We exist to send equipped followers of Christ devoted to showing love, sharing hope, and strengthening people.
Leadership
Pastor Frank Mata
Lead Pastor
Frank has served as pastor for three churches and has been ordained by the Assemblies of God for almost thirty years. In addition to serving in Seneca, he is a chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains, going to businesses and visiting with employees giving help and encouragement from a biblical perspective. He has pastored churches in Sorento, and Morris Illinois, and has been a popular guest speaker in the northern Illinois area.
He and his wife Kathy have three sons and three grandchildren. Frank enjoys reading, working out, music, basketball and playing guitar.
Pastor Frank Mata
Lead Pastor
Frank has served as pastor for three churches and has been ordained by the Assemblies of God for almost thirty years. In addition to serving in Seneca, he is a chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains, going to businesses and visiting with employees giving help and encouragement from a biblical perspective. He has pastored churches in Sorento, and Morris Illinois, and has been a popular guest speaker in the northern Illinois area.
He and his wife Kathy have three sons and three grandchildren. Frank enjoys reading, working out, music, basketball and playing guitar.
Beliefs
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative, and applicable to our everyday lives.
OUR GOD
We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy. The Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man and is the only one who can reconcile us to God. Each time we partake of communion we remember Jesus lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory and empower us for life.
SIN, SALVATION, AND EMPOWERMENT
We believe sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives. In order to receive forgiveness, we must repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ and submit to His will for our lives. God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and powerful lives in order to help others more effectively. In order to live the holy, fruitful, and power-filled lives God intends for us, we need to be baptized in water, set our mind on Him and His purpose, and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
OUR PURPOSE
We believe God has individually equipped us and corporately gathered us as His living body so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives, which is to worship God, strengthen the Church, and share the Gospel with the community in which we live.
ETERNITY
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised and will rule and reign on this earth. History will conclude as the wicked are judged and the righteous enter a new heaven and a new earth.
Our History
Seneca Assembly of God was established in 1943, during WW II as the “Prairie Shipyard” of Seneca was building LST boats for our armed forces. During this time, the population of the village reached approximately 20,000 people as workers moved into the area to construct the ships. After the war many moved out, finding work elsewhere. Today the population of the Village of Seneca is 2,261(2018)
In 1943 Rev. Richard and Lucille Young became the first pastors, even before the church building was completed. In the early days, the church was in located in the basement and became to be known as the “underground church”. As the building structure was completed, it was painted red and then came to be known as the “little red church on Main Street”.
Photo: Original Church Building
Between 1946 and 1953 there were four men who served as pastors of the church, and then in 1954 Rev. Roy and Myrtle Wilson assumed the pastoral roles and served for 42 years until 1996 when Rev. Tim and Deanna McGeorge became the pastors. Under their leadership a new church building was constructed on 6 plus acres of land and formally dedicated in 2001. They served until 2010, leaving the church to be pastored by Rev. Jason and Nicole Sprinkel. Pastor Jason and Nicole Sprinkel are 8th pastors to have led the congregation. In 2018 Rev. Frank Mata, who teaches the Wednesday services and fills in for Pastor Jason when needed, was officially named Associate Pastor.
In May 2023, Pastor Jason and Nicole left as Lead Pastor as Pastor Jason accepted a position with Evangel University. On Sunday, June 11, 2023 Pastor Frank and Kathy Mata were selected as the 9th pastors to shepherd our congregation.