Find a Life Group

Empty Nesters – Phoenix

Sundays · 9:30 am

Location: Valley Church
Leaders: Denny & Marcia Henderson

We’re a community of empty-nesters (late 50s-70s) who love to learn, serve, and grow towards being wholehearted followers of Christ.

Young Adults

Sundays · 6:30 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leaders: Zach Carnahan

This is a Life Group of young men and women (mostly recent college graduates in their 20s) focused on Christ-centered community. We strive to grow in our understanding and obedience to the truths of God’s word and build friendships in a way that extends beyond just meeting on Sunday nights.

Multi-Station – Virtual Life Group

Mondays  ·  6:30 pm

Location: Zoom
Leaders: George & Kathie Held

We are retired from work but not from growing and learning! We love to travel, and once the pandemic has ended, we have lots of places we want to see.

We have been married 5 years. This is a second marriage for both of us. George’s first wife passed away 7 years ago, and Kathie was divorced over 25 years ago. We found each other through eHarmony. We each have our children, four in-law children, and seven sweet grandbabies.

We moved to Des Moines three years ago and built a new home near Van Meter. After moving here, we visited a number of different churches and chose Valley because of its teaching and vibrant ministries.

We’d love for you to become part of our online Life Group! We’ll be a group of folks who learn, grow, listen to and support each other, serve others, and enjoy Christian fellowship.

Multi-Station

Tuesdays Twice a Month · 6:30 pm

Location: Ankeny
Leaders: Bryan & Julie Host

This Life Group is a place where you can SHARE the joys and trials of life with other believers, grow in your day-to-day faith through the STUDY God’s Word, SUPPORT and be supported in a caring and safe community, and meaningfully SERVE the church and our community.

Bryan & Julie have been in pastoral ministry for the past 24 years and are now serving with the EFCA’s ReachGlobal training pastors and leaders in the global church. They have two wonderful daughters and two excellent sons-in-law. They can’t wait to connect with other Valley attenders who live in Ankeny.

Young Families

Wednesdays · 6:30 pm

Location: Zoom & In-Person
Leaders: Jared & Tasha Yepsen
Childcare Available

This Life Group is for couples with small children who want to be challenged and encouraged in their walk with Christ. We are committed to sharing life together, especially as it relates to having young children. Topics range from sermon-based studies to lessons in godly parenting to in-depth Bible study.

Grupo en Espanol

{Virtual} Grupo de Vida dirigido por Los Miercoles @ 7 pm

Location: Zoom
Leaders: Victor & Hilda Monzon

Los líderes Víctor e Hilda se mudaron recientemente de Monterey México y esperan ayudar a otros a crecer en su fe. Su grupo está diseñado para hispanohablantes que desean formar parte de una comunidad vibrante.

Leaders Victor and Hilda recently moved from Monterey, Mexico, and hope to help others grow in their faith. This group is designed for Spanish speakers who want to be part of a vibrant community.

Men

Wednesdays · 6:15 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leader: Jon Fontenot

Jon is married to Emily and they have 3 young kiddos and a dog. He feels strongly about building community through Life Groups and encouraging guys to be servant leaders. This group is for men (married and single) of all ages who desire to build friendships and grow deeper by studying the Bible. This group will go back-and-forth between reviewing weekend sermon and studies that are geared towards men.

Single Moms

Wednesdays · 6 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leader: Jennifer George
Childcare Available

This Single Moms Life Group is for women of all ages who are looking to find rest, hope, and encouragement in a Christ-centered environment. This group provides the opportunity to share the ups and downs of single parenthood while developing meaningful, supportive relationships. Jennifer is mom to two rowdy boys. She loves writing, running, cooking, and working with kids.

Young Families

Wednesdays · 6:30 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leaders: Jared & Tasha Yepsen
Childcare Available

This Life Group is for couples with small children who want to be challenged and encouraged in their walk with Christ. We are committed to sharing life together, especially as it relates to having young children. Topics range from sermon-based studies to lessons in godly parenting to in-depth Bible study.

Young Adults

Sundays · 6:30 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leaders: Zach Carnahan

This is a Life Group of young men and women (mostly recent college graduates in their 20s) focused on Christ-centered community. We strive to grow in our understanding and obedience to the truths of God’s word and build friendships in a way that extends beyond just meeting on Sunday nights.

Young Men

Thursdays · 6:30 pm

Location: Urbandale
Leader: Ben Willcockson

This is a Life Group for young men—mostly in their 20s and/or recent college graduates who are focused on making disciples of ourselves and of all nations through fellowship, worship, ministry, discipleship, and evangelism. We are passionate about Christ and obeying his commands, teaching, and admonishing while encouraging one another in becoming more like him. In an age when truth is what you make of it, we seek to build ourselves on the gospel truth, finding our identity in Jesus—one which is given by grace alone.

Ben Willcockson recently graduated from the University of Iowa and returned to the Des Moines area working for Wells Fargo Bank & Company. Ben has been a member of Valley Church for about a year but has been attending Valley Church with his family for approximately 10 years.

Men

Wednesdays · 6:15 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leader: Jon Fontenot

Jon is married to Emily and they have 3 young kiddos and a dog. He feels strongly about building community through Life Groups and encouraging guys to be servant leaders. This group is for men (married and single) of all ages who desire to build friendships and grow deeper by studying the Bible. This group will go back-and-forth between reviewing weekend sermon and studies that are geared towards men.

Nearly Empty Nesters – Integra

Sundays · 9:30 am

Location: Valley Church
Leader: Dick & Becky Gernant

Empty Nesters – Phoenix

Sundays · 9:30 am

Location: Valley Church
Leaders: Denny & Marcia Henderson

We’re a community of empty-nesters (late 50s-70s) who love to learn, serve, and grow towards being wholehearted followers of Christ.

Multi-Station – Virtual Life Group

Mondays · 6:30 pm

Leader: George & Kathie Held
Location: Zoom

We are retired from work but not from growing and learning! We love to travel, and once the pandemic has ended, we have lots of places we want to see.

We have been married 5 years. This is a second marriage for both of us. George’s first wife passed away 7 years ago, and Kathie was divorced over 25 years ago. We found each other through eHarmony. We each have our children, four in-law children, and seven sweet grandbabies.

We moved to Des Moines three years ago and built a new home near Van Meter. After moving here, we visited a number of different churches and chose Valley because of its teaching and vibrant ministries.

We’d love for you to become part of our online Life Group! We’ll be a group of folks who learn, grow, listen to and support each other, serve others, and enjoy Christian fellowship.

Multi-Station in Life

Tuesdays Twice a Month · 6:30 pm

Leader: Bryan & Julie Host
Location: Ankeny

This Life Group is a place where you can SHARE the joys and trials of life with other believers, grow in your day-to-day faith through the STUDY God’s Word, SUPPORT and be supported in a caring and safe community, and meaningfully SERVE the church and our community.

Bryan & Julie have been in pastoral ministry for the past 24 years and are now serving with the EFCA’s ReachGlobal training pastors and leaders in the global church. They have two wonderful daughters and two excellent sons-in-law. They can’t wait to connect with other Valley attenders who live in Ankeny.

Multi-Station in Life

Thursdays · 6:30 pm

Location: West Des Moines
Leaders: Richard & Molly Pierce

The Pierce family moved to Des Moines from Maine in 2016. Richard and Molly have two kids—Sophie (16) and Emerson (13). They look to grow closer to God together in fellowship with others. All ages and kids are welcome. They have two dogs and a cat.

Reasonable Faith: Apologetics

One Tuesday per Month · 7 pm

Location: Zoom
Leader: Steve Stratton

This group is for those interested in becoming better prepared to respond to questions and objections regarding the existence of God and the truth of the Christian faith. As a local chapter of Dr. Wiliam Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith ministry, our goal is to help make Christianity an intellectually viable option for thinking people in our community. Steve Stratton has developed a passion for apologetics and natural theology over the past few years.

Contact us to confirm meeting place.

Multi-Cultural

Tuesdays · 7 pm

Location: Valley Church
Leader: Daniel & Selvi Christudoss and Albert Cheah

We’re very excited to start this group! Daniel and Selvi are originally from India and have been part of Valley Church for many years. Albert is from Malaysia but has been in Iowa for the last 7 years, and truly loves this place! His experience from the past 2 years with one our young adult groups has been phenomenal!

This group is for anyone looking to build community with cultures from different backgrounds or for individuals who speak English as a second language. Get ready for new friendships, rich cultural exchange, and the opportunity to grow together in God’s word!

Grupo en Espanol

{Virtual} Grupo de Vida dirigido por Los Miercoles @ 7 pm

Location: Zoom
Leader: Victor & Hilda Monzon

Los líderes Víctor e Hilda se mudaron recientemente de Monterey México y esperan ayudar a otros a crecer en su fe. Su grupo está diseñado para hispanohablantes que desean formar parte de una comunidad vibrante.

Leaders Victor and Hilda recently moved from Monterey, Mexico, and hope to help others grow in their faith. This group is designed for Spanish speakers who want to be part of a vibrant community.