New City Church Marshalltown will hold its first service at 10 a.m. May 5 at the former Center Street Baptist Church located at 1202 S. Center St. The transition has been two years in the making, and as Lead Pastor Angie Juergens put it, God works in surprising ways.

“Center Street had heard about our New Wells Ministry Network and New City Church through an individual in Marshalltown. So Center Street reached out to our Network and wanted to have a conversation about the current situation that they were in as a church,” Juergens said.

Dwindling numbers and an aging congregation are issues many churches across America are facing.

“In that conversation, they wanted to see how our Network might be able to help them…we discussed some ideas, one of the options was to become a New City Church,” she explained.

The church’s mission is to: “renew our city by helping people find authentic relationships in Jesus.”

Juergens, a native of Winterset, has lived in Norwalk the past 15 years and has four children with her husband Alex. She has a Master of Arts in Evangelism & Leadership through Wheaton College’s Liftin School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Performance from Central College. She is also ordained through New Wells Ministry Network.

A few weeks ago, she conducted her final service at New City Des Moines where she worked as assistant pastor. But she points out, she’s been actively working on the new church in Marshalltown since the start of the year.

Juergens came to the Des Moines church 23 years ago, on staff 18 of those. In addition to assistant pastor, she’s served as worship leader and church administrator.

“Three years ago, (the Des Moines church) went from Cornerstone Family Church to New City Church,” she said. “I’m very confident that God has called me to be a part of New City Marshalltown with this whole idea of change. I’ve experienced it. I’ve helped lead through it. I’ve studied it, actually. To be a part of that, when we are taking those steps with another ministry, that is a key part of my involvement.”

She added that it was last summer she felt called among the New City staff to take the lead pastor role in Marshalltown and she looks forward to getting involved in the community.

Center Street Baptist Church held a Legacy Service April 14 to honor its members. Pastor Don Michaelsen has served as senior pastor since 2018 and will not have a role in the new church.

“We are delighted to engage with New City Church and become one with them. Our congregation is looking forward to being part of this vibrant, gospel-centered ministry, and we joyfully anticipate the opportunity to continue to offer life and hope through Jesus Christ to our community,” he said.

The former Baptist Church has been in Marshalltown since 1942. Blending the past and the present (and a Baptist faith with a non-denominational one) has been a process led by parties from both churches.

“That has been a big part of our conversation in the whole transition, because it’s an unlikely partnership, this sort of thing,” she said. “It’s much more common when churches come together within the same denomination. There are very few things doctrinally different between Center Street as a regular Baptist Church and New City Churches. There’s a whole lot more that unite us and that are central to this good news message.”

But being a female pastor and working mother has been met with some bias throughout her career, she notes.

According to information on its website, New City Church does not support same-sex unions. It states: “The Bible teaches that the only legitimate sexual union is in marriage between a man and a woman. Bible texts support the belief that any sexual relations outside the boundaries of a marriage between one man and one woman constitutes sexual immorality.”

When asked if this viewpoint aligned with her views, Juergens said, “I’m a part of the church organization. I’m ordained through the network that the church is a part of. And so as an individual, and as a ministry leader, I align myself with those same beliefs. In relation to the Biblical marriage statement, absolutely we want people to know that at New City, they are welcome. We are not going to, by any means, restrict anyone from joining us and being a part of the church family coming in worshiping with us, serving with us. So we absolutely welcome anyone and everyone to come and join us. But as far as our beliefs on the Biblical position on marriage, yes, that statement is what we hold to and how we guide ourselves as an organization.”

She said the Marshalltown church is beginning to increase in attendance rates through the transition process, seeing younger generations get involved.

“There’s a good blend of the generations as we kick off our first service. New City is certainly a family-oriented church. We prioritize ministry to the younger generations. They aren’t the future of the church. They are part of the church now. So we take very seriously ministering to kids and teenagers at all ages,” she said.

It will also host an official launch service at 10 a.m. June 2. To learn more about the church and its beliefs, visit: www.newcityfamily.com/marshalltown.

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