Evanston Baptist Church exists as a local body of believers professing the Gospel, serving the community, and equipping believers to engage culture in order to impact the world for Christ.

Evanston Baptist Church was planted by Senior Pastor Dr. Mark Coppenger. Our first service was held on September 10, 2000. We began meeting at the YWCA on Ridge Avenue in Evanston. Since EBC was without its own baptistry, Rev. Norwood and the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located just blocks away, graciously allowed us to share theirs. During this time, we started our BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) group at Northwestern University and started our Sunday lunches. Beginning Sunday, February 5, 2006, Evanston Baptist Church moved our Sunday services to the historic Fountain Square Building, located at 1601 Sherman Ave in Downtown Evanston.

Who We Are

Interim Pastor Phil Miglioratti

Our interim pastor, Phil Miglioratti,was born and raised in the city of Chicago. After graduating from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree to teach in secondary education, he (and his wife Carol) followed his long-time dream to serve the Lord in His Church by attending Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Phil’s first full-time ministry was as the Director of Youth Ministries for the First Evangelical Covenant Church of Rockford, Illinois. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Illinois was his next step, serving as Minster of Family Life through which he began the Promiseland ministry to children, then in the movie theatre lobby. His first pastoring role was with The Woodfield Church in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he served for 19 years.

Following a passion to “connect people to God through corporate prayer,” Phil moved into a full-time ministry of prayer. Called Prayer INC, that ministry has produced or partnered with:

National Pastors’ Prayer Network (www.nppn.org)

Church Prayer Leaders Network (www.prayerleader.com)

Pray! Magazine and now Pray! Network (www.praynetwork.org)

Phil serves on the National Prayer Committee and is the State Prayer Consultant for the 1000+ congregations of the Illinois Baptist Association.

The arts have always played an important role in the EBC fellowship. The church has hosted many concerts, performances, and art exhibitions throughout its history, and has recently spawned a band that performs original music in venues throughout Chicago. Visitors to our meeting space will encounter paintings, photography, and original music that expresses the heart of a community of faith through the creative gifts God has granted his Church.