| Dear Friends of CNC, My wife, Cassie, and I recently enjoyed a night of music and friends at a local vineyard. It isn’t so much a vineyard as it is a friend’s backyard where they’ve planted beautiful rows of grapes. On a hot July evening the grape vines don’t provide much shade, but sitting among the vineyard with old friends, telling stories, and listening to live music is a great way to spend a summer night. Jesus utilized the familiar motif of a vineyard to emphasize the importance of staying connected to the vine so we might bear fruit. We even learn about the necessity of pruning off dead branches for the health of the plant. The grapes growing nearby in our friend’s backyard vineyard were no where near ripened. In fact, if we tried to taste them, they might taste bitter. They need more time to sweeten before they are ready to harvest. The image of a vineyard helps us in the seasons of leadership in ministry. While we stay connected to our Savior as the true vine, we also have the responsibility as spiritual leaders to prune the vines. We must wait for the right time before the fruit is ready. We recognize that we may plant, water, and protect the vines from pests, but it is God who gives growth. When the spiritual harvest does come into our churches, it is an act of worship to offer God thanksgiving, praise, and glory for what He has done in our midst. No matter what season of planting, waiting, or harvesting God has you in right now, may you always stay connected to the vine as you serve the Master Gardner.In Christ, |
 Andy Kumpel Regional President |
CAMPING
We’re in the final weeks of camp at Trout and it’s another incredible summer of impact.
Summer Stories
Here’s a look at what’s happening at Trout this summer:
- Summer impact: We asked campers what they learned about God. Here’s one answer: “He is always by your side, and He is always with you no matter what.” Watch the video for more.
- Good news: Campers share their good news from camp, including going swimming when it’s hot, eating ice cream, and riding ponies. One camper went a little deeper: “When we pray, Jesus listens.”
- Tour: A trio of campers lead a tour of the Princess Chambers in the Castle of Wild Woods.
Thanks
Your support makes everything at Trout possible, and that’s when ministry happens. Thank you for your ongoing partnership—we couldn’t do it without you.
STARTING
New Churches Launch This September! (3 minute read)
The dog days of August mean September is just around the corner. As the calendar turns toward fall, families and churches begin shifting gears. School begins. Fall ministry programming kicks off. The leaves—and the weather—begin to change.
And new churches launch!
Anchor Community Church launches September 13 in Lakeville, Minnesota, with church planters Ryan and Cristina Widdel.
Helping Anchor build on a firm foundation is the Aspen Grove Network—an interconnected family of CNC churches and church plants that share staff, resources, and mission. CityPoint Church in Washington, Iowa, is also serving as a sending church, encouraging and resourcing Anchor as it prepares to launch.
For Anchor Community Church, “anchor” is more than a name; it is part of the church’s DNA. Its vision is to help people develop a faith that is anchored for life—a place where people encounter Jesus, grow in God’s Word, and find family in community. Faith flourishes when it is anchored in Scripture and lived out together.
Fun fact: Over the past few years, Lakeville’s population has grown by 12%. For several years, the city also led the entire Twin Cities metro area in permits issued for new single-family homes.
Check out the church and send the Widdels a note of encouragement!
Pearl City Church launches September 20 in Muscatine, Iowa, with church planters Spencer and Hanna Adams.
The story of Pearl City Church began in 2024, when First Baptist Church of Muscatine took a step of faith and hired a church-planting resident with a vision to plant a new church in the community. Fast-forward to fall 2026, and that vision is becoming a reality!
Pearl City Church’s vision is to invite people to find rest through repentance and regeneration, recover their identity in community, joyfully return from the abundance God has given them, and faithfully reproduce disciples.
Fun fact: Muscatine is known as the “Pearl City” and the “Pearl Button Capital of the World.” During the early 1900s, it was the global center of freshwater pearl-button manufacturing, producing more than 1.5 billion mother-of-pearl buttons annually from Mississippi River mussel shells.
Check out the church and send the Adamses a note of encouragement!
STRENGTHENING
Often, “Strengthening” articles promote tools, equipping, and concepts to become a healthy church – this is not that. Instead, this is a snapshot of a church that became healthier.
Saturday, August 1, 2026, an outdoor gathering took place on the property of a church. Ice cream cake, a fire pit, a guitar for worship, a mobile outdoor speaker, and a handheld microphone, and God’s people gathered under a beautifully mature oak tree.
Multiple generations, multiple cultures and demographics, the church planter and founding pastor from decades gone by, current board members, staff, and congregation followed the lead of the current pastor, passing the microphone, praising God for His faithfulness.
Stories of God’s faithfulness abounded, about what HE had done, personally in the lives of those present yes, but also how God has used this subtle size group of believers over the years to disciple other local (now lead) pastors of much larger congregations, cultivate multiple generations of believers in Africa through radio ministry, work with and love immigrants to the point that they make this church their home despite moving over a half hour away.
The fruit of the ministry was evident; all you had to do was take in the scene. The excuse for the evening was the burning of a mortgage document, which has recently been paid off through the congregation’s shared investment. That was the excuse, but it seemed fitting that the building was literally just the background. The backdrop for stories of a reproducing gospel, the forming of future leaders, being shaped together, now collaborating with regional leadership, and strengthening our network of churches.
The evening ended with multiple generations, cultures, and demographics getting dirty together, working to symbolically plant a new baby oak tree for future generations to gather under and praise what God is doing and has done.
Well done, Pastor Paul McVety and Chapel Hill Church in Eagan, MN.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
We don’t think bigger is better. We think healthier is better. Sometimes bigger and healthier combine to produce some wonderful resources for all of us to share. The Eagle Brook Association recently shared one such resource in The Art of Preaching. If you are trying to improve your preaching or you have a young leader who is growing in the area of communicating the gospel we highly recommend that you engage with Bob Merritt, Jason Strand, and John Alexander of Eagle Brook Church.
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
September 18-20 Women’s Fall Refreshment Trout Lake Camps
September Family Retreats Trout Lake Camps
Oct. 23-24 Disciplemaker 101 North St. Paul, MN
This event equips pastors and men’s ministry leaders with a practical framework for developing an intentional discipleship ministry for men.
Oct. 28 Retired Pastors and Missionaries Luncheon Bethel University
November 5-6 Fix The Finances 3.0 – The Program Pivot And Upgrade Roseville, MN (registration opens Sept 1)
This is for all lead pastors, two board members and their spouses (paid for by Lilly Endowment)
February 18-19, 2027 Biennial Event Renovation Church and Bethel University (registration opens in October)
Prairie Lakes Church Campus Pastor Cedar Falls, IA (job opening)
Bethel Church Director of Kids Ministry Owatonna, MN (job opening)
Bethel Church Worship/Youth Pastor Mankato, MN (job opening)
2027 Biennial Updates
2027 BIENNIAL GATHERING
Some of the best things about being part of the CNC network happen face-to-face — and we can’t wait to be together again! We will have two days together packed with coaching, spiritual encouragement, and professional development — plus a look at where CNC is heading, straight from Andy Kumpel. Registration opens officially in October, but don’t wait until then to mark your calendar. Spread the word — you won’t want to miss this one!
SAVE THE DATE for our Biennial Gathering:
Thursday, February 18 — Renovation Church, Blaine – David Sorn
Friday, February 19 — Bethel University Speakers Jo Saxton, Nick Cocalis, Andy Kumpel
PRAYER
Jesus,
As we get closer to our fall launch of ministry, we pray that you would show up in a powerful way.
We lift up the people in our communities who long for connection but haven’t yet found a church home—those who are searching for belonging, purpose, and hope. Draw them to our CNC churches where we can share the love and truth of Jesus to thousands of new people who have never stepped into one of our churches.
Give our pastors and lay people boldness to speak the name of Jesus clearly and with love, unashamed of the gospel, ready to answer when doors open.
And Lord, we pray for all CNC church staff members as they prepare for fall launch Sunday. Strengthen them, calm their nerves, sharpen their focus, and fill them with your Spirit so that Sunday reflects your welcome to all who walk through the doors.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
