ABIDING WORD CHURCH (Then known as Abiding Word Christian Center) was founded in June of 1985.  A small group of people began holding weekend Bible studies in 1984 and the spring of 1985 at the homes of local people.  In March of 1985 an organizational meeting and service took place at the downtown Sterling YMCA. Our first official Sunday morning service was conducted on June 16, 1985 at a church building on the corner of Third Street & Fifth Avenue in Sterling. In the beginning we rented the church facility from Duke DePasquale. On October 25, 1988 our founding pastor, Rev. Jim Evans resigned and our associate pastor, Rev. Scott Porter became pastor, along with his wife Terri. The average Sunday morning attendance in November of 1988 was 35 people. Within a year we had doubled, and our attendance has increased steadily ever since. The church building on the corner of 3^rd and 5^th was purchased from Mr. DePasquale in 1989.  In 1992, Rev. Paul and Lynne Sheley joined the church staff as Associate and Children’s Pastors.  Children’s ministry has always been a key strength in the growth of our ministry.

In 1992 we began holding 2 Sunday morning services to keep up with our attendance growth. We conducted 2 services for 1 1/2 years. At that time our first service was 75% of capacity and 2nd service was at a 50% level. The basement was overflowing with children, and it became apparent, once again, that something must be done. Our church leadership decided to move our adult Sunday morning service to the Sterling Coliseum in October of 1993, while leaving the church building for our "Kid's On the Move" children's ministry to conduct services.  We met at the Sterling Coliseum from 1993 until 1995 when we purchased and moved into the former King’s Den building on the corner of 4^th Street and 4^th Avenue in Sterling.  During our 12 years at that location we continued to grow, adding an additional Sunday morning service, youth services, food pantry, and a Saturday night service as well.  In early 2004, we had a decision to make.  Do we launch out and build, or go back to the Sterling Coliseum?  We chose the latter.  Once again the Sterling Coliseum became our home, while our youth and children’s ministry filled the 4^th Street building.  In the mean time plans were being made after the purchase of 32 acres on the NE corner of Lynn Boulevard and 6^th Avenue in Sterling.  Though the Sterling Coliseum was a great home for us, and we were thankful for our time there, it still wasn’t a permanent home.  We realized that we needed to get the whole congregation that makes up ABIDING WORD CHURCH under one roof.  On April 11, 2007 our dream began, during a winter storm warning!!  Ground was broken on a new church building, and hundreds of people showed up to celebrate.  Our general contractor Key Builders, from Princeton, Illinois,  along with dozens of subcontractors, partnered with us to make our dream a reality.  On September 7, 2008, we held our 1^st service in our new church facility.  There are plans for the future as well, including:  A phase 2 administrative wing and youth building, walking path around the church campus, softball diamonds (no lights!) and a park like playground for our kids and the neighborhood as well.  Abiding Word Church has always endeavored to be a blessing to our area.  With faith in God and a lot of hard work, our dreams are coming true!