All children should have a safe place to sleep. That's the commitment of several churches around the region who have started a Bed Ministry in their local communities. The ministry began in this region with First Christian Church of Newton. Families in need are identified through the school system or a social worker. Then a new bed is constructed for the child. FCC Newton displayed information about the project at an All Congregational Gathering a few years ago. They shared how they constructed the beds in the basement of their church and sought out local partners to help provide mattresses and bedding.

At that gathering, members of FCC Keokuk saw the display and took the idea back to their church's mission team. Since then, FCC Burlington and FCC Fort Madison have gotten involved. Each congregation has found a way to construct and give away beds to needy children in their communities.

Recently, an article about the bed ministry appeared in the Fort Madison Daily Democrat. The article quotes Pastor Leslie Dalstra in Fort Madison about why they do this ministry: “We create opportunities for people to connect with their community in a benevolent way,” she said. “Not because we want you to come to church on Sunday – that would be great – but we don’t have an ulterior motive. We just do it because as Christians we feel that it is our call to invite people to help one another out.”

You can click here to read the article.