RBC began as a church plant from Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Ames, Iowa. We covenanted together as a church on February 8, 2015. Our aim from the beginning has been to see a local church that emphasizes historic Baptist ecclesiology and Reformed soteriology for the glory of God and our greatest good in Christ. By God’s grace we continue to pursue this goal.
The driving pursuit of our congregation has always been to be a church that preaches Christ crucified, risen and reigning; to live in the liberty of God’s Word and not the bondage of human opinion and unbiblical pragmatism; to preach the gospel that more in our community might be saved; to be used of God to build a church that focuses on Christ and the diversity of real relationships not programs, entertainment and dividing up into various demographics; and to be used of God to help believers persevere in this life and make it safely home to God’s kingdom through Christ alone. We are undeserving sinners, but we serve a glorious King.
Through the years God has been gracious to our congregation even in the face of adversity. We began gathering at Stilwell Junior High in West Des Moines, and we currently we meet in Des Moines at 3717 Forest Avenue in Des Moines (Crestwood Church’s building). As the years have passed we have only grown in unity and are excited for what the Lord has in store for the future.
We gather both in the morning and evening each Lord’s Day. We also gather on Wednesday nights for a corporate Bible study that is open to all. By God’s grace, as members of Christ’s body, we continue to grow in the image of God’s Son to be a display of His manifold wisdom in the gospel to the city of Des Moines.