The First Church of God in Des Moines Iowa is one of approximately 2,300 Church of God congregations. Their denomination was founded in the late 1800’s and they believe their holy text, the Bible, is infallible. They also believe that gifts of the Spirit, or charismata, is given to individuals who are believers. One might say they are a Charismatic Pentecostal church that believes in personal and corporate relationship with God through his only Son Jesus Christ.

Zooming back in to the local level, the First Church of God in Des Moines doesn’t believe one must speak in tongues to demonstrate they have been blessed by the Holy Spirit. The believe that people receive a variety of spiritual gifts that allow them to inspire and support one another. They also believe that healing, in a sense, is divine. “In addition to the healing that comes through natural processes and the informed use of medication and surgery, we believe that at times God directly intervenes in the life of individuals to initiate and complete healing.”

Their adult and youth formation groups are based upon the unconditional acceptance, love, and forgiveness Jesus had for humanity. They call this A.L.F. culture and believe that each recipient of Jesus’s unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness should show others, including strangers, the same.

On Wednesday evenings their community comes together for a variety of age-based activities and groups. At 5:00 PM children (age 4 – 5th grade) gather for activities, music, and games. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM and at 6:45 PM the children are sent home, and the teen discussion groups convene.