ABOUT US

About Us

We are a group of believers who were called to start an independent bible church in 1981. We are a small southwest Iowa church governed by elder rules. We love to worship, sing praises and serve the Lord.

Pastor Ron and Family

About Pastor Ron

Elder Board Members

From Left to Right Kurtis Christensen Jan Shervheim Craig David Ron Christian (Pastor) Fred Scott

Sunday School & Bible Studies

Sunday School classes offered: 2-4 year olds, K-3rd grade, 4th-6th grade, Junior High-Adult Study, Women's Study, and Men's Study. Bible studies and youth group offered at varying places and times.

Our History

Third Sunday in October 1981 (10-18-81) – Met together for the first time at Bill Livingston’s elevator at the south end of Main Street in Clearfield, Iowa.

First Sunday in December 1981 (12-6-81) – Moved our meeting place to the old Princess Show building. During the following winter, we met on Sunday mornings for worship services, and Wednesday evenings (the women had Bible Study and the men worked on our statement of faith in the “upper room”.

April 1982 – Incorporated as non-profit organization.

January 5, 1983 – first annual meeting.

May 1983 – called our first pastor.

May 5, 1983 – December 29, 1985 ~ Dennis Marx, pastor
Wife: Susan Children: Benjamin and Rachel

July 1983 – excavation and dirt work began for new building.
First week in September 1983 (9-4-83) – First service in new building.
February 26, 1984 – Open House, 2-4:00

January 5, 1986 – April 30, 2000 ~ Phil Henderson, pastor

November 1991 – started AWANA
Summer 1992 – Church addition (built overflow area, Sunday school rooms and restrooms)

Spring 2001 – May 29, 2005 ~ Mike Williams, pastor
Wife: Jennifer Children: Holly and Ethan

November 30, 2005 – December 7, 2008 ~ Ryan Leininger, pastor
Wife: Kristin Children: Rebekah and Grace

January 4, 2009 – Present ~ Ron Christian, pastor
Wife: Martha Children: Rachel, Drew, Michael, and Bethany

June 2013 – May 2014 ~ Keith Lorenz, associate pastor Wife: Jamie Children: Priscilla, Abraham, Ezekiel, Caleb, and Elizabeth

September 19, 2017 ~ excavation and dirt work started on new sanctuary.

Statement of Faith

GOD We believe there is only one (a) God, who is self (b) existent, all knowing (c), eternal (d), supreme ruler (e), and creator (f) of all things in heaven, and on earth. God has revealed Himself to man in three persons, the Father (g), the Son, (h), and the Hold Spirit (i).

a. Is. 43:10, 1 Cor. 8:6, Deut. 6:4
b. John 5:26, Acts 17:24, 25.
c. Ps. 139:1-4, Col. 2:3, 1 Sam. 2:3
d. Gen. 21:33, Rev. 1:8, Jude 25
e. Job 42:2, Matt. 28:18, Rev. 1:17-18
f. Gen. 1:1, Rev. 4:11, John 1:3
g. 2 Cor. 1:3, Matt. 11:25, Phil. 1:2
h. Is. 9:6, John 1:1, 10:30. 14:6-7
i. Acts 5:3-4, 13:2, Gal. 4:6

THE INERRANCY OF SCRIPTURE We believe the original documents of the old and new testaments, to be the God (a) breathed, inspired Word of God, for all (b) instruction needed for our service in Jesus Christ, on this earth.

a. 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20, 21
b. 2 Tim. 3:17, 1 Peter 1:23-25, Jn. 17:17, 8:51, Ro. 15:4, Heb. 4:12, Matt. 24:35

DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST We believe Jesus Christ was born of a (a) virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, is fully (b) God, and fully (c) man, is equal to God in all ways, and has all the divine attributes of God.

a. Matt. 1:23, Luke 1:30-35, Is. 7:14
b. Col. 2:9-10, Heb. 1:8, Jn. 1:1, 10:30, 20:28, Phil. 2:6-7
c. John 1:14, Heb. 2:14, 17, Gal. 4:4

MAN IS LOST We believe that all people are (a) sinners, both by inheritance of Adams (b) nature, and by free exercise of our (c) individual will. The wages (d) of sin is death, resulting in eternal (e) separation from God, spent in Hell.

a. Ro. 3:23, 3:10, 1 John 1:10
b. Ro. 5:12, 19, Gen. 3:1-6
c. Ro. 6:16-18, 8:6-8. Eph. 2:2-3, Is. 53:6
d. Ro. 6:23, Gal. 6:8
e. Matt. 25:32, 41, 46, Luke 16:19-31, Rev. 20:11-15

CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS We believe that Jesus Christ was, and is, the (a) Lamb of God, who loves us, and (b) willingly shed His blood on the cross of Calvary, which paid (c) in full the death penalty. This is the only sacrifice (d) acceptable to God for our sins.

a. John 1:29, Rev. 5:12, Is. 53:7
b. Matt. 20:28, 26:53-54, 1 Tim. 2:5-6, Gal. 1:3-4, Luke 24:45-46
c. Eph. 1:7, Matt. 26:28, Heb. 9:22, 1 Peter 1:18-19
d. Heb. 9:22, Lev. 17:11, Ro. 3:24-26, 6:9-10, Heb. 10:10

SALVATION We believe in salvation by (a) personal trust in the (b) death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is accompanied by heartfelt (c) repentance of sin. By this means (d) only is a person saved from an eternity in hell, and made a (e) child of God. This is a free (f) gift of God to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

a. Acts 16:30-31, Ro. 3:28, Eph. 2:8-9, John 3:16, 18
b. 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Ro. 10:9-10, John 11:25-26, 1 Peter 1:3-5
c. 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Luke 24:46-47, 2 Peter 3:9
d. Acts 4:12, John 3:3, 18, 14:6
e. Ro. 8:15-17, Gal. 3:25-26, John 1:12
f. Ro. 3:24, 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9

JESUS IS ALIVE We believe that Jesus Christ (a) died on the cross, was (b) buried by men, and was (c) raised on the third day, in an eternal (d) imperishable body. He later (e) ascended into heaven, where today He sits at the (f) right hand of God the Father, making (g) intercession for the believers. The resurrection of Jesus provides us of the (h) assurance of our resurrection as believers.

a. Matt. 26:2, John 19:16-19, Acts 5:30, Heb. 12:2
b. Matt. 27:59-60, Luke 23:50-53, John 19:40-42
c. Matt. 28:1-6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:46, John 20:1-18
d. 1 Tim. 6:15-16, 1 Cor. 15:42, 50
e. John 20:17, Acts 1:9, Eph. 1:20
f. Mark 16:19, Col. 3:1, Heb. 12:2. Eph. 1:20
g. 1 John 2:1, Heb. 7:25, Ro. 8:34
h. 1 Cor. 15:52, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Peter 1:3

JESUS IS COMING We believe Jesus Christ will (a) return, (b) suddenly, (c) physically, to the earth, for His (d) own, at a time know only to the (e) Father.

a. Acts 1:9-11, Phil. 3:20-21, James 5:8
b. Matt. 24:37-41, Rev. 3:11, 22:7
c. Mark 13:26-27, Acts 1:9-11
d. 1 Thess. 4:16-17, John 14:1-3, Mark 13:27
e. Matt. 24:36, 42, 44, Mark 13:32-33


ETERNAL SECURITY We believe that a person who truly trusts Jesus as his personal Savior will never be in danger of losing his salvation. God is able to keep those who come to Him. There believer’s eternal life is secure in Christ.

John 3:15-16, 36
John 5:24
John 6:37
John 10:27-30
John 11:25-26
Romans 8:35-39
Philippians 1:6
2 Tim. 1:12
2 Tim. 4:18
Heb. 7:25
Jude 1, 24
1 John 5:13

BIBLICAL SEPARATION We believe that we should separate ourselves, as a church and as individuals, from all sinfulness, ungodliness, and worldliness, and separate ourselves unto God. We should separate ourselves, as commanded by God in His word, from spiritual fellowship with unbelievers and those who hold unscriptural teaching.

2 Cor. 6:14-18
Rom. 1:1
Rom. 12:1-2
Eph. 5:6-7
Psalms 1:1-6
Titus 2:11-12
1 John 2:15
2 Tim. 2:20-21
2 John 9-11
James 4:4

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND OFFICES OF THE CHURCH We believe that some offices of the Church and gifts of the Spirit ceased to exist after the lifetime of the apostles and the completion of the Inspired Scriptures. We are confident that the offices of apostle and prophet and the gift of prophecy are no longer operational. Other offices of the church and gifts of the Spirit as mentioned in Scripture will function as set forth in Scripture, if operational at this time.

2 Peter 1:19-21
Deut. 4:2
Deut. 12:32
Rev. 22:18-19
Eph. 4:11-12
1 Cor. 12: 1-14:40

We believe that the gift of tongues is the ability to speak in an unlearned foreign language. Acts 2:1-13
The gift of tongues is a sign gift for nonbelieving Israel. 1 Cor. 14:21-22
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will for the sick and afflicted. John 15:7, 1 John 5:14-15, James 5:14

PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
We believe that Jesus will come to receive to Himself all Church-age believers, both living and dead, and take them out of this world before the seven year time of judgment, known as the Tribulation, begins.

1 Thess. 4:13-18
1 Cor. 15:51-54
Rev. 3:10
1 Thess. 1:9-10
1 Thess. 5:9
Compare Genesis 19:22

PREMILLENNIAL ADVENT OF CHRIST
We believe that Jesus will return to earth, literally and bodily, at the end of the seven year Tribulation to establish His earthly Kingdom which will last one thousand years. In this Kingdom all of Israel’s covenants will be literally fulfilled.

Acts 1:11
Zech. 14:4
Matt. 24:30
Rev. 1:7
Job 19:25
Matt. 25:31
Isa. 9:6-7
Luke 1:32
Jer. 23:5-6
Dan. 7:13-14
Zech. 9:10
Rev. 11:15
Isa. 45:23
Jer. 3:17
Psalms 2:8-9
Rev. 2:7

BAPTISM
We believe that baptism is for those people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Baptism will be by immersion.

Matt. 28:19
Acts 8:12
Rom. 6:4-5
Acts 2:38
Acts 8:36-38

LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be observed by believers until His return. A person should examine himself and his relationship with the Lord before partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Anyone who partakes of the Lord’s Supper unworthily will bring judgment on himself.

1 Cor. 11:23-34
Mark 14:12-26
Matt. 26:17-30
Luke 22:19-20

THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION
We believe God is sovereign. He can do what He pleases. It is God’s expressed desire that all would be saved. Therefore, He has offered salvation to everyone. God in His sovereignty has required man to make a decision of faith in Jesus Christ for personal salvation. He knows beforehand who will trust Christ as their Savior without predetermining this response.

Deut. 29:29
Job 36:22-26
Isaiah 40:6-28
Acts 16:31
Romans 8:28-30
Romans 11:33-36
Eph. 1:4, 5
2 Thess. 2:13, 14
1 Tim. 2:3-6
1 Peter 1:2
2 Peter 3:9
Hebrews 11:6

A non-denominational church founded on biblical principles