First Baptist Church of Hawarden

08/11/2025

Please like and follow our new page. We will be shutting this page down!

07/06/2025

Just a reminder: please like and follow our NEW page! We will be shutting this page down!

06/25/2025

Due to some technical difficulties and new staffing, we will be shutting down this page. Please follow our NEW page First Baptist Church of Hawarden (Hawarden First Baptist Church). We have tagged the new page above. Blessings!

12/15/2024

Due to the icy conditions, we will be canceling church for tomorrow, December 15. Pastor Dave will be recording a message for tomorrow, and the link will be sent out. Stay safe!

06/29/2024

Just a reminder: service tomorrow will be held at Porter Funeral Home at 9:00. See you there!

06/29/2024

MESSAGE FROM PASTOR DAVE:

Friends of FBC Hawarden,

Please call or text me with any needs you know of – housing, cleanout, etc. I wanted to give you a few updates about the church and the building:

1. Most important: People still need help cleaning out their homes. Please give your neighbors your help. Don’t know where to help? Go to the City Office tomorrow after 8:30am, and they will find a spot for you!

2. Worship will be 9:00am Sunday at Porter Funeral Home on 10th St. They’ve graciously allowed us to use their building for worship.

3. Work on the building has paused until we know more from the insurance company. We cannot do any more at this time.

4. The church is the body of people who come together to worship the Risen Lord. I know this is a hard time, but it matters not where we meet. I hope to see you Sunday.

Please text, call, or email me with any needs.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Dave

06/25/2024

First Baptist family, if you need somewhere to shower or you need to do a load of laundry, please contact Misti Osterkamp! She is offering her home to those who need it! Thank you Misti!!

06/24/2024

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR DAVE:
Friends of First Baptist,

I hope you are all safe and staying healthy. I know that some of your homes and families continue to be impacted by the flood, and I've also heard of your generosity toward those in need. Good job!

A few updates:

- Hawarden is coordinating volunteers to help clean up. To request help cleaning up your house, or to offer your assistance (please!) go to the Hawarden page.

- A lot of donations were sent from South Dakota and elsewhere in Iowa yesterday - so much that the city has asked for a pause on donations until they get a new distribution center running. A truckload of clothing, and financial contributions, were sent from Big Springs and many other South Dakotans through Hudson EMS yesterday.

- The water has receded in the church basement. Most of the main rooms are dry. We're running fans and our working AC unit to move air, and we're also assessing what needs to be removed.

- As always, homes come first. If you know someone needs help - contact me or a Deacon. I'm connecting with other Iowa churches to see if work crews can come help us clean up.

I'll be in touch with updates about the church building, and to let you know what we need next. Look out for your neighbors, and encourage the town and aid workers who have been at this for more than three days now. We're all just figuring it out as we go. Let's be the encouragers!

Pastor Dave

06/23/2024

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR DAVE

Friends of First Baptist Church of Hawarden,
Well, it's shaped up to be quite a week. I'm not sure when I'll be across to see you again, but know that your brothers and sisters here at Big Springs are praying for you and donating what we can to help flooding victims throughout the region.

A few notes of encouragement:
1. We don't know what's next for the church building: the upstairs is dry, but there's a foot of water in the basement, with no idea when it will leave. Until the town's drains and sewers start working again, there's nowhere for the water to go, even if we pump it out. We'll know more in the next 24-36 hours.

2. People's homes are more important right now: I know the church building can't wait forever, but right now it is second. People's homes are first. If you are safe, help people get in their homes. If you have spare time, help people get in their homes. The Gospel is served when we put our own needs and wants last.

3. These are the kinds of trials that reveal what Christians care about: Let's show the world how we love and serve one another, and how much grace we have to give the world.

I'm in constant contact with the deacons, and any of you are welcome to contact me with needs or concerns. I'll see you soon.

~Pastor Dave
412-609-2974
[email protected]

06/23/2024

Good morning all! Update on the church. There is at least a foot of water in the basement, including pastor's office. Please stay out of the church for now until insurance is notified and they can assess the damage. There is nothing we can do now. The fellowship hall and sanctuary were not affected. Please keep praying for all who have been affected by this flood, including some of our own church family.

06/23/2024

I've put together a small worship service for FBC Hawarden for this weekend. Share with your friends! Stay safe.
~Pastor Dave

A Guidebook for Christians in Tough Times: Lessons from 1 Peter

06/22/2024

Due to the significant flooding and the safety of our congregation, we will not have services tomorrow, June 23. Please stay safe, and pray the Lord to bring us out of this difficult time.