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For my Family

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OUR MISSION 

Love God

Love People

Point people to Christ!

As our mission states we want to love God and people and point people to our Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus is the answer to the issues we face in our world. We are a church that takes The Word of God seriously, loves and preaches Jesus every Sunday and seeks to live this out in our relationship with Him and others. Our desire is for everyone God puts in our path to have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. We offer a variety of programs from Nursery though our senior adults. We are far from perfect but strive each day to become more and more like Christ, individually and as a church family.

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What we believe

We are a church founded on the Bible and on Jesus. Our church family is dedicated to making a difference here on earth and for eternity.

Meet the Staff

SENIOR PASTOR

Nelson Jenkins

Pastor Nelson grew up in New England and Indianapolis while Susie grew up in southern California and northeast Texas.  They met and married in the middle in Omaha, Nebraska, where Nelson served in the Air Force and Susie attended Bible College.  They have been gifted 4 beautiful children and one son-in-law, all grown adults living within a 4-hour drive from Meriden!

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God used the influence of a godly mother and the impact of Nelson's high school youth group leader to stir his heart towards full-time ministry.  He began volunteering with his church's youth group in 1983 and for the last 29 years has served as youth/associate pastor in the Chicago area; Blair, NE; Rochester, NY and Dubuque, IA.  He came to MEFC in 2021 as the interim pastor for 8 months.  The Lord then sent him to a church in Sheldon, IA for 5 months before calling him back to serve MEFC as full-time pastor on February 1, 2023

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Acts 20:28 sums up his heart for ministry. "So guard yourselves and God's people.  Feed and shepherd God's flock - HIS church, purchased with his own blood - over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders."

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ASSOCIATE PASTOR 

Pete Younker

Pastor Pete came to MEFC in 2014. He is married to Kimber, and they have five children. He grew up all over the Midwest and in Mongolia as a missionary kid. Pete married Kimber while attending Southwest Baptist University where he graduated with a youth ministry degree in 2006. He served part-time at Marshalltown EFC and full-time at Prairie Creek Church in Iowa working with teens and their families.  Pete has a passion for reaching the next generation for Christ, and enjoys helping  people make disciples who in turn make Jesus-like disciples.

Pastor Emeritus

Larry Ostercamp

Pastor Larry served faithly as our Senior Pastor for 27 years from 1989-2016. He is married to Sandy and they have four grown children. Pastor Larry continues to serve the Lord as our Pastor Emeritus, helping with visitation, leading our Missions team, and filling the pulpit as needed. 

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Administrative Assistant

Stephanie Jenkins

Stephanie joined our staff in 2024. She grew up in Dubuque Iowa and recently moved to Meriden. She is currently in the WITCC nursing program.

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