Cornerstone Church of Ames
Encyclopedia
Cornerstone Church, located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and Interstate 35
in Ames, Iowa
, was established in 1994 as an evangelical
Christian church and has since grown to a congregation size of more than 2,000 active members. The church’s stated mission is “to become a God-centered community of obedient believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
college students that was connected with Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Ames. Since this college ministry, The Salt Company, was becoming larger than the church's congregation, Grand Avenue Baptist Church gave approval for the leaders of The Salt Company to plant a new church that was named Cornerstone Church. This name was based on a verse in the Bible that states, “…with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
The first service was held on August 28, 1994 in the evening at Grand Avenue Baptist, and within six months the service had to move to a larger auditorium located in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center
to accommodate for the increase in numbers. A year later, Cornerstone again grew out of their space and moved to the largest available auditorium space located at the Ames Middle School. The congregation size continued to grow as The Salt Company also grew, and when the funds and land was available, the members came together to support the construction of a new building that they could call home.
In September 1999, the first service was held in the new building that Cornerstone Church of Ames continues to reside in. Cornerstone Church now averages over 2,000 people at their three weekend services held in the 1,500-seat auditorium, making it the largest church in Ames. Cornerstone is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
and is a member of the Willow Creek Association
. They base all of their teachings on the Bible. As of fall 2007, Cornerstone announced an expansion project, which has included a 1,500-seat auditorium (as opposed to the original 637-seat auditorium) to furnish the tremendous growth that this church continues to experience.
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, was established in 1994 as an evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian church and has since grown to a congregation size of more than 2,000 active members. The church’s stated mission is “to become a God-centered community of obedient believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
History
Cornerstone Church was established in 1994 from its roots as a ministry for Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
college students that was connected with Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Ames. Since this college ministry, The Salt Company, was becoming larger than the church's congregation, Grand Avenue Baptist Church gave approval for the leaders of The Salt Company to plant a new church that was named Cornerstone Church. This name was based on a verse in the Bible that states, “…with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
The first service was held on August 28, 1994 in the evening at Grand Avenue Baptist, and within six months the service had to move to a larger auditorium located in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center
Iowa State Center
The Iowa State Center is located just southeast of Iowa State University's central campus in Ames, Iowa. It is a complex of cultural and athletic venues...
to accommodate for the increase in numbers. A year later, Cornerstone again grew out of their space and moved to the largest available auditorium space located at the Ames Middle School. The congregation size continued to grow as The Salt Company also grew, and when the funds and land was available, the members came together to support the construction of a new building that they could call home.
In September 1999, the first service was held in the new building that Cornerstone Church of Ames continues to reside in. Cornerstone Church now averages over 2,000 people at their three weekend services held in the 1,500-seat auditorium, making it the largest church in Ames. Cornerstone is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
and is a member of the Willow Creek Association
Willow Creek Association
The Willow Creek Association , a 5013 not-for-profit ministry, is an international, evangelical Christian association of more than 9,000 member churches from 90 denominations and 45 countries.-Mission:...
. They base all of their teachings on the Bible. As of fall 2007, Cornerstone announced an expansion project, which has included a 1,500-seat auditorium (as opposed to the original 637-seat auditorium) to furnish the tremendous growth that this church continues to experience.
Ministries
Cornerstone Church of Ames has many activities or ministries provided to an assortment of age groups as well as people groups. These groups allow for people to have fellowship in small group settings or "connection groups", and they also equip people with Biblical principles in large group settings primarily through worship and teaching.- D6 Families: A ministry for families with young children that meets Wednesday nights and also during weekend services.
- 180: A ministry for junior high students that meets Wednesday nights.
- Escape 22: A ministry for high school students that meets Wednesday nights.
- The Salt Company: A ministry for college students that meets Thursday nights. The Salt Company is an official student organization at Iowa State University and is its largest campus ministry, averaging an attendance of 700 students each week.
- Freshman Group: A ministry for freshman college students meeting on Sunday nights.
- International Friendship Connection (IFC): An official student organization at Iowa State UniversityIowa State UniversityIowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
sponsored by Cornerstone Church that reaches out to international students.
External links
- Cornerstone Church (main website)
- The Salt Company (college ministry)
- D6 Families (family/children's ministry)
- 180 (junior high ministry)
- Escape 22 (high school ministry)
- IFC (international student ministry)