Urbandale's New Hope Assembly of God Is Building New Church

The steel outline of its future church dwarfs the landscape northwest of

The future - of the once tiny Urbandale church - beckons in a massive $11 million expansion project.

“It’s just grown steadily from Day One to today, where we are bustin’ the seams of our current sanctuary, and we’re anxious to get into the new one,” said Dale Acheson, a member since the church’s 1990 inception and chairman of its building committee.

A New Sanctuary

The current church, at 6800 Townsend Ave., opened on Oct. 7, 1990 with 17 congregants in a modest building on less than an acre of land, said Pastor James L. Weaver.

Construction of the new building began in May and will conclude in the fall of 2012. It is the first of a four-phase project. The front of the church will face west on 70^th Street and will feature a 54,000-square-foot sanctuary, which will be able to seat about 864 people. The two-story structure will contain more than 20 classrooms, a coffee shop, a large foyer and an orchestra pit. The building will also have state-of-the-art technology. Parking also will be expanded.

“We don’t have enough classrooms right now for all grade levels,” said Weaver, who is the founding pastor.

But, the focus of the church – despite its sprawling site - remains the same and is focused on children and youth and helping people get closer to God, Weaver said.

“My goal has never been to build a large church,” said Weaver. “My goal has been to be a faithful pastor.”

Building Relationships

More than 1,200 people attend morning services at New Hope, Weaver said, and the church has 2,000 adherents. The church promotes relationship-building, he said.

“Our philosophy of ministry has always been to children first, to youth and adults,” Weaver said.

Acheson agreed. His three children grew up in the church. He said Weaver believes strongly in relationship-building.

“He truly preaches from a biblical perspective of God’s love and grace,” Acheson said. “People just seem to gravitate to it.”

Future Building Growth

The remaining three phases will happen during the next five to seven years, Weaver and Acheson said.

• Phase 2 – Office complex and education wing

• Phase 3- Fellowship hall and kitchen

• Phase 4 – Collegiate size gym and fitness center

Urbandale's population increased 35.74 percent between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census. The church, too, is in a period of immense growth, Weaver said.

“We are probably the fastest growing church in our denomination in our state,” Weaver said.

The existing church facilities will continue to be used for youth and college ministries, Weaver said.