About Shalom Assembly of Yahweh
We are committed to living out the set-apart values of the gospel of Yahshua the Messiah
Established in 2009
Started as a home fellowship that grew into a larger body of believers.
Who We Are
Planted in Sterling, IL.
Shalom Assembly of Yahweh is a community of believers devoted to walking in the ways of our Father Yahweh (God) and our Savior Yahshua (Jesus). We’re committed to living out the original, Spirit-led faith of the Scriptures. A faith marked by transformation, purpose, and wholehearted obedience. Every gathering, teaching, and conversation is centered on the Word — the eternal bread that strengthens, purifies, and shapes us into people who reflect the Messiah in everything we do.
Our Mission
Make Yahshua Famous
Our purpose is simple: to know Him, to follow Him, and to become more like Him every day. We aim to strengthen families, cultivate genuine love among the brethren, and build a community rooted in Scripture and sustained by obedience to Yahweh’s ways. Through teaching, discipleship, and service, we empower individuals to step into their calling, influence their world, and make Yahshua known in this generation.
Our Story
The Story of Shalom Assembly of Yahweh
How it started
The story of Shalom Assembly of Yahweh started in the early 2000s with a few families who simply wanted to honor Yahweh together. They met in living rooms, shared Shabbat meals, and studied Scripture late into the evening. As the group grew, they moved into a tiny renovated garage. It was nothing fancy, just a place filled with worship, good food, and the delight of learning Yahweh’s Word side by side.
How we’ve grown
Around 2010-2012, the group outgrew its tiny garage and needed a larger space. They found a place in Rock Falls and started to hold services every Saturday. Because of the larger space, they were able to add more chairs for the people who kept coming, and that lasted for a few years, but eventually even that medium-sized building became too small. So, the leaders decided to find and renovate a much larger property in 2013.
Where we’re going
Now, more than ten years later, we are blessed to worship in the place we call home, which was once an old horse farm that we have transformed into a church and campground. As we look to the future, our mission stays the same: to lead people to Yahshua and to walk faithfully in all that Yahweh has given us. We believe that as long as we keep our eyes on Him, He will guide our steps. We don’t always know exactly what the next chapter will look like, but we trust Yahweh to take us where He wants us to go.
Core Beliefs
What We Believe
Our Convictions
The Bible
We believe all 66 books are the inspired Word of Yahweh.
Biblical Marriage
We believe that biblical marriage consists of one man and one woman.
Original Names
Names are important. We believe in using the name of our Creator (YHWH), pronounced Yahweh.
We use Yahshua, the Hebrew name of our Savior (Jesus). His name means “Yahweh Saves”.
Pro-life (Human life is sacred)
Although there is forgiveness, we know that abortion is the taking of innocent human life and is therefore murder.
The Sabbath
The weekly Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) is a holy day for all believers.
It is a special sign between Yahweh and His people and should be honored.
Biblical Holidays
We joyfully observe the biblical holy days given in Leviticus 23— along with the weekly Sabbath.
We celebrate these days because Yahshua, the Apostles, and the early believers observed them, and Scripture shows they will be kept in Yahweh’s Kingdom. Each feast teaches us Yahweh’s plan of salvation:
Passover remembers Yahshua’s sacrifice as the Lamb of Yahweh.
Unleavened Bread calls us to remove sin and walk in sincerity and truth.
Pentecost honors the giving of the Spirit and Yahweh’s covenant with His people.
Trumpets looks forward to Yahshua’s return.
Atonement is a day of fasting and remembrance of His redeeming work.
Tabernacles and the Last Great Day celebrate Yahweh’s coming Kingdom and ultimate restoration.
Together, these celebrations declare our faith, our covenant with Yahweh, and our hope in the fulfillment of His promises through Yahshua.
Eating Clean Foods
We believe the Bible’s food laws still matter. We eat only the foods Yahweh says are clean. These rules are not for judging people—they help us learn the difference between what is holy and what is not. They remind us to live in a clean and set-apart way for Yahweh.
The Ten Commandments
We believe in all 10 commandments
Worldly Holidays
We do not celebrate holidays that come from pagan traditions, like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or St. Patrick’s Day.
Yahweh wants us to worship Him in the way He shows us, not the way other nations worship their gods. Jeremiah 10:2-3 warns us not to follow the customs of the nations, because their ways are empty and have no power. Exodus 23:24 tells us not to bow down to their gods or copy their practices.
Affirmations of Faith
Foundation: Scripture & Covenant Love
Our faith stands on the inspired Scriptures and on the covenant love we show toward Yahweh, Yahshua, and one another. We keep the two greatest commandments given in Matthew 22:37–40—loving Yahweh fully and loving our neighbor—because they summarize the heart of His ways.
Following Yahshua’s Example
We believe that knowing Yahshua means walking as He walked (1 John 2:3–6). His life expressed perfect obedience and revealed the fullness of Yahweh’s Word (John 1:14).
Walking in the Covenant
We seek to have Yahweh’s instructions written on our hearts and minds, as promised in the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31–33; Heb. 8:8–11). This inward renewal shapes how we live and respond to His calling.
Salvation by Grace, Proven by Faithfulness
Salvation is a gift of grace (Eph. 2:8–10). While our works do not earn salvation, a genuine faith produces a life aligned with Yahweh’s will. Through Yahshua’s blood, we enter into covenant and remain faithful to the end (Rom. 3:21–26).
Truth, Freedom, and Repentance
Yahweh’s Word is truth, and the truth frees us from the bondage of sin (John 17:17; John 8:31–36). Sin is defined as transgressing the Law (1 John 3:4), and the Scriptures reveal what must change in our lives in order for true repentance to take place (Rom. 7:7).
Worship in Spirit and Truth
We strive to worship Yahweh in Spirit with sincerity and alignment to His truth (John 4:23–24).
New Life & Transformation
Baptism into Yahshua’s name marks the beginning of the conversion process—being born of water and Spirit (John 3:3–7). This journey continues until Yahshua returns, when His people will be transformed into immortal beings (1 Cor. 15:35–54).
Hebrews 11:6
“And without faith it is impossible to please Yahweh, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Past Sermons
Not sure where to start?
Check out some of these messages to get started and learn more about Yahweh’s (God’s) Word.
Sermon title: In a Mustard Seed
Given by: Dwayne Wilson
Sermon title: Embracing The Calling
Given by: Steve DeNeve
Sermon title: Give Me Wisdom To Gain Knowledge & Give Me Knowledge To Gain Wisdom
Given by: Robert Castillo