# Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa (marionavenuebaptist.com) > How to Have a Relationship with God There are big questions that haunt all of us. What happens when I die? Where will I spend eternity? The single most important question that you will ever answer is this: "If I were to die today, would I spend eternity in Heaven with God?" JESUS – learn who He is, why He loves you, and how He can transform your life! You Are Welcome You Are Wanted A Place to Belong NEW TO MARION AVENUE? We love what God does at Marion Avenue Baptist Church! We regularly see transformation in the lives of people and their families, and we know He wants to help you as well. Come this Sunday! We know God has a plan for you, and we’d love to help guide you into what He has for your life. – Pastor Joseph & Charity Brown IT'S ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP, NOT A RELIGION Everyone wants a life full of meaning and peace—but many people are struggling to find it, and most are done with “religion.” Marion Avenue Baptist Church is home to hundreds of people who have discovered a flourishing personal relationship with God through Jesus. We invite you to discover the same journey by visiting soon. Don’t miss the joy of taking a truthful and careful look at the real message of Jesus. Sunday Fellowship Groups: 10am Sunday Morning Service: 11am Sunday Evening Service: 6pm Wednesday Evening: 7pm Service Times Location Marion Avenue Baptist Church 215 S Marion Ave Washington, IA 52353 (855) 825-4113 MARION AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 215 S Marion Avenue Washington, IA 52353 (855) 825-4113 ## Sitemap: - [Jesus | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/jesus) JESUS Learn who He is, why He loves you, and how He can transform your life. The question for every life regarding Jesus Christ that we all must answer was asked by Jesus Himself when He asked this, “But whom say ye that I am?” (Mark 8:27) The Word of God gives us the knowledge and the wisdom to know who Jesus is and why it is so important for you and I to have a relationship with Him. JESUS MATTERS To Begin, Realize These Four Things. God chose Jesus to introduce you to Himself but first He wants you to know a few things about yourself. A testimony of a life set free - This can be your story! More Video Resources - [Teacher Resources | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/teacher-resources) TEACHER RESOURCES Here you will find the information you will need for each week. - [Faith Commission | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/faith-commission) FAITH COMMISSION Soul winning program. Tracts and Cards Available Contact us today to receive yours. The Commission App Please download the app below to aid you in our Soulwinning program. Commission - Reach the World The Commission App is a personal evangelism tool that helps you easily explain and share the Gospel to others. - [Crisis Help | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/crisis-help) CRISIS HELP Addiction Crisis Provided by RU Recovery Suicide Crisis No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. - [Visit | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/visit) PLAN A VISIT We can't wait to meet you! Expect to Find a Place Where You Will Grow Your experience with us will be encouraging and enjoyable. What should I expect when I visit? Marion Avenue is a place where lives are changed. For over 50 years Marion Avenue Baptist Church has served the city of Washington and its surrounding communities by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and we are witnesses of the gospel’s transforming power. You can't miss the church building on Marion Avenue, just off the historic district of Washington, Iowa. When you drive by the properties of Marion Avenue Baptist Church you may notice the large building that God has graciously blessed us with. Yet the wonderful thing about Marion Avenue is that it does not have a “large church” feel. Each individual is special and important here. We believe that God has a purpose for every life. Our desire is to help introduce people to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their personal relationship with Him. A Place Where Jesus is Preached Passionately, and Where People Are Loved Dearly Expect to Belong Visiting a church can be intimidating but when it comes to Marion Avenue, you can relax. - [Contact | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/contact) Send Us a Message We would love to hear from you! Die große Überschrift Die große Überschrift CONTACT US Call us or send us a message! - [Newsroom | Marion Avenue Baptist Church](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/newsroom) NEWSROOM Press and media outlet. - [Photos | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/photos) PHOTOS Look what God has done! Campus Services - [About | Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/about) ABOUT US Learn about Marion Avenue Baptist Church. Where We Came From Our History The great headline Short text for a typical Onepage use-case. Around 30 words suffice to neatly fill an average paragraph, ensuring a clean appearance and readability. Our Beliefs Our Process How to Become a Disciple of Jesus Our Vision To remain faithful to the call that Jesus placed on his church in what we call the “Great Commission.” –Matthew 28:19-20 We would love to have you visit us if you desire to find out more about the call of Jesus upon his church and your life. Below you can schedule a visit with us or read our church purpose, beliefs and find out how you fit in to God’s plan. Statement of Faith Independent & Unaffiliated in Association - Baptist in Doctrine - Fundamental in Truth Malls are trendy, churches should be timeless. With the forceful current of constant change sweeping over every part of our lives, people have the need to connect with something enduring and firm. We believe Christ designed the church to fulfill that need by representing an eternal kingdom and ageless truth with no need to imitate the culture. We want you to know that there is still a church that feels like a church. It will not feel like a rock concert, comedy club, or motivational seminar. It is not old-fashioned, as in 50 years ago, it is timeless, as in 2,000 years ago. Our Purpose Make, Mark & Mature Disciples Marion Avenue Baptist Church exist to glorify God by Making disciples of Jesus by the spread of the gospel both at home and throughout the whole world. By Marking disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And by Maturing disciples by teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Jesus has commanded us. - [Fellowships | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/fellowships) Sunday School Bible Fellowships Sundays at 10:00am FELLOWSHIPS Bible groups for everyone! The Mission of Our Bible Fellowship Groups is to: Reach People Teach People Minister to People The Benefits of a Bible Fellowship Group Are: Systematic Bible teaching for specific Lifestages A place to cultivate meaningful relationships A place to gather for weekly encouragement and fellowship A place to serve the Lord A place to have fun through activities A place to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ Marion Avenue Adults We want you to connect, grow and connect with God’s best for your life in Christian Community. Marion Avenue Kids Your child’s safety is our highest priority as we minister to them Our Time Teen Ministry Building a passion to service Jesus as youth unafraid. Our Time Youth Theme Song Fellowship Classes Your experience with us will be encouraging and enjoyable. The great headline Short text for a typical Onepage use-case. Around 30 words suffice to neatly fill an average paragraph, ensuring a clean appearance and readability. - [Faith Unlimited | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/faith-unlimited) FAITH UNLIMITED Building and vision projects. The Promised Land Project Our latest "faith unlimited" building project. The Promised Land Project Vision - [Missions | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/missions) MISSIONS Missions is the heartbeat of our church! Meet Our Missionaries Missions Music Through Your View - Theme Song Somone You Can Reach - Theme Song International Dinner Missions Conference - [Calendar | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/calendar) CALENDAR Realtime church event calendar. - [Livestream](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/livestream) LIVE SERVICES Watch the livestream of Marion Avenue. - [Watch Live | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/live) LIVE SERVICES Watch the livestream of Marion Avenue. Trouble with the video? If the video is not playing for you, please go directly to our YouTube channel here. - [Member Resources | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/member-resources) Music MEMBER RESOURCES Resources and downloads! Videos Recommended Links Member Resources Follow Us on The Bible App - [Archives | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/archives) Church Services ARCHIVES Archived services and sermons. Recent Sermons - [Meet the Staff | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/staff) Pastor Joseph Brown Pastor Joseph Brown is passionate about Jesus and His Word, and has a deep love for people. God has blessed Pastor Brown with an expansive leadership vision to reach, strengthen, and grow the next generation of Christians. Pastor Joe and his wife, Charity (Epley), have been married for 17 years. They have been blessed with nine precious children. Aaron (14) Hannah (13) Lydia (11) Abigail (11) Rachel (9) Andrew (7) Samuel (5), Cherith (2) and Joel (infant). In 2011, Pastor Joseph succeeded his father, Pastor Larry Brown, as the Senior Pastor of Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, Iowa. Administrative Staff Joseph Brown Senior Pastor Abraham Koehn Associate Pastor Pastoral Services Dan Woodward Ministry Pastor Bus Director Jim Belisle Missions Pastor Ryan Halloran Administrative Assistant OUR TEAM Meet the staff. - [Our Time Youth Conference | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/ourtimeyouthconference) OUR TIME The Our Time Youth Conference A look at what happened in 2025! Information and FAQ Schedule Thursday, May 7, 2026 3:00 PM - Registration 4:00 PM - Doors Open 5:30 PM - Conference Begins! 8:00 PM - Special Activity and Meal Friday, May 8, 2026 8:00 AM - Talent Competitions 9:30 AM - Morning Conference Session 12:30 PM - Lunch 1:00 PM - Afternoon Activity 5:30 PM - Evening Service Conference will conclude after the Friday evening service Events and schedule are subject to change Conference Features Life Changing Preaching Revivalistic Music Talent Competition Fellowship with Hundreds of Teens of Like Faith Epic Friday Activity Thursday Night Activity EPIC Giveaways & Games May 7-8, 2026 Speakers - [Bus Ministry | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/bus-ministry) BUS MINISTRY A look inside the transportation ministry! What Will My Child Experience? About the Bus Ministry Jesus loves the little children and we, here at Marion Avenue do too! History Since 1973, our bus routes have run up and down the streets of Southeast Iowa every Sunday morning, bringing in hundreds of thousands of riders. We have seen thousands of lives changed, and countless families helped. Our purpose is to share the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ and provide a safe and exciting environment to learn life lessons from the Word of God. We understand that many people, especially children, are unable to attend church every Sunday without a Bus ministry. This is why we devote our time, volunteers and resources to this great ministry! In addition to food and a fun program on the bus, we offer Sunday School classes for every age group, with trained teachers who address the specific needs and struggles of their class. Jump on the bus this Sunday! Once at the church, your kids will attend a children’s Sunday school class where they will be engaged with songs, games, and a Bible lesson. After class, the kids route will take your children home on the bus, walk them to the front door, and drop them off with a parent. Meet Our Captains Listen to the "Captain of the Bus" - Dedicated to our faithful Bus Captains and their teams. - [Memory Lilies | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, IA](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/memory) MEMORY LILIES Reserve an Easter Lily for a friend or loved one. - [Give | Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/give) GIVING Ways to give to Marion Avenue Baptist Church. Give Online We provide secure, online giving through SecureGive. Please notice changes on next page. Give In Person During the church services, we pass a giving plate. If you would like to contribute in–person at a church service, this would be a great way to participate. We also offer a giving kiosk, located in the main lobby, for digital giving. Give By Mail If you would like to give by cash or check, you can mail your offering to the church office. Please put specific designations in the memo line on your check or a note with your cash offering. Marion Avenue Baptist Church 215 S Marion Ave Washington, IA 52353 - [Portal for Marion Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/portal) GIVING PORTAL SecureGive Give easily through our online portal. ChurchTrac Church members have the option of giving through the ChurchTrac platform. Recurring Gifts If you are currently setup with recurring giving on SecureGive or ChurchTrac and need assistance, please reach out to the church office at: info@marionavenuebaptist.com OR call (855) 825-4113 - [Christmas Show in Washington, Iowa](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/christmas-show) CHRISTMAS SHOW A Live Animal Christmas Production! FAQ Answers to your questions about the Christmas Show! 2025 SHOW TIMES Seating Reservations will Open October 1 The great headline Short text for a typical Onepage use-case. Around 30 words suffice to neatly fill an average paragraph, ensuring a clean appearance and readability. About the Show The history of the Live Animal Christmas Show. In 1974, Marion Avenue Baptist Church put together the very first Live Animal Christmas Play, now known as the Live Animal Christmas Show. What started out as a simple production has turned into a Christmas event that inspires thousands each year. People from all over the Midwest have made the Live Animal Christmas Show a family Christmas tradition. Taking place in the church auditorium, the show features a series of theatrical scenes bringing to life the Christmas story. The journey will take you from a market place in Nazareth to the Bethlehem manger where Jesus was born. You will be inspired as you watch the angel appear to the shepherds bringing them “good tidings of great joy.” A vast array of animals are also included throughout the show. From Mary riding a donkey down the center aisle to a wiseman entering in on a full-sized camel, you will experience the Bible times come to life all around you. Enjoy the music of Christmas all throughout the show as the actors sing heart-warming songs of the season. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) SPECIAL BOOKLET Celebrating 50 Years No live stage show in 2025 — Live production returns December 8–13, 2026 Group Seating Information for Saturday & Sunday Reserved Group Seating (12+): Available for the 2:00 PM shows on Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15. These performances are exclusively for groups; the general public cannot attend these shows. Reconfirmation:
 Group leaders must call or text by 8:30 AM on the date of their reserved showing to reconfirm their day-of-event number. Arrival: Groups should arrive early to enjoy the indoor Winter Wonderland Experience and refreshments. Upon arrival, the group leader must check in at the registration table in the Winter Wonderland to receive their group seating numbers. Elevator Assistance:
 For elevator use, see an usher with an “Event Staff” badge for help. Restrooms: 
It’s recommended to use restrooms in the Winter Wonderland Building before seating. Dismissal Time:
 The event concludes at 4:00 PM. Show Details: Free of Charge: An offering will be taken for those who wish to support the show. Gospel Presentation: Groups are encouraged to stay for a 10-minute Gospel presentation following the show. Special Effects: The show includes loud noises, fog, and special effects, all professionally tested and safe for all ages. Animals: The production features close contact with l... - [Our Time Youth Conference - Registration](https://marionavenuebaptist.com/our-time-registration) OUR TIME Registration and Competitions May 7-8, 2026 Our Time Home / Registration Competition Information The talent competitions will be held on Friday morning. Each category will begin promptly at 8:00 AM. Registration Information We need you to register EVERYONE including non-paying adults. This is used to allow accurate seating and hand-outs. The non-paying adult qualifications are: Pastor & Spouse, Youth Pastor & Spouse, CDL Bus Driver, and 1 Youth Worker & Spouse. Lodging is NOT Provided Here is a list of lodging locations nearby. Hometown Inn - Washington (2 Min) 119 Westview Drive Washignton, Iowa 52353 PHONE: 319-653-6621 hometowninnwashington.com Hawkeye Motel - Washington (2 Min) Hawkeye Motel, 1320 W. Madison St., Washington, Iowa 52353 PHONE: 319-653-7510 hawkeyehotel.com Dutch Country Inn - Kalona (20 Min) Highway 1&92 Kalona, Iowa 52247 PHONE: 319-656-3611 dutchcountryinnkalona.com Baymont Inn - Coralville (40 Min) 200 6th Street Coralville, IA 52241 US PHONE: (319) 337-9797 baymontinns.com/hotels/iowa/coralville Heartland Inn - Iowa City (40 Min) 87-2nd Street Coralville, Iowa PHONE: (319) 351-8132 heartlandinns.com THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HOTELS IN THE IOWA CITY/CORALVILLE AREA. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LET US KNOW. Registration is full. Please call the office. (855) 825-4113 If you have pre-registerd but still need to pay, click the button below. If you have any questions, please call the office.