Since October 2023, the leaders and congregation of Harmony Bible Church have been praying and planning for a big change. These prayers have now become reality — the church’s Fort Madison campus is moving to a space that is larger, more visible, and easily-accessible to the community.
In recent years, the church has had a significant increase in attendance and services to further their mission. When the school board accepted the church’s proposal to purchase the structure for $1 in August 2024, the plan to renovate Richardson Elementary School into a worship space came to life. Through this expansion, the church hopes to establish a strong, lasting presence in Lee County that will serve as a refuge for help and hope in the community.
“Harmony Bible Church exists to bring glory to God by being disciples and making disciples of Jesus. […] As God causes this to happen more and more, our communities will be blessed as a result,” said Pastor Matt Mitchell. “The Fort Madison renovation and expansion […] will supply us with everything we need for continued and future impact.”
The new building’s versatility will expand the church’s capabilities for Sunday services and beyond, including youth ministry, classes, bible study, and more. With the added space, youth ministry volunteers shared that they are particularly excited about the new classroom spaces, which will be about five times larger than those at their current location.
While the church’s primary goal for this project is to offer more space for the spiritual needs of its growing congregation, it also aims to fulfill the community’s physical needs. The integration of The City Hope Foundation in the new campus offers services such as:
“It’s our hope that as we add The City Hope Foundation under the same roof as the church that we will be able to offer services that benefit our community beyond what they would receive from a Sunday morning experience alone,” Pastor Mitchell shared.
The new location on Avenue L also offers visibility and accessibility to the church and its vital services. “Most people don’t know where our current location is. However, the new location is one of the best in town.” Leadership hopes that along with increased visibility, the expansion will encourage the community to see Harmony Bible Church as a refuge for help and hope, where Jesus’ light shines through service and guidance.
This renovation represents more than a new space — it provides a new atmosphere that promotes a lasting presence in the Fort Madison area. Combined with its accessible location and community services, Harmony Bible Church is fulfilling its mission of making disciples while meeting the needs of their community. As the church continues preparing for this transition through prayer, planning, and community outreach, they extend an open invitation: “Everyone is welcome to come and see!”
If you are interested in donating to Harmony Bible Church, please visit the link below:
You’re building the future. Let’s talk about your project and see how we can partner to can make it a success.
