The Word in motion.
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16th Annual
Women's Christmas Celebration Saturday, Dec. 10th, 2011
Tickets go on sale
Monday, October 3rd, 2011 8am
At IBF office (Broadview Mansion)
Click for more info
SEPTEMBER 17TH
Saturday, 4-8pm
"Uprising_Broadview"
free food.
relaxing place.
relevant music.
You've reached the temporary site for Immanuel Bible Foundation. This landing page will serve as our
temporary Home Page until our new website is completed in late 2011 or early 2012. The new site will
reflect a refreshed and refined mission as we update how God would have the foundation serve Him and
His purposes going forward. Be one of the first to receive the announcement when it is made for this
"unveiling" by clicking on CONTACT US and requesting to be added to our IBF Contact List (you will also
receive our monthly e-newsletter and event updates as they unfold). Thank you for your patience.
Meanwhile you can still access our PODCASTS, EVENTS, MUSIC INSTRUCTION, and CONTACT US
pages by clicking on the menu above.........
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the god of my salvation; On You I wait all the day." Psalms 25:1-5
Welcome to the online connection to Immanuel Bible Foundation ! Here's what you'll find on this site:
*Who We Are: Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles
*The Word In-Motion: Bible Study, Creative Arts, Outreach Events, Ministry Partnership;
Bible Lectures, Podcasts & Videos, E-Newsletter, and other Media;
Broadview Mansion-a connecting place
*Engage/Partner: How you can engage with us in fulfilling our mission;
E-Newsletter opportunities, Podcasts, and other Media
*Events: Family Friendly Event Calendar for the greater Bloomington-Normal community;
Deeper description of upcoming IBF events and Sponsor listings
*Contact Us: Easy ways to contact us with inquiries
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life,a and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
--John 1:1-5
Immanuel Bible Foundation was established in 1944 in by Margaret Van Leer.
Going back...
After meeting through friends, Mrs. Van Leer (maiden Margaret Langstaff of Lexington, Illinois) and Bird Calladay Van Leer (Maroa, Illinois via Downington, Pennsylvania) had married in July 1894 in Bloomington, Illinois.
Bird later bacame a partner at Keiser Hardware (today known as Clark and Barlow in downtown Bloomington, Illinois) where he had been employed as a bookkeeper. Mrs. Van Leer continued teaching at Illinois Wesleyan University (she had a passion for the creative arts, a heart for youth, and a tremendous involvement with her church).
They later bought several acres of farmland in Normal, Illinois. And through their stewardship and God's blessing, the Van Leers steadily found themselves blessed with significant wealth. Additionally, their passion and love for God's Word never left them. In fact it grew....
....they took their Bibles wherever they traveled and shared the Good News with friends and strangers alike along their travels. Stories are documented of their humble character and their compassion for helping their fellow man in numerous ways.
Today, although Mrs. Van Leer's dream to build a Bible school (complete with chapel, classrooms, and ampitheater) never was realized, a beautiful Romanesque bell tower was erected in her husband's honor and still stands today next to the Edwardian-style mansion that now serves as offices for IBF, a spiritual retreat center, and houses other purposeful acitivities. Mrs. Van Leer established Immanuel Bible Foundation in 1944 so that her home and resources could be purposefully used for the mission of fostering a deeper understanding of God's Word in our community and around the world.
