Brains and Bibles

06/23/2026

I'm getting excited about these fireworks!

06/23/2026

We have arrived at the fireworks tent in the East side of Des Moines of of Euclid across from Hyvee between Walgreens and Experience Church. Does anyone want to come by and give us a hand today? We have a few volunteers coming, but we could always use more! Here's the volunteer link:

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day to our very own Joel Willoughby! We asked Joel’s children what they love most about their dad:

Valerie: “He loves God.”
Hannah: “When he makes dinner… and his tickles too!”
Roger: “He’s willing to answer any Bible questions that I may have.”
Isaiah: “He makes really good food.”
John: “No.” Since John is still working on expanding his vocabulary, we’ll translate that as: “Daddy reads me books.”

These simple answers paint a beautiful picture of a father who loves the Lord, invests in his family, and makes time for the little moments that matter most.

Happy Father’s Day, Joel!

06/19/2026

A blessing of parenthood is watching your children grow in the gifts and opportunities God gives them. Recently, Roger, Isaiah, and Valerie participated in their spring piano recital, and we were thankful for the opportunity to watch them continue learning and growing. We are especially grateful for Mrs. Domokos, who invests in skill development, patience, and encouragement.

If you took piano lessons as a child, do you still play?

06/17/2026

Can you spare a few hours?

We’re looking for volunteers to help with the Brains & Bibles fireworks tent from June 23–July 5. Shifts are just 3 hours long and help support gospel-centered ministry throughout the year.

Volunteer here: https://tinyurl.com/yzrvmns2

06/17/2026

Summer ministry season is here, and we are looking forward to opportunities to connect with families through Vacation Bible School, church events, and community outreach in the weeks ahead. Please pray that the Lord would use these opportunities to encourage believers, strengthen families, and point people to the truth of His Word. We are grateful for every church, volunteer, and faithful servant preparing to minister to children and families this summer.

06/12/2026

(Update...read below) As our family and ministry responsibilities continue to grow, we have begun praying about a larger vehicle for our family of eight. We are currently looking into a Chevy Express passenger van and asking the Lord to provide wisdom, direction, and the right opportunity at the right time. We would appreciate your prayers as we seek to steward this need well and continue using our time and resources for ministry opportunities the Lord provides. (Update: We did indeed purchase a van very recently thanks to some helpful donors and the Lord's guidance! More to come!)

06/10/2026

We recently revisited Episode #1 of the Brains, Bibles, and Beyond podcast from December 2021. Nate Day and Joel Willoughby have not aged at all, and the mission has also stayed the same from the beginning - encouraging believers to think deeply and engage the world through the truth of God’s Word. Whether you’ve followed the podcast for years or are just discovering it, this is a great place to start. What topic would you like Joel and Nate to discuss in a future episode?

What topic would you like us to discuss in a future episode?

The historic first episode of the podcast! Meet Joel and Nate as th...

06/05/2026

Come see Joel Willoughby when our fireworks tent returns June 26. If you’re purchasing fireworks this summer, we’d be grateful if you would consider supporting Brains and Bibles through this fundraiser. 20% of all sales and 100% of all tips help support Brains & Bibles. You’ll find us again this year in the parking lot of Experience Church at 2559 E Euclid Avenue in Des Moines. We’re thankful for everyone who helps make opportunities like this possible.

06/04/2026

Check it out! Pray for us! If you're in the area, swing by!

The 2026 VBS at Monticello Baptist Church is June 15-19, 6-8:15 pm each evening. This is for children entering kindergarten through 6th grade. There will be Bible teaching, games, snacks, skits, puppets, and crafts. Also, there are opportunities to earn points each day, which you can spend at the end of the week at the VBS store! Email Pastor Joel Willoughby ([email protected]) to register early and earn 200 bonus points! You must be registered to attend, and you can also register when you walk in that week (a Parent/guardian is required for registration). The theme is Junkyard Redemption. We will have a special VBS kickoff service on Sunday morning, June 15, at our normal 10:30 start time.