Washington and Wall Street, magnates and millionaires all have agendas for the shaping of the world in their own image. The changes and fads come and go and most often create chaos. Jesus announced his agenda in his home synagogue. He came to give good news to the poor, release the captives, give sight to the blind, lift up the oppressed and set th…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Nick Brannen from January 26, 2025Nick Brannen - Hope Ankeny Pastor

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews seniors Brock Peterson and Finn Stukerjurgen of the Ankeny boys’ swimming team about the Hawks’ prospects heading into the championship portion of the season.…

Can our circumstances keep us from God? See how God sends Philip to give surprising insight to an unlikely convert. https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

Tune in to hear host, Ken Morris, Jr., Ankeny Schools' Chief Diversity Officer with guests Abby Canfield - Southeast Elementary Social Worker, Kelsey Leaper - Prairie Trail Elementary Counselor, Micaela Tuttle - Assistant Principal at Southeast Elementary, as they explore the use of restorative practice as a way to build stronger connections, promo…

Jesus can completely change your life. Which way are you heading? Watch or listen now to this week's message from the book of Acts. "This is the Way". https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

When the world cries out for answers, what does it mean to tug on the sleeve of Jesus? From empty wine jars to the cries of grief, moments of scarcity meet unexpected abundance. What happens when we plead, 'Do something about it? Isaiah 62:1-5 | 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 | John 2:1-11Pastor Travis Segar

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from January 19, 2025Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball coach Scott DeJong and senior guard Mya Crawford about the Jaguars’ 8-4 start and looks ahead to the rest of the season.…

So, why does Jesus need to be baptized? If he is sinless, what forgiveness is needed? Why does the Son of God submit to John’s baptism when even John claims he is unworthy to “untie the thong” of Jesus’ sandals? These are questions that have vexed the Church for centuries. Luke’s unique way of dealing with these questions places John in prison and …

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from January 12, 2025Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

What does it mean to be great? In Acts 8:4-25, we see the greatness of the Gospel collide with worldly greatness. Acts: to the ends of the earth: Philip and the Magician Acts 8:4-25 with Pastor Todd Hessel. https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic Rodcast, Rod Brannan of Shelter Insurance and Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm are joined once again by sports fan extraordinaire Tony Rhoads to break down the hottest topics in the world of sports.Ankeny Fanatic

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny boys’ basketball coach Brandt Carlson and junior guard Rio Aguirre about the Hawks’ 69-51 victory at Ankeny Centennial and the team’s 4-4 start to the season with an inexperienced roster.…

When we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, we tell the story of astronomers from the east who bring three gifts. Christmas pageants and hymns portray these visitors as three kings. There are however, only two kings in the story. The fake one named Herod sitting on a throne in Jerusalem and the real one, Jesus, lying in a manger in Bethlehem. Isaiah s…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from January 5, 2025Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

There is a difference between simply knowing Christ, and truly abiding in Him. What does this difference look like? Are you abiding in Christ? Let's explore what Jesus says. Watch or listen now to this week's message from speaker Jonah Vos "True Connection: Abiding in Christ" (John 15:1-11) https://www.ankenyfree.church…

Dr. Pruitt is celebrating multilingualism and the journey of our Ankeny students breaking through language barriers and swinging doors to fluency wide open! Ankeny Teachers Lissa Fulkerson, Marcella Mallet, and Brooke Fry have a lot to say about their students and the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Program. Despite the added cultura…

As we step into the new year, Paul’s words to the Colossians remind us that the Christian life isn’t about striving to accomplish an impossible checklist. It’s about letting Christ—letting Christ’s peace, love, and word dwell in us and work through us. In a world focused on resolutions and self-improvement, Paul invites us to surrender, trust, and …

Incarnation – the divine becoming flesh - is a wildly radical notion. Most religious thought in human history has firmly fixed a chasm between heaven and earth, between divinity and humanity. Yet we proclaim that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” What does this mean?Pastor Tim Olson

Calling the night of our Savior’s birth :silent” seems an historical stretch. After all there were noisy animals, singing angels, shepherds speaking, and a crying baby. There were also many voices in the world made it seem impossible that anything or anyone important could happen in Bethlehem. Our love of this carol seems to be rooted in not the fa…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Nick Brannen from December 29, 2024Nick Brannen - Hope Ankeny Pastor

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from December 24, 2024Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

Mary’s Magnificat isn’t a lullaby—it’s a revolution. The world is about to turn, and everything is changing. A humble girl sings of God’s justice, lifting the lowly and scattering the proud. This isn’t just ancient history—it’s the hope we hold onto today.Pastor Travis Segar

Christmas is about seeing the war and following Jesus as our way to peace. Watch or listen now to A Not-So-Silent Night (Zechariah’s Song) - The Benedictus - Luke 1:68-79 with Pastor Todd Hessel. https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

Our beautiful nativity scenes don't capture the shame that would have been surrounding Christ's birth. Yet Mary didn't see the shame, but the Lord who was turning the tables on the world. Listen now to this week's message "Mary's Song: The Magnificat" with Pastor Todd Hessel https://www.ankenyfree.church…

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews former Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer standout Alanna Pennington, ex-Ankeny Centennial girls’ cross country and track runner Jesslyn Gaumer, and Ankeny Fanatic photographer Evan Reiter.…

In this episode, Dr. Amy Dittmar, ACSD Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, sits down with Amy Ingersoll & Kayla Feld, Lighthouse Coordinators at Prairie Trail and Heritage Elementary, and Ben Muller, Principal of Prairie Trail Elementary. They’re talking all about Leader in Me—a powerful program teaching students leadership, accountabili…

When John the Baptist addresses his congregation as a “Brood of vipers,” it hardly seems like good news. Rather than an insult, however, John is calling out the misguided notion that we can avoid judgment because we’re the right kind of people. We shall all be shaped for life in the reign of God through judgment or repentance. Repentance invites us…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Nick Brannen from December 15, 2024Nick Brannen - Hope Ankeny Pastor

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm previews Thursday’s Jag-Hawk wrestling dual with coach Jack Wignall and senior Andrew Haase of Ankeny along with coach Jay Groth and senior Isaac Bruhl of Ankeny Centennial.…

Sometimes following Jesus means losing your life. Acts 7 helps us to see how, when we are surrounded by rejection, we are to stand in the grace of God. https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

Worship features readings of the season and music by the Adult Choir and a small chamber ensemble.Pastor Tim Olson

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from December 8, 2024Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the start of the girls’ basketball season with coach Scott DeJong and senior Tillie Smith of Ankeny Centennial along with coach Nate Tobey, senior Savannah Gage and junior Jayla Williams of An…

Acts: To the ends of the earth: The complaint of the widow // Act 6:1-7 // Speaker:Hunter Thorpe https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

Acts: To the ends of the earth "When the wheels fall off the wagon" // Acts 6:8-15 // Bob Bressert https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

Advent is more than waiting—it’s stewarding hope. In a world weighed down by uncertainty and injustice, how do we rise up and see signs of God's kingdom breaking in today?Pastor Travis Segar

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Minister Emily Beltrame from December 1, 2024Emily Beltrame - Hope Ankeny Minister

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the start of the girls’ wrestling season with coach Dustin Roland, senior Elyse Engebretson and junior Trudy Haag of Ankeny. Realtor Ronda Dix also makes an appearance.…

To whom will we give our lives to? That is the question on the Festival of Christ the King. Will it be the kings, presidents, rulers, and powers of this world? Wall Street or Madison Avenue? Or will we serve the only one “who was, who is, and the one coming?” as the Book of Revelation names him? Will we trust the powers and people who will pass awa…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from November 24, 2024Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

A commitment to the Gospel means a commitment to God above all things. This week, we will see that commitment tested in ways we still face today. https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

Whenever the Bible speaks of suffering, war, or cataclysm of any kind we tend to assume it is speaking of God’s punishment. Jesus does not do that. Referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, “war and rumors of war,” he calls them “birth pangs.” This does not minimize the suffering and pain. It reminds us, however, that the birth pangs…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from November 17, 2024Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor

In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm recaps the state tournament and previews the Senior Volleyball Classic with coach Michele Quick, setter Katie Quick and outside hitter Carley Craighead of Ankeny Christian Academy, outside hitter Delaney …

When schools, nonprofits like the Food Bank of Iowa, students, and dedicated staff come together, real change happens. Ankeny Schools Community Engagement Specialist, Madisen Gaskin hosts a roundtable discussion with Michelle Book, CEO & President of Food Bank of Iowa, Scott Litchfield the Director of Nutrition Services for Ankeny Schools, and Leah…

The church shares and cares for one another. Listen to how the Spirit empowers us to become the people of God. https://www.ankenyfree.churchAnkeny Free Church

What does it mean to give everything when you don’t have enough to begin with? A widow’s offering of two small coins challenges everything we know about generosity, trust, and faith. In a world that devours us, how can we respond with faith that holds nothing back? What does it truly mean to offer our all?…

Hope Ankeny - Sermon by Pastor Scott Rains from November 10, 2024Scott Rains - Hope Ankeny Pastor