Iowa City Church finds temporary meeting place after fire

IOWA CITY — Iowa City Church has a new meeting place after a fire destroyed its building on American Legion Road.

The church announced on Facebook last week there will be in-person service Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. at River Community Church, 3001 Muscatine Ave. in Iowa City. The River Community Church is less than a mile away from where the Iowa City Church was on 4643 American Legion Road.

The church was declared a total loss after a fire June 25. Fire crews extinguished the fire after several hours due to the size of the building and bad weather in the area. There were no injuries.

The fire remains under investigation, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said this week.

While a cause hasn’t been determined, Lead Pastor Tom Steele previously told The Gazette he would be shocked if the cause of the fire was something other than lightning.

The church has served the community for more than 30 years, Steele said, adding that the building was built in 1991. Steele said there has been work done to the building over the years, including recently.

Steele said he is optimistic about the future as the church adapts to the situation.

“I'm just very fortunate God's provided for us, even in the midst of what would appear to be a tragedy,” Steele said a few days after the fire.

Anyone interested in donating to the Iowa City Church can do so online at iowacitychurch.org/support-us. Updated information on next steps will be posted on the church’s Facebook page.

Comments: (319) 339-3155; izabela.zaluska@thegazette.com