We are grateful for our friends at Wishard Chapel. Thanks to their faithful support, we have been able to dig wells in impoverished communities in South Africa, providing clean water for drinking, washing, cooking, and irrigation. Their generosity was also instrumental in allowing us to create the infrastructure to maintain our Enviro Loo waterless toilet systems properly. We hope you enjoy getting to know our church partner of the month.

Wishard Chapel

Wishard Chapel, five miles north of Mount Ayr, Iowa, was formed in 1887. The church is the second oldest continually operating church in Ringgold County. Wishard Chapel began after much prayer and revival meetings in the spot that now houses the church. Since 2011, we have been a non-denominational church that believes the Bible to be true. We see evidence that the Word of God can and will change lives.

Pastor Bill & Sandy Armstrong have been spiritual shepherds since October 12, 2012. The church membership has grown, but more importantly, we have a diverse assortment of people that call Wishard Chapel their home church. The sanctuary seats 90, and most Sundays, God leads 60-75, on average, to come into His house and Praise Him. There are many Sundays and holidays when chairs are set up in the foyer to accommodate the crowd.

We have a strong youth program helping the next generation discover Jesus for themselves. Sunday school is held each Sunday at 9:30 am, and our weekly worship service begins at 10:30 am. During Pastor Bill’s message, we have children’s church for ages 2-10. Parents, led by Sandy Armstrong, have lessons and songs that help the children understand Jesus on their level.

Our congregation moves to Loch Ayr Lake on the third Sunday of July, southwest of Wishard Chapel. After we worship through music, Pastor Bill delivers a message about baptism, and we baptize people in the lake. It is truly putting into practice what Jesus commissioned in Matthew 28: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. This day also marks the beginning of a four-day Vacation Bible School, held on the Wishard Chapel grounds, with over 50 children attending. Each day, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, children are taught a bible-based curriculum, enjoy food, and celebrate with action-led singing and praising in the sanctuary.

We have always seen the importance of supporting missions & missionaries. For the past several years, our budget has included twenty-five percent of tithes & offerings going into missions. We support local missions, national missions, and international missions. We are grateful to be a part of the Blessman International Ministries and have had church members travel to South Africa to experience all that Dr. Blessman and his team are doing.

Wishard Chapel is excited to be a part of God’s Kingdom, and we are praying about how we might be used for His Glory.

Pastor Bill Armstrong