On a country road, not far from Geneseo, IL, look south and you can see three crosses on a hill. The crosses indicate the location of Weber’s Pond and the “Chapel on the Hill”, an intimate structure with wood paneled walls lining the inside of the chapel and stained glass windows. At night the crosses are lit as a reminder of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The chapel is always open for prayer and worship and sits on the grounds of a beautiful refuge where you can also find a picnic pavilion, small pond, and prayer garden.
The amazing story of a faithful family serves as the backdrop to this hidden treasure. Jacob Weber, a man of faith, migrated from Germany to this area in the mid-1800’s. The dedication plaque for the chapel reads, “This chapel, located within close vicinity of his original settlement, was dedicated to the Lord on July 28, 1996 in memory of Jacob Weber. A father, who brought to America his faith in the Lord, his desire was that his descendants would also realize their need to accept the Lord, Jesus Christ, as their personal savior”. Wow, this man was serious about his faith and his family!
As I entered the narrow lobby of the chapel, I noticed at least a dozen crosses hanging on the walls with names roughly inscribed on each surface of the cross. After a bit of research, I learned the current patriarch of the family, a 95 year old farmer, has served as a chaplain to the nearby county jail since 1950. Each of the 200 names found on every cross was signed by an inmate who came to faith in Jesus because Rodney Weber, just like his great-grandfather, is passionate that all people know Jesus as their personal savior. The legacy of faith has continued through the generations of this incredible family.
Entering the main part of the chapel, I felt as though I was standing on holy ground as I viewed the simple furnishings. The organ resided on the left side of the stage and an old upright piano occupied the right side. An unadorned oak table served as the resting place of a well-used Bible, and the kneeling benches at the altar appeared worn by the thousands of knees that have undoubtedly knelt there.
I recall the legacy of faith passed down from my own grandparents. Their desire was the same as Jacob Weber; they wanted to be sure their descendants knew Jesus. We were prayed for, taught about Jesus, and loved with an unfailing love. Because of that, many in my family came to faith. Although we do not have a chapel to honor my grandparents, in my heart is a special place where I keep the memories of a family who desired faith in Jesus as their gift to the generations that followed.
I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness in this verse: “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:5 (NLT)
Simple Faith 