#m2tc | It's Fun to Stay at the YMCA

Chris Meyer of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights paints the YMCA gym during M2TC Friday afternoon.

To begin the Mission to the City weekend, two groups from Walnut Creek Windsor Heights spent Friday morning and afternoon serving their local Walnut Creek YMCA with some much needed renewal and repair.

More than 25 M2TC volunteers donned their painting clothes and touched up the walls in several rooms, as well as the curbs, lines, and crosswalks in the entire parking lot.

“I want this to be a family-friendly environment where people feel comfortable, that it’s kind of a home-away-from-home for them,” said Britt German, YMCA executive director.

The maintenance manager, Kevin Morrill, put the volunteers to hard work. Kevin is one of eight people who solve maintenance issues for 14 YMCAs in the greater Des Moines area. Since Kevin and the others are spread so thin, they do not usually have time to remove scuffs, organize closets, or paint the gymnasium.

“I’m impressed by everyone’s motivation to go the extra mile. They work quickly without having to be told what to do more than once,” said Kevin. “Members of the YMCA are going to notice the changes and love it, I guarantee it.”

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By Brigitte Haugen 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

Iowa Christian Academy Groundbreaking Ceremony

Iowa Christian Academy break ground on their new facility at Jordan Park Camp.

Walnut Creek is partnering with ICA on the project, leasing 5 acres to ICA to construct the facility. 

Iowa Christian Academy To Break Ground at Jordan Park Camp

Iowa Christian Academy will begin construction on their new facility at Jordan Park Camp. 

Iowa Christian Academy will break ground on their new facility at Jordan Park Camp in West Des Moines next Thursday. Walnut Creek partnered with ICA on the project, leasing five acres of the camp for the construction of the gym.

“ICA has been deeply blessed throughout its short history, and we are grateful to the leadership of Walnut Creek Church for helping this long-held dream come true,” said Scott Kolb, ICA Board Chair. “This is yet another blessing that will help the mission of the school in developing leaders committed to Christ.”

Phase One of the project includes the construction of the gym. Phase Two will include the construction of high school classrooms, with Phase Three involving the remodeling of the current ICA facility on Vine Street to accommodate more elementary students.

“When people from different Christian communities work together for a common good, it is a powerful testimony of Christ's love. Walnut Creek Church is delighted to work with Iowa Christian Academy, such an outstanding Christian school, in seeing this beautiful facility built,” said Pastor Tim Rude.

Founded in 1999, Iowa Christian Academy is a private, nondenominational Christian school for preschool students through 12th grade.

ICA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony and prayer on Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at Jordan Park Camp. The event is open to the public.

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By Jackie Wallentin 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

Second Issue of Stories Journal Released

The second issue of Stories Journal, a free magazine produced by Walnut Creek, is now available. Grab a copy at any of our weekend services!

Jesus rising changes everything. As the Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” God refused to abandon us, sending Jesus to be the remedy for our sin. As He was crucified, Jesus inhabited suffering. If His story ended on the cross, we would have no reason to hope. Death would have won.

But in the three days Jesus lay in the tomb, the entire future of the world changed. Jesus rose, and as He did, so do we. Jesus is alive. The power of His resurrection is enough to remake us, redeem us from sin, and deliver us from ourselves. The resurrection gives us eternal hope.

God is in the business of resurrection in all of our lives. That’s why He entrusted the Gospel to us (2 Corinthians 5). To messed up, selfish people like us. People who get confused and afraid and intimidated. God promises to redeem our mistakes. Promises to use us to help redeem others’ lives. Promises to be with us. Promises to change us until all the threads of our lives are surrendered for Him.

That’s our hope. The beauty in His resurrection is that we can stop living for ourselves and instead give up our lives. We need to learn who the story is about. Our stories are ultimately about God. Each thread is a glimpse of how our stories fit within His story. He wrote each of us in, and all of our threads are working together for His glory.

"Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story" (Psalm 107:2). This is why we made Stories Journal–to tell the stories of lives made new. Stories Journal is a free magazine produced by Walnut Creek Church. Grab your copy this weekend at any of our services. Check out medium.com/spring-2015 to start reading today!

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By Jackie Wallentin 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

"Crazy Things Jesus Said" Series Launch

Walnut Creek launches a new message series – "Crazy Things Jesus Said" – church-wide this weekend. The series through the Book of Mark is the third installment of the "Crazy Things Jesus Said" series which was first launched in the summer of 2013.

Over the course of the summer, we will study Mark 11-16, taking a close look at Jesus' final days on earth–emphasizing His actions, deeds, and commands. Join us as we look at who Jesus is and how we are to respond to Him.

Free "Crazy Things Jesus Said" study guides are available at each location. You can also follow the message series through our mobile app and online. Share your thoughts and what you're learning during the series on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with the #CrazyThings hashtag.

And each week during the series, we'll be posting wallpapers to correspond with the current passage we're studying. ‪Grab this week's wallpaper for your device!

Easter Services 2015

Saturday, April 4

Walnut Creek South
1101 E. Army Post Rd., Des Moines
6pm

Walnut Creek Downtown
323 E. Locust St., Des Moines
5pm, 7pm

Sunday, April 5

Jordan Park Camp
2251 Fuller Rd., West Des Moines
7am (outdoor service)

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights
900 64th St., Windsor Heights
9am (traditional), 9:30am, 11am

Walnut Creek Johnston
5905 NW 100th St., Johnston
10am

Walnut Creek Downtown
323 E. Locust St., Des Moines
10am

Walnut Creek South
1101 E. Army Post Rd., Des Moines
10am

Walnut Creek Shalom (en Español)
900 64th St., Windsor Heights
12:45pm

Mission Blog 2015: Dominican Republic

The teams witness the baptisms of many Dominican believers in San Pedro. 

Each year Walnut Creek Church sends several teams on international short-term mission trips. Follow along with our teams in the Dominican Republic (March 13-28) as they share the good news of the Gospel and build up la Vid, a small church in Santo Domingo supported by Walnut Creek.

Read the mission blog for stories, answered prayers, and prayer updates. Visit walnutcreekchurch.org/connect/missions for more information.