Staff & Leadership
Church Commission Explainer
Learn More about out Church structure.
Learn More about out Church structure.
Meet our team of dedicated leaders and staff who are committed to guiding, serving, and supporting our church family.
Our Church Elders provide spiritual oversight, guidance, and care to support the growth and well-being of our congregation.
The call to make disciples is central to the church’s mission. The Discipleship Commission is the team that helps adults grow in their knowledge of God’s Word, deepen their love for Christ, and live out their faith in authentic community.
Grounded in Ephesians 4, the commission’s purpose is to equip the saints for the work of ministry so that the whole body of Christ grows toward maturity. The Discipleship Commission fosters environments where faith can flourish and relationships can strengthen, with the goal of building a community that reflects Christ’s love both inside and outside the church.
The commission oversees adult Sunday School classes, working with leaders to guide study topics and add new classes when needed. It ensures that teaching remains biblically sound and relevant to the congregation’s needs.
In addition, the commission supports men’s and women’s ministries, which emphasize authentic relationships, accountability, and opportunities for service.
Recognizing the value of life together, the Discipleship Commission nurtures small groups in various forms—young adult gatherings, family groups, and Wednesday night studies. These settings provide spaces to study Scripture, share life, and encourage one another in faith.
The commission also supports a fellowship team, which organizes gatherings from church-wide events to smaller group meals. These events help foster the relationships that are essential for discipleship.
While classes and events provide structure, the heart of the Discipleship Commission lies in cultivating spiritual growth. What matters most is not polished programming but the transformation of lives through God’s Word, prayer, and genuine relationships. Members are encouraged to invest in relationships that move beyond surface-level connection toward purposeful spiritual encouragement.
The Discipleship Commission exists to help the church body grow in maturity and unity in Christ. Through classes, small groups, ministries, and fellowship, they provide avenues for adults to be equipped, encouraged, and strengthened in their faith. More than anything, this commission calls believers to live intentionally—walking with Christ together and building one another up in love.
written by Ehren Hanson
A church is ultimately made up of its people, not its buildings. Yet the spaces we gather in can be powerful tools for ministry. The Facility Commission is the team that oversees the care and upkeep of the church’s buildings and grounds so they can serve the mission of the Gospel.
The Facility Commission is responsible for the practical maintenance of the church property. From mowing grass and shoveling snow to repairing plumbing or keeping the roof from leaking, this team works behind the scenes to ensure that the building functions smoothly and remains a safe, welcoming space for ministry.
Though the church does not rely on a building to worship God—as our outdoor services have shown—it is still a blessing to gather in a place that is warm, dry, and comfortable, especially in northern Minnesota. The Facility Commission helps create an environment where people can focus on worship, fellowship, and learning without distraction.
The commission recognizes that the building is a gift from God, entrusted to the congregation as a tool for ministry. By faithfully maintaining it, they ensure that the facility continues to serve as a home for the church family and as an inviting place for newcomers.
The Facility Commission’s work is not merely about bricks and mortar. Every repair, every maintenance task, and every improvement serves a higher purpose: enabling the church body to gather, worship, and share the gospel effectively. The building itself becomes a vessel for proclaiming Christ in the community.
While the church is ultimately about people, the Facility Commission plays an essential supporting role by caring for the physical spaces that make ministry possible. Their stewardship of the building and grounds ensures that God’s gift is used well—creating a welcoming home and a powerful tool for sharing the good news of Jesus.
Written by Kevin Barth
The health of a church often depends not only on its spiritual direction but also on how it stewards its financial resources. In this discussion on church leadership, the focus is on the Finance Commission—a group tasked with ensuring that the church’s finances are handled with integrity, transparency, and mission-minded wisdom.
The Finance Commission exists to support the broader mission of the church. While pastors and elders provide spiritual oversight, this team ensures that the practical matters of budgeting, expenses, and financial planning align with the church’s vision. Their work allows ministry leaders to focus on preaching, teaching, discipleship, and outreach without being weighed down by financial uncertainty.
Good stewardship is central to the commission’s work. Every dollar given by the congregation represents both an act of worship and a responsibility. The Finance Commission develops budgets, reviews expenditures, and provides accountability to safeguard the resources entrusted to the church. This accountability fosters trust within the congregation and demonstrates faithful management of God’s provision.
Finances are never an end in themselves; they are a means of fueling ministry. The Finance Commission helps allocate funds to various areas—missions, outreach, discipleship, facility care, and staff support. Their goal is not just to balance spreadsheets but to ensure that money is being used to advance the gospel and equip the church for service.
The commission does not lead the church spiritually, but it plays a vital supporting role. By offering financial insight and structure, the Finance Commission enables pastors and elders to lead more effectively. This partnership reflects the biblical principle that the body of Christ functions best when each part fulfills its unique calling.
Church leadership extends beyond the pulpit—it includes those who faithfully manage the financial foundations that make ministry possible. The Finance Commission, by stewarding resources with wisdom and transparency, ensures that the church can remain focused on its mission of proclaiming Christ and serving the community.
Written by John Gallagher
A thriving church invests intentionally in its youngest members. The Nurture Commission is the team that champions spiritual formation for children and students under 18—from nursery through high school.
The Nurture Commission exists to cultivate a clear, age-appropriate pathway of discipleship for kids and teens. It supports ministries like nursery, preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school—ensuring each environment is grounded in Scripture and helps young people know and follow Jesus. Programming, curriculum choices, and leader development are evaluated through the lens of growth,
Beyond classroom instruction, the commission prioritizes relational connection—small groups, mentoring, and peer community that help kids and students feel known and supported. Events and weekly rhythms are designed to involve families and create spaces where the next generation can belong, ask questions, and serve alongside others their age.
The Nurture Commission charts a cohesive journey from early childhood through graduation, coordinating milestones (like Bible presentations, baptisms/faith steps, and student leadership opportunities). It partners with parents as primary disciplers in the home, offering resources and communication that reinforce biblical formation throughout the week.
Working closely with pastors and elders, the commission provides insight into the spiritual needs of children and students and aligns budgets, calendars, and volunteer structures to serve those needs well. It also coordinates transitions at age 18, ensuring a smooth handoff to the commission that leads adult discipleship and care.
By focusing its energy on children and students under 18, the Nurture Commission helps the church invest in its future today—creating safe, Scripture-shaped environments where young people can encounter Christ, grow in faith, and step into a lifetime of discipleship. Adults are shepherded by a different commission, allowing each team to specialize and serve with clarity and excellence.
Written by Rob Almquist
A church’s calling is not only to gather in worship but also to go out with the good news of Christ. The Outreach Commission is tasked with leading the church in extending God’s love to the community and beyond.
The Outreach Commission helps the church live out the Great Commission by directing its attention outward. This includes local initiatives in the neighborhood, partnerships with ministries and organizations, and support for global missions. Their purpose is to keep evangelism and service at the forefront of church life.
Locally, the commission organizes events, service projects, and partnerships that allow the church to meet real needs in the community. Whether through meals, clothing drives, or neighborhood gatherings, these efforts create bridges for gospel-centered conversations and relationships.
Beyond local engagement, the Outreach Commission also stewards the church’s role in global missions. By supporting missionaries, coordinating short-term trips, and raising awareness of worldwide needs, the commission helps connect the congregation to God’s work around the world.
Outreach is not the responsibility of a few—it’s the calling of every believer. The commission encourages church members to serve, share their faith, and engage in mission opportunities. By equipping the congregation with tools and opportunities, the commission helps cultivate a culture of evangelism and service.
The Outreach Commission embodies the outward-facing heart of the church. By organizing community service, supporting global missions, and equipping believers to share the gospel, this commission ensures that the church lives not for itself but for the glory of Christ among the nations.
Written by Mark Schmitke
Worship is at the heart of the church’s life together, shaping how God’s people respond to His Word and presence. In this discussion on church leadership, the Worship Commission is highlighted as the team that helps guide, plan, and support the church’s corporate worship gatherings.
The Worship Commission exists to ensure that worship services are Christ-centered, biblically faithful, and edifying for the congregation. It provides oversight and support for the many elements of gathered worship—music, Scripture reading, prayer, sacraments, and creative expressions that point people to God.
This commission works closely with worship leaders, musicians, tech teams, and volunteers, offering encouragement, structure, and accountability. By coordinating schedules, maintaining equipment, and resourcing leaders, the Worship Commission helps keep our worship ministry healthy and sustainable.
The commission recognizes that worship is not a performance but the shared response of God’s people. It seeks to involve the whole congregation—through singing, prayer, giving, and communion—so that every service reflects the church’s unity in Christ.
The Worship Commission also plays a role in shaping the church’s theology of worship. By evaluating song choices, liturgy, and the flow of services, it ensures that what is proclaimed and sung aligns with Scripture and points to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Worship leadership is about more than music—it is about shepherding the hearts of God’s people toward Him. The Worship Commission, by supporting leaders, overseeing services, and safeguarding biblical faithfulness, ensures that the church’s gatherings glorify God and edify His people.
Written by Bob Hultgren