Our Story

In January of 1988, Dan and Roi Lene Paxton, along with their three children Josh, Abbi and Betsy, were living in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Formerly from Iowa, the Paxtons had moved to New Mexico to pursue Dan’s career as a high school football coach.  After five years of coaching and teaching in the schools, Dan and his family left to help establish a church.  They continued coaching and teaching, but this time for God.  It was during that time that Dan experienced the voice of the Holy Spirit telling him, “I am now going to take you to a place where you speak their language.”

Seven years later, the Lord asked the Paxtons to leave the Southwest and move back to Iowa. They were moving back to the place where they ‘spoke the language.’  Upon arriving in Cedar Falls in the fall of 1988, the Paxtons began to invite people into their home for Bible study.  A small group began to gather.  On April 22, 1990, 27 people met together for worship and the Heartland Vineyard Church was born.

Since that time, the Church has grown steadily as people have come to know Jesus and find new life in Him. Staff members have been added, ministries have developed, services have expanded, and leadership has increased, but the heart remains the same.

 

Daughter Churches  
Vineyard Community Church of Waverly
Harvest Vineyard Church of Waterloo
Countryside Vineyard Church of Evansdale
Harvest Vineyard Church of Ames
Vineyard Community Church of Mason City
Haven Vineyard Church of Newton
Ben and Amy Dau
Judy and George Marshall
Bill and Angie VanWey
Josh and Cory Miller
Bruce and Mara Ouverson
Brian and Jane Cibula
   
Granddaughter Church  
LaCosecha Vineyard Church of Waterloo Jorge and Nuris Lopez (planted by
Harvest Vineyard Waterloo)

Priorities

  • sincere, intimate worship
  • compassion-driven outreach
  • hands-on, spirit-led ministry
  • grace-filled obedience to the Word of God
  • loving, care-frontational community
  • development of a servant's heart

our mission & values statementsPDF