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| Walnut Creek South hosted a free barbeque, games, and outdoor movie on Memorial Day. |
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| Bubble Ball was a popular activity at the Memorial Day barbeque. |
Memorial Day Barbecue on the Southside
Walnut Creek South Volunteers Host Barbecue For The Door of Faith
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| Walnut Creek South served a meal to the men of the Door of Faith recovery shelter during Mission to the City. |
This the third year Walnut Creek has served a meal during Mission to the City for the Door of Faith, and it is becoming one of the premier events for the men in the recovery program. Staff from the Door of Faith and Hope Ministries corporate office attended the event as well.
“The advice most often given to these guys is to find a church and get involved. Then, watch how God works in your life," Mike Scott said, who is a graduate of the program and a member of Walnut Creek South. "This event, more than anything they are involved in during the year, shows them both what it looks like to get involved in the church and the benefits of it.”
After serving the meal, the volunteers plate up and sit down with the residents to talk about life and walking with Jesus.
"It is a comfortable surrounding, and the guys really appreciated the meal and hanging out after. It’s a great example of Christ's body working together and sharing the Gospel through interaction," said John Teeter of Walnut Creek South.
Downtown Teams Breakfast Drop Throughout the East Village and Skywalks
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| Teams provided free breakfast throughout the downtown skywalks and the East Village. |
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| Walnut Creek Downtown teams kicked off Mission to the City with breakfast drops on early Friday morning. |
Windsor Heights Teams Deliver Meals to Local Schools
The kitchen was busy all Friday morning with chopping, baking, and mixing as Mission to the City groups from Windsor Heights prepared meals for various organizations throughout the city.
One Community Group brought a meal to the teachers and staff at Harding Middle School as a way to thank the teachers for their hard work. Their Community Group works closely with many Harding students through Youth For Christ, a ministry for middle school and high school youth. Another Community Group prepared a meal for Des Moines Christian School and blessed the elementary education department on their last day of the school year.
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| M2TC teams served lunches to teachers at Des Moines Christian School and Harding Middle School. |
The biggest helpers were the littlest ones of the crew. A team of moms and their kids made homemade cards and multiple meals for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides comfort and care to sick children and their families.
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| Kids got in on the Mission to the City action, too. |
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| Teams made free coffee runs to local businesses. |
Shalom Spends a Day at the Ballpark for Mission to the City
On Saturday, twenty-five people from the Shalom congregation made their way out to Johnston Little League to serve the community. A group of people put new siding on a building and another group scraped benches and gave them a fresh coat of paint. It was encouraging to see so many people take time out of their Saturday to help the community as well as seeing all ages get involved with the process of m2tc. We pray that the Des Moines area is blessed and that God is glorified through our labor!
By Melissa Holle
Walnut Creek Downtown
Pancake Brunch Raises Money for Operation Christmas Child
The smell of hot pancakes hung heavy in the air after the Sunday morning church service at Walnut Creek Downtown on May 29. The pancakes did more than fill hungry bellies after church. Part of Mission to the City for the third year in a row, the pancake brunch raised nearly $700 for Operation Christmas Child (OCC).
Since 1993, OCC – a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse – has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 124 million children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, and other crises in more than 150 countries and territories. OCC partners with local churches to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who receive shoebox gifts. A 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, helps boys and girls learn what it means to follow the Lord and share their faith with others.
The pancake brunch isn’t the only OCC-related Mission to the City project happening this year. Several groups went to the Urbandale home of Central Iowa OCC volunteer to pack shoebox gifts and do other volunteer work.
On July 8, Walnut Creek Church will host the sixth annual Christmas in July party, an OCC shoebox packing party for the whole family. Like last year, our goal will be to pack 2,000 shoebox gifts and raise $14,000 to cover the shipping costs. An anonymous $7,000 donation has already been pledged to the cause.
By Tim Laehn
Walnut Creek Downtown
Walnut Creek Church Volunteers Roll Up Their Sleeves for Freedom for Youth
Roots run deep for Walnut Creek Church and Freedom for Youth Ministries in more ways than one. Members served the organization by pulling up weeds, planting flowers, and trimming landscaping Saturday during Mission to the City as part of an ongoing effort to support the ministry’s staff and volunteers.
Ashlie Baldwin, Job Coach at Freedom for Youth, is also a member of Walnut Creek Downtown and joined her community group Saturday at their main location and Safe Haven, one of Freedom’s residential programs. Ashlie’s primary role consists of coaching participants ages 18-22 involved in the residential training program. While many of the participants and volunteers at Freedom take on various responsibilities, she was blessed by the opportunity for her community group to help shoulder the burden of much of the manual landscaping labor, as the participants often assist in maintaining the facilities and various job training activities.
“We only have about three young adults in our transitions program right now, but if you could imagine all that [work] being done by three young adults and then myself, all that weed-pulling, mowing, even more things that we didn’t even get done today. That would generally be done from nine to noon, so you can imagine that the work is long and it takes a long time to get done. You’ve served the staff, young adults, and many other things in the program.”
Ashlie says the relationship with Freedom and Walnut Creek has been consistent since she started about four years ago, and is thankful that every Mission to the City brings a new opportunity to strengthen the relationship.
“Walnut Creek has been really faithful to Freedom for Youth. The church has been very good about helping the young adults get connected with community groups. Walnut Creek has also been loving and accepting and stepped in, either financially or with discipleship.”
By Noelle Thompson
Walnut Creek Downtown
Kicking Off Mission to the City 2016
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| During Mission to the City, members of Walnut Creek Church set aside their busy schedules for a few days—serving Greater Des Moines with thousands of hours of community service. |
Walnut Creek is about to begin one of the busiest weekends of the year. For the past few months we have been organizing, planning, and praying for these next four days. Over four hundred people have committed to love and serve the city of Des Moines with hundreds of hours of labor.
So what is Mission to the City about?
This weekend isn't all about us. It’s not even about our church. It's about the Father who made us, the Son who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us.
God exists in perfect community with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Love is the essence of their relationship, manifested in their mutual giving of service, honor, joy, and glory to one another.
Though Jesus is fully God, He willingly gave His life in full submission to honor His Father. He came to earth to serve and to display His Father’s love. Service is an integral part of God’s relational nature and our relationship with Him.
God says now we are His ambassadors to the world. He has entrusted us to display the Good News. Jesus prayed that the world would know God’s love through the ways we, as believers, love one another. That love is what this weekend is all about.
God has given Jesus the authority to send us to continue His mission. And so filled with the Spirit, we go to the city. Over the next four days we will be serving non-profits, businesses, schools, churches, and neighbors:
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| These are just some of the organizations, businesses, schools, and churches we will serve. |
Join us tonight at Walnut Creek Downtown for an evening of worship and prayer as we kickoff Mission to the City. Registration will be open from 6–7 p.m. for people to check-in and get their t-shirt. We'll begin the night with worship at 7 p.m.
For more information about Mission to the City and to register, visit walnutcreekchurch.org/m2tc.
Walnut Creek Highland Park Hosts First Service In New Building
Walnut Creek Church was planted in 1984 when a group of people from our sister church in Ames (Stonebrook Community Church), moved to Des Moines and began meeting together in homes. In 1991, we purchased our first church building in Windsor Heights. Nearly ten years later in March 2000 we held our first satellite location in an elementary school in Waukee.
The location was later moved to Horizon Elementary School in Johnston, becoming Walnut Creek Johnston. After growing and serving together there for the last 15 years, the congregation is ready to follow God's leading to a new place: the Highland Park neighborhood on the north side of Des Moines.
Walnut Creek Highland Park met for the first time in their new building this past weekend, May 1. "This Sunday was very encouraging after spending so many weeks in the planning process. Last week a lot of people put in hours cleaning, painting, and transforming the main level," said Pastor Bob Joy.
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| Walnut Creek Highland Park is sharing the building with Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren. |
Walnut Creek Highland Park is sharing the building with Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren, who have been in the building for 70 years.
"God answered our prayers with this new 24/7 location. We're really excited because God has opened up doors for us to be in a new building where we can love and serve and minister the Gospel seven days a week," said Pastor Joel Swanson.
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| Walnut Creek Johnston met in Horizon Elementary School on Sunday mornings for 15 years. |
Walnut Creek Highland Park is located on the corner of 6th Avenue and Shawnee Avenue. They meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and welcome everyone to come check out their new location.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity to let the neighborhood know we're here to serve and to love," said Joel. "We have experienced a new vitality as a body through this process. They're bringing life to this place."
Coffee For Bibles Project Translates the Old Testament into the Karenni Language
Over 1 billion people in the world are still Bibleless, meaning they don’t have the complete Bible available in their heart language. In November 2014 Walnut Creek Church launched Coffee For Bibles to help bring God's Word to people who need it.
Coffee For Bibles is a project of Go Forth. Go Forth offers a variety of high-quality lifestyle products with a twist: 100 percent of the proceeds go to supporting specific local and international missions projects. Our current project is to complete the translation of the Old Testament into the Karenni language.
In November 2015 Walnut Creek Karenni held their first service at Walnut Creek Downtown, becoming a part of our church family. The Karenni comprise nine different people groups, who speak different languages and dialects, from their home state of Myanmar (Burma). Many of the Karenni have lived for years in refugee camps in Thailand before coming to Des Moines. This Coffee For Bibles project will directly help our Walnut Creek Karenni congregation have access to the Old Testament in their heart language.
We are partnering with The Seed Company on this project, which will take $185,774 to complete. For every two pounds of coffee, one verse is translated. The Seed Company, an affiliate of Wycliffe Bible Translators, launched in 1993 with a mandate to accelerate Bible translation and impact for people without God’s Word. Since 1993, The Seed Company has translated 1,194 languages across 116 countries on 6 continents.
We also partnered with Colectivo Coffee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to provide our premium Walnut Creek coffee. Colectivo began sourcing coffee from origin in 1993 and has 20 years of experience providing quality coffee.
Coffee can be purchased at the Welcome Center of our Downtown location during their weekend services. You can also place your order online and pick your coffee up from our main office.
Please join us in bringing God’s Word to people who need it. For more information, visit walnutcreekchurch.org/coffee.
Easter Services 2016
Friday, March 25 (Good Friday Service)
Saturday, March 26
1111 E. Army Post Rd., Des Moines
(Inside Southridge Mall)
(Inside Southridge Mall)
6pm
Sunday, March 27
900 64th St., Windsor Heights
9:30am, 11am
5905 NW 100th St., Johnston
10am
323 E. Locust St., Des Moines
10am
900 64th St., Windsor Heights
1pm
Glitter, Tiaras, and Princesses–Oh My!
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| Over 170 girls danced the night away at Walnut Creek's first ever Daddy-Daughter Dance. Photos by: Carrie Krupke |
The girls entered the auditorium to applause and were then ushered to a candlelit table. Dads and daughters took their pick of an array of donated desserts. Then the girls could make their own tiara or friendship bracelet, get their face painted, or smile big in front of the camera at the photo booth. There was even a special appearance by seven Disney princesses, who took pictures with girls and had fun out on the dance floor.
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| Disney princesses made a special surprise appearance at the dance. |
"I loved the image of there being an opportunity to have something that really valued that special relationship between a father and daughter. It's the picture of how God loves us; it should be celebrated," said Megan. "I was overwhelmed by just how much people cared and wanted to make this successful. We more than doubled expected numbers and fully packed the house. It was a beautiful explosion of memories and special moments."
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| Each girl received a handwritten note and a flower. |
"I was really blessed by the night. My daughter had a great time seeing princesses, making a tiara, eating treats and dancing with me," said Pastor Luke Hukee. "It was a well done event. The girls were all really excited."
Carrie Krupke, of Walnut Creek Johnston, captured hundreds of smiles as the event photographer while her husband, Gerard, and their daughter, Adelaide, danced the night away.
"Adelaide's countenance changes when Daddy walks in the room, she laughs harder with him, freely gives him kisses and hugs more often. She literally lights up with him," said Carrie. "It is Adelaide's healthy and loving relationship with her earthly father that will help her bridge the gap of understanding about her Heavenly Father. It is critical that we cultivate that every chance we get."
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| Dads and daughters could make their own tiaras and friendship bracelets, too. |
"I'm in awe of all the work that went into it so selflessly. The bulk of the volunteers do not have daughters, many were single. I love that there are people in our church body who recognize the vital importance of strengthening the relationship between daughters and their dads," said Carrie. "They saw an opportunity to serve a large part of our church families and did such a great job!"
You can view the full gallery of photos on the event's Facebook page.
By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights
Christmas Eve at Walnut Creek Church
Join us at one of our three Christmas Eve services. This year Walnut Creek Church will be hosting two services at our Downtown location and one at our Windsor Heights location:
December 24 @ 4pm and 6pm
323 East Locust Street, Des Moines (Use South entrance on Walnut Street)
(515) 418-9994
December 24 @ 6pm
900 64th Street, Windsor Heights
(515) 418-9994
Awana Children's Choirs Perform "Star of Wonder," A Christmas Musical
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| The Awana Children's Choirs perform "Star of Wonder," on Sunday, December 13 at Walnut Creek Downtown. |
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| The Cubbies perform a few songs before the musical begins. | Photo courtesy of Jill Udey |
"The kids were really singing out. You could tell they enjoyed the songs," said Pastor Joel Swanson.
Prior to the program, Awana Music Directors Tiffany Fahy and Megan Coakley held two Saturday practices and a dress rehearsal the day of the musical. Children who had speaking roles also had additional practices.
"I am so proud of all of the Awana kiddos and the hard work they put into tonight's program," said Tiffany Fahy. "They looked beautiful on that stage, and they sounded amazing."
Megan Coakley thought the program went very well, especially because of the children's excitement and joy. "The kids were excited to sing their songs because when preparing for the program, I told them we were planning Jesus' birthday party," said Megan Coakley. "The Sparks and Truth and Training worked very hard each week to learn their songs. I loved when they really knew the songs and would sing their hearts out!"
Walnut Creek Kids Director Jacob Bennett, as well as Tiffany and Megan, would like to thank everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the program a success, including the tech crew, refreshments, leaders, and parents.
"I was encouraged to see God glorified through the mouths of so many children," said Jacob Bennett. "I’m really excited to see them grow in faith and see how God uses their lives in the future!"
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| The Christmas Program was hosted at Walnut Creek Downtown and brought together the Windsor Heights and Downtown Awana locations. | Photo courtesy of Jill Udey |
Walnut Creek Kids Director Jacob Bennett, as well as Tiffany and Megan, would like to thank everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the program a success, including the tech crew, refreshments, leaders, and parents.
"I was encouraged to see God glorified through the mouths of so many children," said Jacob Bennett. "I’m really excited to see them grow in faith and see how God uses their lives in the future!"
By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights
Giving Gifts Around the World
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| National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is November 16–23. |
Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has sent 113 million shoeboxes to children in more than 130 countries through their Operation Christmas Child ministry.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Later this month they will collect and deliver the boxes to New Hope Assemblies of God Church in Urbandale, an Iowa collection center. All boxes collected in Iowa will be sent to the processing center in Minneapolis for inspection. From there, boxes are shipped to children all over the world.
Loren and Kelly both serve on the year-round Operation Christmas Child volunteer team with Sarah Johnson, Stephanie Hoch, and Tim and Sara Laehn, all of Walnut Creek Downtown.
At Walnut Creek Downtown's Christmas In July event this summer, volunteers packed over 2,000 shoeboxes.
The deadline to turn in boxes is Sunday, November 22. Boxes can be brought to any Walnut Creek location. For information about how to get involved with the year-round volunteer team, contact Kelly at kellyhill25@hotmail.com.
Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.
By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights
"Tomorrow's Freedom Is Today's Surrender"
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| Five women perform "Dawn To Dusk" by All Sons and Daughters at the Women's Coffeehouse on November 6. |
Before the Women's Coffeehouse even began, all 570 chairs set out were taken. By 7pm, more than 620 women gathered together to hear stories of God's deliverance and rescue through personal testimonies, worship, and fellowship.
The inspiration for this year's coffeehouse came from Galatians 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
After opening in prayer, the worship band, composed of Cindy Andorf, Hannah Wright, Sara Choi, Jillian Aurelio, and Liz VanderSchel, performed "Dawn To Dusk" by All Sons and Daughters. Throughout the evening, the speakers referenced the lyric, "Tomorrow's freedom is today's surrender" to share their personal experiences of freedom found in Christ.
"The Christian life in essence is a life of surrender," said Shaly Moyal. "This year's Women's Coffeehouse centered around the theme that Christ died to free us, and that freedom is only found through surrender."
The first speaker of the evening, Haley Altmaier of Walnut Creek Downtown, shared the story of her relationship with her now husband. Haley described the desires, emotions, and actions God asked her to surrender during a time of unforeseen pain and confusion. As she surrendered, God showed her His patience, goodness, and faithfulness.
Following Haley, Carla Richey of Walnut Creek Downtown shared her testimony of how the Lord has helped her to continually surrender her children and their future to Him as she and her husband choose to center their universe around God and His Kingdom, realizing that these children are His. In surrendering her children to God, she has seen the peace that comes in trusting the Lord to lead, guide, and direct her children toward Himself.
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| Over 620 women from all locations of Walnut Creek Church attended the coffeehouse. |
The last speaker of the evening was a video testimony by Christy Jo Hogg of Walnut Creek South. At age 13, Christy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. When she was 18, her brain tumor began growing again, and Christy thought God was punishing her for her rebellious lifestyle.
The day after she found out the cancer had come back, Christy met Jon and Agatha Crane of Walnut Creek South. The Cranes gave her a Gospel tract and invited her to church and their Community Group. Not long after giving her life to Christ, Christy found out she had another tumor, except this time it was inoperable. Doctors gave her 14 months to live. In the video, Christy shares her story of surrendering her entire life to God and how the Lord has helped her understand the pain and suffering of cancer.
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| The annual Women's Coffeehouse event was held Friday, November 6 at Walnut Creek Downtown. |
"We wanted women to see that this life, the Christian life, requires continual surrender as we desire to experience more and more freedom that Christ offers," said Shaly. "We tried to demonstrate and share the variety of decisions that women have had to make through various videos and testimonies, hoping and praying that each woman in attendance would be able to relate to at least one of these decisions and decide to make it for herself in an effort to see and experience Christ."
Over 100 local businesses donated door prizes, which were handed out throughout the evening. The annual coffeehouse is a way for women to invite their friends, neighborhoods, coworkers, and family members to join in genuine fellowship and hear about the power of the Lord working in other women's lives.
By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights
Walnut Creek Extends Grand Welcome to Karenni Congregation
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| Walnut Creek Karenni held their first service at Walnut Creek Downtown on Sunday, November 1. Photo by: Alex Michl |
In 2013, Mike and Jenessa Lock of Walnut Creek Downtown realized that the Karenni refugees they had come to know did not have a church in Des Moines. Through a relationship with a Burmese woman named Pawdeenya, the Locks began to help her reach Karenni with the Gospel through apartment Bible studies.
About a year and a half ago, the Karenni Christian Fellowship began meeting on Sunday afternoons at Freedom For Youth Ministries. The Locks, as well as Brandon and Ashley Johnson of Walnut Creek Downtown, helped to facilitate the Sunday service including worship, teaching, and children's ministry. About 80-90 Karenni regularly fellowship together each Sunday.
Over the last year, Walnut Creek has partnered with the Karenni Fellowship in their ministry, and on November 1, Walnut Creek Karenni held their first service at Walnut Creek Downtown. The Grand Welcome Celebration marked the beginning of the Karenni service becoming part of Walnut Creek Church.
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| The service included worship in both the Kayah language and English. Photo by: Alex Michl |
The Karenni comprise nine different people groups, who speak different languages and dialects, from their home state of Myanmar (Burma). Many of the Karenni have lived for years in refugee camps in Thailand before coming to Des Moines.
Fourteen Karenni adults were also baptized during the service, sharing their testimonies of lives changed by Christ. "It was beautiful to be a part of the celebration as many of the older believers began to sing out 'There is a Fountain' while those publicly declaring their faith were entering the baptismal waters," said Mike Lock.
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| After the Karenni service, a meal catered by HyVee was served. Photo by: Alex Michl |
After the service, adults and children fellowshipped together with a meal and kids' activities, including the popular bouncehouse. "It was a great atmosphere of celebration," said Mike Lock.
Pastor Tim Rude spoke at the service and gave praise to God for all that has been happening within the Karenni people. Tim says Walnut Creek is excited to join arms with the Karenni people as they join the church and begin to have their own service at the Downtown location.
Pastor Tim Rude spoke at the service and gave praise to God for all that has been happening within the Karenni people. Tim says Walnut Creek is excited to join arms with the Karenni people as they join the church and begin to have their own service at the Downtown location.
By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights
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