The Conference Parish Development Committee is delighted to announce that Bloomfield United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, Iowa, has been selected as the recipient of the Fall Builder's Call. (see the Bloomfield UMCs Builder's Call brochure)
Bloomfield UM Church draws hundreds of people from the community each week for its Wednesday evening activities. Receiving the funds from the Fall Builder's Call will help them create a café-style space for people in the community to continue gathering and building relationships within the church.
This is the first space that people see when they enter the church, and the remodeled café space will provide a modern feel with a positive and inviting atmosphere.
"Bloomfield has a long-range vision of expanding the church in order to fit the growing needs of the church and the community," said Lead Pastor Rev. Tim Frasher. "A building committee was established and identified four areas that needed updated to accomplish this including a kitchen expansion, a large multipurpose area, handicapped accessible bathrooms, and more classrooms."
This project began when a member envisioned the church having small groups that connected everyone in the community together. Over time, the church became a hub for activity within Davis County due to its close proximity to the county school. As they discerned God’s vision for the church, they felt the Holy Spirit calling them to expand their Wednesday night programs because no other church offered that in the area. Now, 250-300 people come each week.
"Pastor Tim Frasher and the leaders of the Bloomfield UM Church have done an excellent job being faithful," Director of Congregational Excellence Rev. Dr. Jaye Johnson said. "They increased worship attendance by adding a second service on Sunday and a Wednesday service. As part of my work I often study the statistics of our congregations. Bloomfield from 2016 to 2018 showed the largest increase in average worship attendance of any church in the Iowa Conference, going from 127 to 175 in average worship attendance."
The hope is that once relationships are created, people will join small groups, get connected, and ultimately develop a relationship with Jesus.
"Our pathway process is exploring, knowing, growing, and centered," said Frasher. "Many of the people we would label as 'exploring' come to our Wednesday evening meals, bring their children to ATLAS (our afterschool program for children), or receive food through the blessing box. Once people feel at home within our church we will work on inviting them to small groups and worship."
Support Bloomfield UM Church's dream of becoming a church that their community needs by writing a check to "Fall Builder's Call" and mailing it to United Methodist Builders, 2301 Rittenhouse St, Des Moines, IA 50321, or click here to donate online. You can also become an Iowa Conference Builder by signing up to donate twice a year.
United Methodist Builders have been an important part of developing churches all across the Iowa Annual Conference. They have helped new congregations buy land or build their first church facility and have provided funds to help established congregations update their facilities or build new additions.
Once a new call has begun all new donations received will be directed to that call. It is not possible to designate funds towards previous call recipients.
You can support this new venture by lifting up the congregation in prayer and by your generous contributions. Please send your check made payable to the Iowa Conference with the notation of Builder’s Call on the memo line.
West Branch United Methodist Church
West Branch United Methodist Church is a multi-generation congregation with growing discipleship programs. To achieve its mission of transforming lives for Christ, West Branch strives to be a welcoming, accessible presence to its community. In 2017, a new entryway and elevator were dedicated, improving access to the church for its congregation, members, and visitors.
Supported by the gifts of the Builder’s Call, West Branch UMC will continue improving accessibility to all people who are seeking a faith community. This project has already sparked encouraging conversations about other ways to improve access to all who enter, including making services accessible for the hearing impaired and designing worship and small groups that appeal to people with differing needs.
The Builder’s Call has played an important role in outreach and revitalization in the Iowa Annual Conference for years. Congregations and Builders from across Iowa are invited to contribute to these projects, which have included additions to current churches, as well as the building needs of new faith communities.
West Branch United Methodist Church Builder's Call
Spring Builder's Call 2018First United Methodist Church of North Liberty
First United Methodist Church of North Liberty is located in one of East Central Iowa’s thriving communities, one that has seen a 37 percent growth in the past eight years. Many of the new residents are young families who are seeking a church home and First UMC is looking to accommodate and welcome them with expanded worship, hospitality and education centers.
Supported by the gifts of the Builder’s Call, First UMC intends to build a sanctuary, chapel and adult classrooms that can house the new and growing community. They want to build an education wing that can safely host a quickly expanding youth and children’s ministry program and enlarge their kitchen and office space to create a warm, hospitable and comfortable space for visitors, volunteers and staff.
The Builder’s Call has played an important role in outreach and revitalization in the Iowa Annual Conference for years. Congregations and Builders from across Iowa are invited to contribute to these projects, which have included additions to current churches, as well as the building needs of new faith communities.
First United Methodist Church North Liberty Builder's Call Brochure
Fall Builder's Call 2017First United Methodist Church
Clarinda, IA
First United Methodist Church in Clarinda, Iowa is “Loving. Serving. More than just a building.” Our Fall 2017 Builder’s Call is to assist Clarinda, First in financing the construction of their new handicapped accessible church that includes a welcome center, 200-seat sanctuary, several classrooms and a large ministry center/multi-purpose room that will give them an opportunity to open their doors to all in their community.
The old building was constructed in the 1880’s and had become a burden because of mounting costs of repair and maintenance. The largest issue was that the old building was not handicapped accessible and was actually keeping people away and hindering their ability to make new disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Builder’s Call has played an important role in outreach and revitalization in the Iowa Annual Conference for years. Congregations and Builders from across Iowa are invited to contribute to these projects, which include additions to current churches, as well as the building needs of new faith communities.
Your generosity will be a great gift to Clarinda, First United Methodist Church.
Clarinda, First United Methodist Church Builder's Call
Spring Builder's Call 2017St. Mark's United Methodist Church -
Cedar Rapids, IA
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids “seeks to welcome all people to share life’s journey, learning to know Christ as our Savior and serving Christ by serving others.” Our Spring 2017 Builder’s Call is to assist St. Mark’s in the construction of a building addition that houses three special outreach ministries.
This building addition, which includes classrooms, community meeting space, and a large multi-purpose room upstairs, will serve the needs of the St. Mark’s congregation, as well as the Cedar Hills community of Cedar Rapids.
The Builder’s Call has played an important role in outreach and revitalization in the Iowa Annual Conference for years. Congregations and Builders from across Iowa are invited to contribute to these projects, which include additions to current churches, as well as the building needs of new faith communities.
Your generosity will be a great gift to St. Mark’s.
St. Mark's United Methodist Church Builder's Call Brochure
Fall Builder's Call 2016Grace United Methodist Church's Sawyer Center -
Marcus, IA
Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus, Iowa is committed to “follow Christ, love others, and serve the world.” Their bold plan for the future is leading them to build a multi-purpose room…and for many more important reasons than simply building!
Grace United Methodist's Builder's Call Brochure
Spring Builder's Call 2016Calvary United Methodist Church
Calvary UMC began as a frontier church in Okoboji, Iowa after a devastating loss of life from the Spirit Lake Massacre. Over the years they have gone from worshipping out of a tent, log cabin and a building inaccessible to the handicapped. The old building held back the congregation from being able to truly welcome all people. The new facility will allow them the space they need for their summertime worship (which can expand up to 250+ people), children, youth and elderly ministries.
Calvary United Methodist's Builder's Call Brochure
Maple Grove United Methodist Church
Read about how Maple Grove United Methodist Church, in West Des Moines, is at a crossroads, literally. The “little white church with the red doors,” built in 1900, has served a rural, farm community for decades. Now, it’s reaching to the future, a future of faithful service and the future neighborhoods that will flourish all around it.
You can support this new venture by lifting up the congregation in prayer and by your generous contributions. Please send your check made payable to the Iowa Conference with the notation of Builder’s Call on the memo line.
Maple Grove United Methodist's Builder's Call Brochure
Spring Builder's Call 2015Salem United Methodist Church
Read about how far Salem United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids has come over the past seven years. What was once a proud church, tracing its roots back to 1879, was inundated by the flood of 2008. But now, Salem is RISING! A renewed community of faith in a new location, Salem is reaching out with extraordinary energy, connecting people, building community, transforming lives through Jesus.
Salem United Methodist's Builder's Call Brochure
Fall Builder's Call 2014United Faith Church & Community Center
Read about how merging two churches has helped renew hope, vitality and energy in Sidney, Iowa.
United Faith Church & Community Center Builder's Call Brochure