GT Church
East Peoria
IL

• Assemblies of God churches in East Peoria, IL
• Assemblies of God churches in Illinois
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OUR VALUES

WE SEEK CONNECTION

Everything that we do at GT Church is intended to help you get to know Jesus in a personal way.

“I want to know Christ, yes the power of His resurrection and participation in his sufferings…”
Philippians 3:10

WE BUILD COMMUNITY

We believe life change happens in the context of community, and at GT Church we provide multiple ways to build community with others.

​“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25

WE SHOW COMPASSION

At GT Church we want to do everything we can to meet the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of those around us.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Download GT Church vCard with Service Times

Download Lead Pastor Paul and Debbie Hinzman vCard with Bio

Assemblies of God

Assemblies of God churches in East Peoria, Illinois, United States

Assemblies of God churches in Illinois, United States

Assemblies of God churches in United States

All churches in East Peoria, IL

https://www.gladtidingsep.com/

Paul and Debbie Hinzman

Lead Pastor

(309) 694-4433

(309) 694-1849

Pastor Paul and Debbie accepted the role of leading GT Church in the summer of 2020. In the midst of a global pandemic and with the American Church facing a whole new style of ministry, Paul and Debbie stepped up to turn GT Church around. Their devotion to the church and community has helped to see GT Church grow in reach and in mission. The next 18 months will surely be something to look forward to.

Pastor Paul has been an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God since 2006. He has served as a youth and associate pastor for 12 years before transitioning into his next role as the District Youth Director for the Illinois District Council.

While serving at the district office, he also served as Operations Director for the district and CEO for Adult and Teen Challenge Illinois.

In August of 2020, he and his beautiful wife Debbie accepted the call to become Lead pastors of GT Church in East Peoria, IL. Pastor Paul has a desire to lead people into a vital relationship with God, become Biblically engaged, live in community, and serve to see our world reached for Jesus.

He and his wife, Debbie, have three amazing children: Kaitlyn, Karyssa, and Joshua. Kaitlyn and her husband Stephen McGough serve as Lead Pastors at Encounter Church, Kewanee IL; Karyssa and her husband Jordan Deese serve as Campus Pastors at Radiant Church in Tampa, Florida; and Joshua and his Wife Jade serve as Youth Pastors in Nixa, Mo.

VIckie Isonahrt

Church Office Administrator

(309) 694-4433

(309) 694-1849

2201 E Washington St
East Peoria, IL
61611

Expect to be greeted by our wonderful Parking Team. Even with a packed house, there is ample parking in the front, side, and rear of the church. For those looking to be closer to the building, we recommend coming early to make sure you get where you what

Service Times

Sunday Worship: 9:00am | 10:45am
Wednesday Bible Study: 6:30pm

GT Kids

JBQ: 9:00am
Sunday Worship: 10:45am
Wednesday Bible Study: 6:30pm

GT Youth

Sunday Nights: 5:00pm
Wednesday Bible Study: 6:30pm

Service Times last updated on the 12th of February, 2024

We are a multi-cultural and multi-generational congregation. There is no specific way to dress here. Be relaxed or dress it up; either way, you will fit right in.

In the year 1943, a group of people went to a church in Bellevue, IL to hear Pastor Walter “Happy” Smith preach in revival. He and his wife Ada were asked to start a church (Glad Tidings Assembly of God) in Peoria. Glad Tidings first met in a store front building on Prospect Road. Pastor Smith was the pastor of the church until 1954. The church later moved to a mattress factory on South Adams Street just below Western Avenue. They would later move from that location to a basement church at the corner of Faraday and Humboldt Street in 1948. In 1954, an evangelist Harold Hamilton was invited to hold a series of revival meetings at Glad Tidings. During those days of revival, Pastor Hamilton’s love for the young congregation became clear. When Pastor Smith moved on to a new pastorate, Pastor Hamilton was asked to lead the congregation. In 1972, his leadership led to the completion of a new facility at our current location in East Peoria. Pastor Gary Watkins was asked to be the church’s first Associate Pastor. The building constructed during his tenure currently houses the Fellowship Hall, Education, Youth, Sunday School, and Children’s Ministries. It was later renamed the Smith-Hamilton Center in honor of these two men when the current worship facility was dedicated in 1991. In 1979, Pastor Watkins was asked become the church’s third pastor and in 1984 Pastor Gene Cope led Glad Tidings as its fourth pastor. In 1991, Pastor Cope led the congregation in expanding the church again into a larger facility. In 1999, Pastor Watkins returned to pastor Glad Tidings after fulfilling God’s call in other pastorates. After Pastor Watkins’ untimely death, Pastor Fred Doughty (2005) was asked to become the sixth pastor and is the current pastor of the church.

Glad Tidings today continues to be a congregation where we discover together what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus. We strive to be a family of faith that embraces the teachings of the Bible wholeheartedly. Living a life that proves to be significant and valuable begins with a thorough understanding of and adherence to Biblical teaching. Glad Tidings began with the mission of communicating this message to people around the world, and remains the mission of our congregation to this day.