I love teams. My growing up years were filled with team sports. My wife, Cassie, and I spend most of our free time cheering on our four daughters at various sporting activities. We are not the parents who believe our children will go pro, but we do believe that being a part of a team will teach our children valuable life lessons. Being a team player is a strong personal value and I’ve seen it pay great dividends in the work of church ministry.
At Converge North Central, I’m the new guy. I’ve spent my first months watching, learning, evaluating, and getting to know my team. I’m blessed to inherit a strong CNC staff team who love one another, have high awareness of their own gifts, and have strong missional alignment.
Who is on the team matters. As I’ve been traveling our region, I’ve heard some version of this question a lot: “Is ________ still on the team?” It’s understandable. CNC has been through a season of significant transition. The team has changed a lot in the last few years. And much of your ministry with us happens through the relationships that we enjoy with CNC staff.
I love teams. And I love my team. I’m thrilled that God has brought the men and women who serve the churches of CNC together in the way that He did. So, here’s the plan – I’m doing my very best to keep the CNC staff team that we have together. We face some financial challenges in that direction, but I’m trusting that God will provide through the generosity of His people. Our Trout Lake Camps staff is strong. James Rock, Executive Director of Trout, reports to me and will continue to give leadership at Trout.
The rest of our team is primarily focused on serving our churches. I’ve asked Jon Wicklund to lead the rest of our CNC team as Regional Vice President. Jon’s passion for the church, long experience within CNC leadership, and versatile gifts make him a great leader to help me keep CNC moving forward. In the recent season of transition, we welcomed Jonathan Dahl back to the team in a temporary capacity. While Jonathan is also doing important work for Converge National, I’m excited that he is staying on board with CNC to lead our efforts of church strengthening as Director of Strengthening (part-time). Joel Nelson, whose been around for a long time and seems to have a story about every leader and every church in CNC, is an invaluable resource to us. While Joel and his wife, Denise, consider what retirement and spending more time with grandkids could look like, I plan to keep Joel engaged as Director of Starting (part-time/volunteer). Joel tells me he will make a slow transition to become an over-qualified volunteer and we are thrilled that he wants to serve.
The rest of the CNC staff hasn’t changed. Carolyn Lenz keeps the world turning as Executive Assistant & Office Manager. Dawn Pauley uses her eagle-eyes to keep the books in order as our Director of Accounting. Jenni Pearson supports the entire team with great systems and data as our Administrative Database Assistant (part-time). We need them all to serve the local church.
Every single one of our CNC staff team wakes up each day thinking about how we can better serve you and your church. We love to hear from you. Reach out with prayer requests, challenges that you’re wrestling with, questions, or ideas. Ministry is a team sport. We shouldn’t try to do it alone. We truly are better when we do it together.
Better Together,
Andy Kumpel
Regional President
Camping
Spring ministry, summer staff, and time to start fall planning:
1. Spring ministry: We wrapped up our spring family retreats, and after our Mother-Daughter retreat, here’s what one camper said they want to do now: “Tell everybody about Jesus!”
2. Summer: This is shaping up to be our largest summer on record — and we couldn’t be more grateful. For the first time in a long time, we’re not scrambling for staff. Almost all of our paid staff positions are full, and we have 50% more high school volunteers as we did last year at this time. That last part? That’s you. The churches in our network have been connecting us with exactly the kind of young people we need, and it is making a real difference. Thank you for putting the right kids in front of us — you’re shaping the next generation of ministry leaders.
3. Fall retreats: We also just rolled out our fall retreats for families, including a Father & Daughter Retreat and a Mother & Son Retreat, both Sept. 25-27. And while it’s too early to register for fall youth retreats, check out the dates and start planning your fall weekend at Trout. Thank you We can’t wait for summer!
We can’t wait for summer! Please join us in prayer as we boldly ask God to reach kids with the Gospel message this season. Thanks for being a part of what God is doing at Trout Lake Camps.
Starting
Joel Nelson: My Church Planting Story (4 minute read)
I planted a church in the late 1990s in the north metro of the Twin Cities, called Northbridge Station. After a year in an elementary school gymnasium, we settled into a rented space we could access 24/7.
We leaned hard into the “station” theme. Our logo and branding — which in the late ’90s mostly meant letterhead and business cards — carried a retro gas station vibe. In the corner of the old gymnasium, we built a stage framed to look like a vintage service station facade. Behind the drummer was an open garage door. One side of the stage was lined with an old picket fence draped with retro license plates and a few weathered tires. The other side was the front of an old filling station, complete with a frosted glass “Office” door and display shelves stocked with old oil cans and garage memorabilia. The worship band was our “garage band.” Small groups were “service bays” where people could find preventative maintenance, a tune-up, or sometimes a complete overhaul. We talked about life maps, pit stops and refueling. Hey, it was the ’90s.
My journey into planting Northbridge Station didn’t happen overnight. It was years in the making.
Strengthening
Maybe you are scrolling more than reading this newsletter, but you’ve scrolled to the fourth article, which is impressive! So, Pastors and Church Leadership, how can we help strengthen your church?
- Meet with other pastors as part of a Regional Team
- Leadership Coaching
- Pastoral Rest – Trout Lake Camps
- Staff Transition
- Church Board Development Training
- Missions
- Ministry Expansion
- Estate Planning
- Evangelism Cohort
Before you keep scrolling, click to learn more about all church-strengthening opportunities. If you have further questions about any of the above, reach out to Jonathan Dahl via text or call 612-505-7510. CNC Staff regularly comes alongside pastors and church leadership, serving or aligning you with these tools and relational experiences. How can we serve you this summer?
Pastors – now is the time to consider joining an Evangelism Cohort next fall! Learn more about this church culture change process through the Billy Graham Center’s “Church Evangelism Institute” (CEI), and get all your questions answered during a free cohort preview Next Thursday, May 28, or Thursday, June 11!
Events & Opportunities
May 28, 2026 Evangelism Cohort Preview Online
June 4, 2026 Church Planting Assessment Center Berean Baptist Church
June 7, 2026 First Day of Summer Camp Trout Lake Camps
June 11, 2026 Evangelism Cohort Preview Online
June 23-25, 2026 Converge Together 2026 Washington, D.C.
Community of Nations Lead Pastor Roseville MN (job opening)
Prairie Lakes Church Campus Pastor Cedar Falls, IA (job opening)
Bethel Church Director of Kids Ministry Owatonna, MN (job opening)
Prayer
Father, thank You for the pastors you’ve called to lead churches across Converge North Central. These are servants who give so generously to their congregations. They lead well and constantly give of themselves week after week.
As summer arrives, would you just meet them where they are? Bless them as they slow down, breathe, laugh with their families and simply enjoy summertime. Refresh their hearts in ways that only you can. Remind them why they said yes to this calling in the first place. Send them back into the fall genuinely rested, newly inspired, and more in love with spreading the gospel. Amen.
