ABOUT THE 'FORT'

The 'Fort' did and is doing "a new thing". On November 20, 2005, the membership, for the first time in it's nearly 75 year history, approved a change in leadership from a senior-pastor lead congregation to a leadership team. On March 5, 2009 the membership affirmed the direction the 'Fort' is headed for another two more years. The goal of this "new" structure was and is to instill into the DNA of the church body the knowledge, in order to leave a legacy; you must live a legacy, "for what you do in life echoes in eternity." To achieve a legacy pleasing unto God we will need to purposefully join together and fulfill our roles as team players to insure the 'Fort' will be effective and vital to the growth of God's Kingdom. If we stay faithful, we will someday all be joint-heirs with Jesus. (Romans 8:17).

Easter Egg Hunt; Please contact the church office at 285-1720 or email; fortoffice@msn,com if you have any questions.

Our Vision and Purpose

Fort Des Moines Open Bible Church is not just a building sitting on a piece of land. The 'Fort' is the people who come together, utilizing the gifts God has created within them to encourage and embolden each other.

The 'Fort' is an open door community church with a dream and vision to equip today's generation with the tools and guidance needed to impact the world and leave a legacy. Our gatherings include inspired Bible teachings and times of passionate praise and worship facilitated by humble and Christ focused leadership.

Our guiding ministry values are:
• Knowing today's children and youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are leaders of today.
• Creating a refuge for broken and wounded hearts, with an effort to restore them to wholeness and health.
• Utilizing practical ministries to meet the physical and spiritual needs of today's generation.
• Taking the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to the world in a relevant manner.
• Making an impact of community transformation on Des Moines' south side.

The doors of the 'Fort' are always open!

LEADERSHIP AND STAFF

from left to right; Pastor Chad Davidson, Rev. Teri Beyer, Team Leader Pastor Matt Sanford

Our Speaking Pastors

Leadership Team

The leadership team works in tandem with the administrative board. While the administrative board handles the legal and administrative aspects of the church, the leadership team handles the spiritual and missional aspects of the church. The leadership team is not a governing, but rather an advisory, body that makes recommendations to the administrative board on spiritual and missional issues, like who will direct a ministry or which ministries will continue and which have run their course.

This year has brought a change in the make-up of the leadership team and also in the way the leadership team interacts with various ministry directors. In the past, and over the course of time the leadership team has been in force, some ministries have been directly involved in the leadership team by having their director as a member of the team. When Shy-Ann Davidson felt lead to remove herself from the leadership of children’s ministry, the team made the recommendation to the administrative board to manage ministry in a different way. With the approval of the administrative board, no longer would ministry directors serve on the leadership team. Instead the team members divided primary oversight of each ministry area among themselves so each ministry director reports directly to a member of the leadership team. That leadership team member reports to the whole team and brings questions, concerns, and input to the whole leadership team from the ministries that team member oversees. Pastor Matt, as team leader, also has periodic staff meetings with all the directors of ministries and allows the staff to offer ideas and input to the leadership team not only in their areas, but in all areas of ministry.

The leadership team meets once a month to discuss ministry and mission and to determine spiritual direction by establishing speaking-series topics. The goal of all speaking series is to minister to the body and to move the body in spiritual directions as the leadership team is directed by the Holy Spirit. Naturally, the team takes this spiritual responsibility very seriously and strives always to listen to what the Father is saying.

During its monthly meetings the leadership team meets with ministry leaders to listen to their hearts, hear their concerns, and offer constructive criticisms and heartfelt encouragement. The team also handles discipline and correction of ministry leaders when those are necessary.

Your leadership team has the spiritual and missional aspects of the church at the forefront of everything it does and every decision it makes. Spiritual and missional growth within the body are the first and foremost goals of the team, which is always striving for ways to provide more and varied opportunities for the members of the body so that growth can be accomplished. Change and innovation are major partners in the accomplishment of this goal. New innovations are not always successful, but like Thomas Edison the team sees lack of success not as failure, but rather as advancement. Discovering what doesn’t work is every bit as valuable in reaching the ultimate goal as discovering what does. What isn’t an option is stagnation. What isn’t an option is remaining where we are because it is comfortable. What isn’t an option is mediocrity. God gave us His best. We can do no less than give him ours.

In this new year, Pastor Matt Sanford, Rev. Teri Beyer and Pastor Chad Davidson, your leadership team, challenge you to partner with them to achieve to the fullest the spiritual and missional goals God sets before us. Remember, we are always more powerful working together as a team than we ever could be as individuals.

In December 2006, Matt replaced the initial team leader, Jim Beyer. The administrative board, Ken Dickerson, Sandy Gracey, Rod Janssen, Linda McClannahan and Scott Westercamp provide a covering for the leadership team while overseeing the business and financial operations of the church. The leadership team attends to the daily matters, cast visions, and organizes and motivates the congregation to "love and good works." (Hebrews 10:24) The leadership team and administrative board are comprised of dedicated men and women of God who work together for, "such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) The significance of that last statement emphasizes the significance of what God is doing in this body - a body whose very life depends on its obedience, dedication and sacrifice to Him. (Romans 12:1,2)

The uniqueness and effectiveness of a leadership team must be empowered by prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The members of the church body will each be challenged and deployed to function in their areas of gifting, "letting their lights shine." (Matthew 5:16) This body's relevance and existence will come from knowing its mission and intentionally structuring everything it does to achieve that mission. The body will be challenged to continually ask the question, how does what we are doing help to achieve our mission? Change will be constant.

We look ahead to functioning as a team, dedicated to the mission of: Recruiting from, Training for, Deploying Workers into THE HARVEST. May we "encourage one another and so much more as we see the day of His return approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

Team Leader - Matt Sanford

Pastor Matt has been a part of the "Fort" family literally since birth. He has grown up here, and over the years, has been shaped by numerous men and women of the faith. He has devoted most of his adulthood to serving within the church itself--teaching Sunday School, volunteering on the Youth Staff, and later becoming the Youth Pastor. Matt served as the Youth Pastor for seven years before becoming our Team Leader. Matt is bi-vocational. He has worked at AE Dairy since he was 21 years old. Being the Team Leader and working a full-time job has been intentional in many respects. He has a passion for building relationships with people who do not yet know Christ and living out the Great Commission. Matt's philosophy of ministry is very simple. "We are not here on this earth for ourselves. We are here to serve others. Just as Christ did. At the core of serving others is building relationships and loving people just as they are."

Matt and his wife, Jess, have been married for 16 years and have two children--Skyler and Sydnie. If you get to know Matt, you will very quickly discover he loves Nascar and is a die-hard Jeff Gordon fan. Matt also has taken up a new hobby--restoring old Farmall tractors. He also enjoys helping coach Skyler's baseball team.

The "Fort" is a part of Matt's DNA. "It is a wonderful place to serve and inspire others to live out their calling. Together we are making a difference for God's Kingdom!"

Jim Beyer – Church Administration

I count it a real privilege to serve the ‘Fort’ as its administrator. Basically my duties entail the behind the scenes operational things that need to be done to provide quality presentations and facilities. My time is spent answering the phone, overseeing the preparing of the weekly bulletin and calendar, making sure supplies are replenished, paying the bills, working with the staff and church board, etc. and in general keeping things current. Sounds kind of boring, but I truly enjoy using the organizational skills God has gifted to me. It is my sincere hope that in what I do it would bring honor and glory to God and that is never tedious or boring. Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:1, I Corinthians 10:31 are three of my favorite verses that sum up what I want to be in my position.

Kevan Wilson - Technical Advisor

Provide sound and video support for Sunday Morning worship, Holiday services, annual activities, and youth group. Help supervise, recruit and train volunteers to assist in running both visual and projection equipment and sound board. Creative and innovative artist enthusiastically working together with our worship leader, and leadership team to accomplish successful and timely instrument line checks, sound checks, band rehearsals and dress rehearsals.

Maintaining all of the audio and visual equipment used throughout the church. Maintaining the intercity and effective’s of all audio related equipment and/or cabling throughout all areas of the stage, to include instruments and monitor mixing equipment. Have a strong, growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and a commitment to holiness and a lifestyle of prayer and devotion. Be solidly committed to the ministry of Fort Des Moines Open Bible and the leadership team. Responsible for media and technical needs for all worship services and events. Recording audio all of our services to be posted on our website.

OUR HISTORY

Named because of its proximity to historic Fort Des Moines and affiliation with Open Bible Churches, Fort Des Moines Church of the Open Bible was established in 1931 out of a tent revival sponsored by the First Church of the Open Bible of Des Moines. The original church building was replaced by a multi-purpose facility in 1994 which still is in use today. Plans are to add a new ministry center or youth center to the existing facilities. An installation of a 25' cross and beautifiction of the main entrance was completed in September, 2009.

OUR FAMILY OF CHURCHES

The 'Fort' is affiliated with Open Bible Churches of Des Moines, IA, USA. Open Bible Churches is an association of approximately 350 local churches in the USA and hundreds more internationally. Born out of the Pentecostal and charismatic revivals of the last century, Open Bible Churches strive to maintain the benefits of teamwork and accountability. Among those benefits are children and youth ministries, conferences and retreats, ministerial training and credentialing, and cooperative missions endeavors at home and abroad. Open Bible Churches considers itself to be a small part of a much bigger whole and encourages interdenominational fellowship and unity in the body of Christ.

Click here: www.openbible.org to be connected to our Open Bible National Office

Click here: www.openbiblecentral.org to be connected to our Open Bible Regional Office

WE BELIEVE
• The Bible is the inspired word of God, the only authoritative written source of what to believe and how to live.
• There is one true God, the loving Creator of heaven and earth, who exists eternally in perfect unity as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Human beings, because of sin, have fallen from our original created goodness and are separated from God.
• Jesus Christ is the Son of God who, having been born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life as a man going about doing good and performing miracles. He was rejected and, as God planned, died on the cross as the once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of humanity. After dying, he was buried, but then came back to life and returned to heaven until the appointed time of his return.
• Because of Christ's shed blood on the cross, God graciously forgives our sins and grants eternal life to everyone who by faith accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
• The Holy Spirit is active on the earth and in the lives of people today, just as in Bible days, to reveal Jesus, guide, equip and empower us for fruitful and fulfilled lives of worship and service.
• All who believe in Jesus Christ form one spiritual body and are his church that is called to carry the message of God's love and reconciliation throughout all the earth. God's desire is that all Christians walk in unity.
• Heaven is eternal bliss and reward in the presence of God reserved for all who are in Christ by faith.
• Hell is darkness and the bitter sorrow of separation from God reserved for the devil and his followers who are not in Christ by faith.
• Jesus will someday return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords to reign with his church.
(* For an expanded version of this Statement of Faith visit http://www.openbible.org/articlesoffaith.html)

THE GOOD NEWS

It is Finished!

                                                Click on the Arrow (Usage with permission from Worship House Media)

The simple good news is that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ settled all the issues that used to keep us disconnected from God. God loves us and is not willing that any of us miss out on a life-changing, personal relationship with him. He continually tugs at our hearts to help us find him in a chaotic and messed up world. The door that activates that relationship is faith. The heart-knowing that Jesus is for real and that God asks nothing more of us than to believe him and accept his gracious love and forgiveness

Having entered into a personal relationship with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we grow deeper and stronger every day in that relationship. We can learn to sense God's presence, recognize God's guidance for everyday situations, receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit to overcome life's struggles and temptations, and gifts of the Spirit that enable us to make a difference in the world around us. It is a fruitful and fulfilling way to live. We call it destiny living.
And we don't have to do it alone. Not only are we assured that God walks with us every step of the way, but, as we discover and build quality relationships with other Christ-followers, we find we have a whole network of people who genuinely care for us and cheer us on, a Christian family.

God really does love us and have a great plan for each of our lives. Talk to God today. Tell him how you feel. Open your heart to him and invite him to be the leader and forgiver of your life. Ask him to become real to you. He will.
And if there is any way we can assist you in your spiritual journey, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Contact Us
Fort Des Moines Open Bible Church, 1116 Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA 50315
Phone: 515-285-1720, Fax: 515-285-1397; Church Administrator, Jim Beyer: 515-778-5692
E-mail: fortoffice@msn.com

Our Location

Located on Des Moines' south side, at 1116 Army Post Road (two blocks west of SW 9th) between Southridge Mall and the Airport.