he will return for in the end. It is the people of God as distinguished by the mark of the Holy Spirit and water baptism. Gathering as the local church is not optional, but a vital part of one’s growth and establishment as a follower of Christ.

You’re welcome here! There are many people at Axess Church from Catholic backgrounds — and we honor that. Historically, the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements didn’t start to replace Catholicism but to renew the church by re-emphasizing the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, just like the early Christians experienced in the Book of Acts.

Did you know there was a Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the 1960s when Catholics around the world experienced the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit — speaking in tongues, prophecy, healings — just like what we see today. Millions of Catholics today still practice these gifts within the Catholic Church, which has never condemned this renewal. In fact, multiple Popes (Paul VI, John Paul II, and Pope Francis) have supported the renewal, recognizing it as legitimate.

So if you grew up Catholic, you’ll probably recognize much of our faith — the Bible, prayer, the Trinity, salvation through Jesus — but you’ll also experience a fresh emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s involvement in our lives today.

You don’t have to abandon your past to find what God has for you today. You’re welcome to come, see, and decide at your own pace.

What if I’m Catholic?

  • A man with glasses holding a microphone, smiling and speaking.

    Garrett Black

    Lead Pastor

    Garrett holds a master's degree in theological studies from Northern Seminary in Lisle, IL. He is married to Keilah Jude, and together they call the western suburbs of Chicago home. Garrett serves at Axess Church through preaching, pastoral care, and the creative work that helps the church tell its story well.

  • Smiling young man with brown curly hair wearing a gray hoodie and dark jacket against a blue background.

    Caleb Vasquez

    Media Director

    Caleb serves as the media director at Axess Church, where he oversees video production, photography, and digital content for services and events. With a heart for ministry and creativity, he is passionate about using media to help share the Gospel and connect the church community.

  • Portrait of a young woman with long braids, wearing a black beret, gray sweater, and black top, smiling against a blue background.

    Amber King

    Axess Kids Director

    Amber King serves as the Axess Kids director at Axess Church, where she’s passionate about creating a fun, safe, and faith-filled environment for children to grow in their relationship with Jesus. With a heart both for kids and families, she’s committed to building a strong foundation of faith for the next generation.

You do not have to have everything figured out before you come. If you are hungry for more, ready to grow, or simply curious about Axess, we would love to help you take your next step.

Ready to take your next step?

Plan a Visit