Open House!

New Life will host an Open House on February 10, 2013.  And you are invited!  The open house will celebrate New Life's 2nd anniversary.  It will be held at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church Youth House that Sunday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm.  Come for the fun!  Come for the food!  Come for the fellowship!  And celebrate what God has been doing in New Life Prison Community for the last two years!  God is Good....All the Time!  And all the time...God is Good!

Map to Calvary CRC

Hello New Year!

The New Year of 2013 is here!  It led us at New Life to explore our Newness in Christ - the old has gone, the new has come!  We had a New Life in Prayer group on New Years Day - January 1, 2013.  Three Volunteers and Six inmate-members reflected on the biblical theme of NEWNESS.  So here you go...

What New Song will you sing in 2013?  Psalm 96:1

What New Thing is God doing in your life ahead into 2013?  Isaiah 43:18-19

Explain the New Spirit of God and the heart change that results.  Ezekiel 11:17-20

What gives you Hope?  Lamentations 3:21-23

How is the New Life of Christ's resurrection taking place within you?  Romans 6:1-4

You are a New Creation - what do these remarkable words mean for your life?  2 Corinthians 5:16-18



People of God, God is making you New.  This radical newness flows from God the Father like a river of Life.  It's newness in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Goodbye Old Year!

The Big Clock struck midnight, the Big Ball dropped in Times Square, and now it's time to say goodbye to the year 2012.

But first let's take a few moments to reflect on the year that was:



January - Former New Life member Randy was baptized by Pastor Art at Calvary CRC in Pella.

February - New Life celebrated its first birthday.  8 men were baptized and 3 men professed their faith at the New Life worship service.  A sweet keyboard was purchased for use in worship.

March - Rick & Rose attended Church Planter's "Boot Camp" in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  New Life welcomed Dr. David Schuringa of Crossroads Bible Institute.

April - New Life celebrated Easter at the prison.  Pastor Rick preaches about Jesus' 7 words from the Cross.  Inmate-member Bill does a great job reading the Scripture.

May - Pastor Rick & Rose's son John was hospitalized.  New Life welcomed the Gospel Singers Male Chorus to perform at a worship service.

June - New Life had its 2nd baptism service.  8 more men were baptized and 2 more men professed their faith.  New Life dedicated a new communion table / baptistery.

July - Mary Mortenson, president of Prison Congregations of America, visits New Life with her husband.  She treats the volunteers to ice cream after worship!  At the end of July, Pastor Rick competes his 2nd ride across Iowa on his bike.  Hundreds of supporters offer financial support in the 2nd Pedal for Prisoners!

August - Pastor Rick preaches every Sunday, visiting supporting church Trinity - St. Louis for the first time.  The Admiraals also enjoy watching the Cardinals win their game against the Brewers.

September - Half a dozen new volunteers are trained by the Dept. of Corrections.  Pastor Rick visits Denver to attend the annual Peacemakers Conference.

October - Karen Swanson leads an evangelism seminar at the prison.

November - At the Thanksgiving service, 4 more men were baptized.  Many of them gave powerful testimonies of how God is changing them, forming a New Creation in Christ.

December - Pastor Rick attends his 2nd Brothers in Blue at Fort Dodge Prison.  Lord willing, Brothers in Blue will come to Newton in 2013!  The Christmas service was postponed due to severe weather.  With a smaller group of volunteers, we moved Christmas service from Thursday to Friday, celebrated the birth of our Lord & Savior.

Piercing the Darkness - Christian Rock Concert

Steve Shettler and his band Piercing the Darkness are scheduled to play at a totally different venue in the month of February: the Newton Prison!  On February 2, they'll be blasting the roof off the prison gym with their inspirational, edgy sounds of Christian rock. As a child of the 1980's who listened to a lot of FM radio, I can't wait!  It'll be great!  Here's a sound sample from Piercing the Darkness.  This tune is called "Forever."  Enjoy!