1995-Present

NEW SENIOR MINISTER

On October 6, 1995 Tony Liston, wife Stephanie, and sons, Caleb and Joshua, came from Indianapolis, Indiana to minister to the church. The Listons had worked with F.A.M.E. for approximately six months.

On March 5, 2000 our Jr/Sr high youth began a Teen Worship called “Real Life” that met on Sunday Mornings simultaneously with our regular worship. The church rented Terrace Elementary’s gym to hold the services. The youth set up and tore down the necessary equipment and supplies each morning prior to Sunday School and then moved over to Terrace where they planned and led the entire service with David Nassiff preaching. During the first 4 months, the attendance grew from about 16 to 28.

In August of 2000, the school system would not allow the church to use the gym as they needed it for storage to prepare for the school year. “Real Life” moved back to our building and began meeting on Sunday nights.

Charlie Johnson our former minister was hired as part-time Senior’s minister in the summer of 1997. Tony Liston resigned August 31, 1997 to begin a new Church plant with C.E.M. in Davenport, Iowa. David and Charlie shared the preaching responsibilities until mid-January, 1998 when Charlie resigned to accept a position with the Rising Sun Church of Christ. David continued filling the pulpit through April of 1998.

On May 3, 1998 Larry Lane and wife, Nancy, came to minister to the church. They came from the Morningside Church of Christ in Sioux City, Iowa. Larry and Nancy have two adult sons, Aaron and Nathan, both living out of state.

More Minister Transitions

Larry Lane served as minister for 6½ years, giving his resignation in October of 2004, leaving in December. David Nassiff once again filled the pulpit. Stan Smelser, one of our elders, shared some of the pulpit duties. On June 5, 2005 a congregational vote elected David Nassiff as our senior minister. Roger Smelser moved back into the area and assumed the position as part-time Senior’s Minister. The Church suffered a heart breaking loss with Roger’s passing the following July.

In September of 2005 we hired two new ministers to work with the youth. Amy Kellar was hired as part-time children’s minister. Her responsibilities was to work primarily with the children between the ages of 2 years and 5th grade. Dave Vandeman was hired as interim youth minister to work with the 6th-12th grade youth while the Church searched for a full-time youth minister.

Dave served until June of 2006 when the Church called Jacob Taylor, and his wife Misty, to serve as youth minister. Jacob began his ministry on July 5, 2006. The Taylors came to us with one daughter, Paityn, and have since had their second daughter, Paxtyn. Amy’s ministry concluded when Amy moved to Joplin, Missouri in August of 2006 so her new husband, Shawn Rogers could attend Ozark Christian College.

In October of 2007 we once again brought on a new staff member.  Doug Lucas is serving as our Minister to Seniors.  Doug has a passion to serve the Lord, and enjoys shepherding the flock.  Doug is married to Patsy who serves as our Church secretary.

LOOKING AHEAD

We celebrated our 30th Anniversary November 22, 1998. Praise God! We realize we have a wonderful and powerful God and He has blessed us greatly! We thank God for our spiritual growth as well as the many souls that have been won to Christ here at First Church of Christ in Ankeny. Our church has had many “Ups and Downs” since it’s beginning - 40 years ago, but we, as a congregation, know there is only one true and living God and He is still on the throne! Our prayer will always be that each one of us will strive to please Him more, to do His will, and pray that He will guide and direct us through many more years, that we may help to win more for His kingdom.