Blog
Plant a Church
Jesus is on the move in Anandnagar, a village of 84 people in India, and we’d love to be a part of it! Right now, 25 believers are in need of a space to worship and preach the gospel. In partnership with Vishwa Vani, we hope to raise $10,000 in order to build a church in Anandnagar. Would you consider joining us in prayer and giving to see God continue to move among these people? If you’d like to give,…
Congratulations
Congratulations! You did it! Even if you didn’t make all 28 days, even if you had to start the fast every Monday because the weekends were just too long without checking Instagram, even if you found your attention diverted to a different form of technology, the past 28 days gave us time to pause and rethink how we interact with our technology. For me, every time I pick up my phone to search for something online, I still think, do…
What Now?
We are fast approaching the end of our digital fast: 28 days of a new approach to our technology, social media, and digital entertainment. One of the big questions we are faced with is what now? Do you jump right back into where you were before we started? Or do you find new rhythms or habits to help keep a healthier relationship with your device and technology? The goal was never to deprive ourselves for the sake of deprivation. It…
Resources for Lent
Lent is a season of quiet reflection, a sacred journey through forty days of renewal. With its roots in Christ’s own time of fasting and prayer in the desert, Lent serves as a time for deep self-examination, repentance, and spiritual growth. The season is framed by prayer, fasting, and benevolence—each an invitation to grow closer to the heart of God. Through prayer, we seek guidance and communion with God. Fasting reminds us of our need for spiritual nourishment and the…
Freedom
Congratulations! If you are doing the digital fast, you are over halfway done! What has changed for you in the last two and a half weeks? Have you noticed your desires shifting? Have you become aware of the times you do reach for your phone and stop to ask yourself, “Do I really need to do this right now?” Has God spoken to you during this time? One thing I have noticed is that some of the things that I…
Discoveries
We’ve entered the second week of the digital fast. How’s it going? What have you been noticing? This week, someone texted me that they looked at their screen time numbers, and last week’s screen time was down 56%! That’s awesome! If you’ve had a similar story of success (or even a story of struggle), we want to know! As you fast, you may notice things shifting in you. The “withdrawals” of the first week may become the urges and pangs…
Digital Fast Vs Autopilot
As we have begun a digital fast, I have started to notice a few things about my technology habits. One has been how much background noise seems to exist because I have enabled it. Another is finding myself wondering what I should do since I don’t have websites or social media to turn to during this season. One of the most fascinating things that I am discovering is just how much of my technology habits have been on autopilot. I…
28-Day Digital Fast
What role does technology play in your life? Do your social media accounts, emails, news channels, and video games give you peace and help you connect with Jesus? Maybe. But, if you’re like us, it’s easy for technology to go from harmless to distracting, anxiety-inducing, and unfulfilling. That’s why we’re inviting you to join us in a 28-day digital fast beginning on Sunday, February 2 and ending on Sunday, March 2. What does that look like for Ashworth Church and…
Other Gods
Rooted in the first of the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, Judaism has a central tenet known as the Shema: “Hear O Israel there is one God. The Lord is our God . . .” However, when we look carefully at God’s wording of the First Commandment: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2-3 NIV).…
Christmas Cheer 2024
Christmas Cheer is an opportunity to give back during the holidays and keep Christ at the center of the season. We encourage you to get involved in one (or a few!) of the opportunities we have available this year. Hope Ministries Turkey Pickin’ Saturday, November 23 at 8:30 am Hope Ministries: Bethel Mission (1310 6th Ave., Des Moines) For our 10th year in a row, we prepared the turkeys for 4,000 Thanksgiving meals to serve people in need in our…
Eat This!
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live…
Options
Who doesn’t feel under the pressure of the noise and endless options that seem to be the norm for our modern lives? Is there ever a moment when there is not a list of things taking up space and wanting our attention? It’s the harassment of obligation and worry that drives us to twitch, stomp, and run like horses plagued by bot flies. Horses will group together, tails swishing, or roll in the dirt to find relief. We look for…