missions
The Little White Church Is Empty
By Johnnie Each, Selah Bang at The Gospel Coalition
· July 13, 2026
· 6 min read
Jerry and Wendy Goldsmith’s church is dying. Every Sunday, the congregation in Tipton, Iowa, draws about 30 of the town’s 3,000 residents to its morning service. The building, constructed in the late 19th century, is slowly falling apart. The church doesn’t have enough money to make repairs. Since t
Key takeaway Every Sunday, the congregation in Tipton, Iowa, draws about 30 of the town’s 3,000 residents to its morning service.
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Original reporting by The Gospel Coalition . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: missions ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: The Gospel Coalition ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Jerry and Wendy Goldsmith’s church is dying. Every Sunday, the congregation in Tipton, Iowa, draws about 30 of the town’s 3,000 residents to its morning service. The building, constructed in the late 19th century, is slowly falling apart. The church doesn’t have enough money to make repairs. Since t
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by The Gospel Coalition and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Johnnie Each, Selah Bang at The Gospel Coalition. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .