We're not just asking if you go to church; we believe the more important question is this: What are you doing after church?

Why "The After Church"?

• Our name comes from the idea that what you do daily outside of the church building is what matters most. The things we typically associate with church (worship, prayer, bible study) should be a vibrant part of our everyday relationship with Christ, rather than being limited to a once-per-week event. At the center of the heart of The After Church is the desire to train up believers to live their lives "On Mission" every single day. How do you interact with your coworkers, neighbors, family and friends? What are you doing each day to represent Christ well in your community? We aim to provide you with the tools you need for a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ through discipleship, service and worship opportunities. It is from our mission statement that our name was born: "The mission starts after church."

What makes this church different?

• Many churches focus all of their attention on the Sunday morning (or Saturday evening) worship experience. We, at The After Church, completely agree and affirm that the weekly gathering is a vitally important part of personal spiritual growth with Jesus Christ and something that He commanded us to do in Hebrews 10:25,

"not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some,but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the Day drawing near," (NASB).

However, it is just one part of our relationship with Christ. Christ has also called us to serve one another and represent him in our communities daily.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them," - Ephesians 2:10.

"For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'.” - Galatians 5:14.

Our hope is that by choosing to become a part of The After Church family, you will become more aware of how you can partner with God in what He is doing daily in the South Bend area and around the world. 

What do we believe? 

We hold firmly to what we see as the pillars of the faith: the inerrancy of Scripture, the Triune nature of God, salvation in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone, and the role of the church as the Bride of Christ. For a more detailed description of our doctrines, please see the Baptist Faith and Message.

What can I expect when I visit? 

• The After Church is a very casual atmosphere, and operates From the New City Presbyterian Church building in downtown South Bend. Service begins approximately at 4pm, and lasts about 1.5 hours. Wear what you are comfortable in and come as you are and we will open the Word together. We offer nursery services for children 6 and under, and are hoping that we can soon resume additional children’s ministries that were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also invite you to stick around after service! We'd love to get to know you and find out how we can encourage you in living out your life "On Mission" daily.