Senior Pastor

Pastor Ronald S. Connerly is the Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church. This independent "New Church Plant" began January sixth of 2002. Previous to planting this new congregation he had served Noelridge Christian Church for eight years since December of 1993 as its Senior Pastor. During that time the congregation has relocated from 727 Collins Road NE to a new facility at 7111 C. Avenue NE and doubled in worship attendance.

Pastor Connerly is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton New Jersey. He has served four churches since ordination and three before coming to Cedar Rapids. While leading one church in Ohio that received three awards for growth Pastor Connerly was recognized for ministry by the Ohio House of Representatives. In addition to being trained in small group dynamics Ron and his wife received training through the "Association of Couples for Marriage Enrichment". Pastor Connerly is a church growth consultant of the National Evangelistic Association.

Pastor Connerly is a past chairman of Scout Troop #34 and a current member of Hiawatha Kiwanis. Pastor Connerly has been married for 33 years and lives in Hiawatha with is wife.

Associate Pastor

Chris Richards is the Youth/ Associate Pastor of New Beginnings Church. Chris joined the team at New Beginnings in 2003 as a volunteer in the Youth Program and also formed R.P.M. (Raising Praise Ministries) which is a ministry of promoting Christian Concerts in the Iowa area.

With in a year Chris became the Director of Youth and Young Adult ministries at New Beginnings. In 2008 Chris became a licensed Minister / Associate Pastor in the state of Iowa and is currently wrapping up his education in Religious Studies at Mt. Mercy College that will earn him an ordination.

Chris comes to us from a career in Human Services with a discipline in Mental Health, and was a behaviorist in Los Angeles California and more recently in Las Vegas Nevada where he from 1993-2001 was a supervisor for both residential and hospital onsite facilities. Chris also taught (as adjunct staff) classes for the state at UNLV (University Nevada Las Vegas - Go Rebels!) and at several Community Colleges, for continued certification credits, offering re-certification courses for both mental health workers and the department of corrections. Specializing in Community Relations, Behavioral Modification and Professional Assault Response Training/certification. Chris also simultaneously has been involved in some facet in the music industry since 1971, and continues to love music and the way it reaches people.

Pastor Chris has attended much training and has earned many certificates in the area of Youth/family dynamics and was CORE certified in 2006 by Youth Specialties in Des Moines Iowa, and is a member of LCAE (Linn County Association of Evangelicals). And is involved with, Youth Roundtable, Youth Fellowship and Serve the City.

Pastor Chris Lives with his Wife Jaime and youngest daughter Chelsea in Cedar Rapids, and is amazed and blessed for every day he is able to serve.