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What to Expect

 

At First Family, we describe ourselves as a simply intensely selfless church.

If you are thinking of visiting First Family, we would like to share with you some basic details of what you can expect …

Where: 317 S.E. Magazine Road, on the Southeast side of Ankeny, just north of DMACC and East of the new Ankeny High School.

Map/Directions: Click Here

Please Note: How far in advance should you plan to arrive? Allow 15 minutes, especially if you are checking children in to Kids Central, and if you’re attending the largest service at 10:30 AM. Each of our services are about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Music and Worship Style: The Worship Style at First Family Church is a blend of contemporary music styles led by praise bands and vocalists to create a worship experience that is a singular part of the worship service as a whole. The focus of our Celebration Services is Jesus Christ and pure teaching of the Word of God.

To View a Segment of our worship click here: Your Way Oh God or We are One.

Kid Central: In order to provide the best worship experience for everyone, we ask families with young children to take advantage of Kids Central, our Children’s Ministry. Every Sunday, your child can experience God’s love through creative, fun biblical teaching. Elementary-age kids(K-5th grade) begin in the worship service with their families and are then dismissed about half way into the service to attend Kids’ Central.

Check In for kids 5th grade and under begins 30 minutes prior to each service.

More Information: For other policies and more information, see the Kids’ Central section of our website. Parents are welcome to experience Kids’ Central with their child. Please check in with the Lead Teacher in the classroom.

The Building: In the Fall of 2009, First Family Church purchased a large facility on S.E. Magazine Road that formerly served as Sports University. Basic enhancements were made to allow us to begin meeting in the facility including the construction of temporary classrooms, equipping of a space for worship, and some additional office space. We are in the process of working with Simonson & Associates, a local architectural firm to design a fully functional, state-of-the-art facility within this existing property.

What to Wear / What to Bring

What to Wear: We are a casual congregation. Feel free to wear whatever you would like, as long as it’s not immodest!

Bring Your Bible: Every message at First Family Church is based completely in the Word of God. Pastor Todd preaches expositionally (verse-by-verse) through entire books of the Bible.  For more on our teaching emphasis at First Family, see our Panorama of Preaching.

Bring an open heart. Come expecting to hear God’s voice and learn something about Him, and yourself!

Bring a friend. We encourage you to bring a guest to service. God calls us to share our faith; you never know the impact you can make on someone’s life by a simple invitation.

Parking: A larger parking lot is Phase 1 of our master plan for renovating our facility. Parking is limited on our property, and we try to keep as much space available for guests, expecting moms, families with infants, elderly, and those with disabilities. We have access to a much larger parking lot located next door at Ankeny Sanitation. We provide shuttle service before and after each Sunday service. If you park at Ankeny Sanitation, simply wait in your car until the shuttle comes by to pick you up and drop you off at the front door of the church. FFC Shuttles have magnetic decals on both sides of the vehicles to identify them.

Weekend Service Schedule 

Sunday @ 8:30

  • Kid Central’s quality learning environments for infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary.
  • Adults in worship center.
  • Jr. High & High School Bible Study (youth room)
  • Periodic equipping classes.

Sunday @ 10:30

  • Kid Central’s quality learning environments for infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary.
  • Adults in worship center.
  • Periodic equipping classes.

After the Service

Want to Speak to a Pastor? Stop by the front of the Worship Center following the service to meet Pastor Todd; or during the week call the church office at 515-965-7625.

Visit the Neighborhood: There are a wide variety of restaurants and shops within a 2-3 mile radius of the Church (including Starbucks, Panera, Chili’s, Hu Hot, Okaboji Grill, IHOP, The Olive Garden, and many more).