COLLINS, Iowa (BP) — Tim Kimberley had a picture of what he wanted to accomplish in his career. That centered around computer programming before it moved to ministry. Then that picture of successful ministry seemed to be associated with being a big church near a big city.
A visit home changed the picture.
Kimberley grew up near Collins, Iowa, population just over 500. It’s pretty much exactly what you expect to see – a small town sitting among miles of corn and soybean fields. His family still owns farmland near his house, which he bought from his parents in 2019 when he answered a call to return and plant a church. Yes, Kimberley and his kids live in the house where he grew up.
“Growing up in a rural area, people can sometimes judge success by how far you end up moving away from there,” he said. “I loved living here and don’t like it when people see it as second-tier or something like that. I really love where I grew up.”
Kimberley attended Northern Iowa University with plans to become a computer programmer and later did just that with John Deere. While in college, however, he was also a part of the rugby team. During a trip to face Penn State in Eau Claire, Wisc., he got to know a teammate who introduced him to Christ. By his junior year, Kimberley would still occasionally skip classes, but now it was to read his Bible.
“I started listening to guys on the radio like Chuck Swindoll and J. Vernon McGee,” he said. “Over time I got a burning desire to go back to the community I grew up in and preach the Word of God in a church. I ended up going to Dallas Theological Seminary, but didn’t know it would take 20 years to get back to Iowa.”
In 2016 Kimberley returned to Collins to preach at his grandmother’s funeral. A campus pastor at the time for Frontline Church in Oklahoma City, he was aware of strategies to identify areas in need of church plants. Collins fit every description but as it was located in a rural area, where it could be overlooked.
“Not only do I know this place exists, but I know the people’s stories. There’s nowhere like it in the world and I want to help them know their Savior,” said Kimberley.
He spent three years building a team, with Frontline helping sponsor much of the groundwork.
In the fall of 2019, Kimberley had a core group of 30 in the area who helped launch Sacred Mission Church. When Covid shut things down six months later, the Sacred Mission introduced itself to another audience online.
They returned to in-person service after about eight weeks. Kimberley could see a desire to be together and learn the Word.
“[Being apart] really did fan the flame,” he said. “Starting the church, we kind of felt like an island of misfit toys … but we preach through the Bible. We are very centered on Jesus, who is on a sacred mission for the people of rural, central Iowa. We’re just joining Him in that mission.”
Sacred Mission is a North American Mission Board church plant but works closely with the Baptist Convention of Iowa. Recently, Kimberley shared insights on discipleship and his journey as a church planter on the BCI’s Roadtrip video series.
When his home state was mapped out, said Kimberley, railroad stops were placed every ten miles. Practically every one of them has a Methodist church. There is also a strong Lutheran and Catholic presence throughout the state. As such, many pastors are often reassigned to other areas, which causes a disconnect between parishioners and the community.
“I’m the first pastor to live in my community in 30 years,” said Kimberley, who grew up Methodist.
During his ministry, Kimberley has led more people to Christ in the last four years than the previous 13. Averaging 165 on Sundays, Sacred Mission Church is the largest congregation in 20 miles. Seven baptisms are scheduled for this weekend.
His time hasn’t come without tragedy, though. His wife of 18 years, Patty, was a women’s ministry leader but wrestled with chronic pain. Oct. 4 marked the one-year anniversary of when she took her life.
“She was amazing, and her death deeply affected our whole church. She had led many people to Jesus. Even during so much hardship and pain, God has continued to work here,” said Kimberley.
He has camped out at 1 Timothy 4:12.
“Paul is giving Timothy all of this information on leadership, and I feel like the pinnacle statement is to let others see your progress. I think the temptation is to show people a finished product, but it’s important for others to see your progress,” he said.
“I feel imperfect, broken and crushed. But that’s not all I’ve felt. I can be emotional, but I’m also a little more patient than I used to be. You get a new perspective on a lot of things and I want to be present in the moment – to have more zeal and be a bright light.”
