God answers prayers for new church in NW Des Moines

by Jon Kalvig, Lead Pastor, Union Chapel

Every church plant has a unique story. Through numerous books, blogs and face-to-face conversations, I have been enlightened by those who have followed God’s call to start a new church. Many have paved the way and yet each venture of church planting adds a new chapter of how it was birthed. While we look to launch this fall in NW Des Moines, God has exercised His creativity in orchestrating the start of Union Chapel.

In preparation for a September launch a couple key decisions needed to be made. The first was to find a co-planting pastor. Despite multiple conversations with several godly men, Union Chapel was still without a critical second pastor. Until one evening that still small voice of the Holy Spirit prompted me to contact a missionary friend from Brazil – Jeff Droogsma. As only to be obedient, I sent off a two sentence email with the subject title “Before you say no…”. After all why would a man in his 50s who was serving faithfully in Rio for ten years take interest in starting over with a 30-something in Des Moines, Iowa?

Little did he, or I, know but God was preparing him for another step of radical faith. Two months later, following three visits to Central Iowa, hours of praying and a number of visits with godly counsel the verdict was clear. God was calling Jeff and his wife Diane back to the states to help start Union Chapel.

No less desperate were we for God to reveal a place to worship in the Northwest suburbs of Des Moines. Having struck out with schools, organizations and even a gymnastics studio we found ourselves running out of options. Despite praying fervently for a facility to open up near the Highway 141 corridor, we believed Satan was trying to block our way into these communities. But in a supernatural turn of events God provided in the most unusual way.

Take a look at this video to discover the story of how Union Chapel got connected with a dance studio on Highway 141.