I thank my God every time I remember you.In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 1:3-6

Dear CNC Leaders,

Paul’s words to the church in Philippi ring true to us today through the fellowship that we experience whenever we are together. Last week I had the joy of spending three days with one of our regional teams of pastors. Gathered together at a local bible camp, digging into the word together, sharing leadership challenges, and encouraging one another filled my heart. I long for all of our churches and pastors to experience the same depth of fellowship across our region.

We know that being together matters. God does more through us together than we can ever achieve on our own. Earlier this month the registration went out for our CNC Biennial Gathering on February 18-19, 2027. I hope that you will make it a priority to attend. The partnership in the gospel is so much sweeter when you and I are around the table together. Register for the Biennial today. The CNC staff team have been busy planning a wonderful time of fellowship together. We hope you can join us.

In Christ,

Andy Kumpel
Regional President

The first Converge Annual Meeting I attended was when I was eight years old. I grew up attending a Converge camp in Ohio, accepted Christ there, and later worked there. While at Bethel, I attended a CNC church. During seminary, I spent four years on staff at a CNC church. Following seminary, I served in a CNC church, planted a CNC church, and served two significant intentional interims in CNC churches. For the last twenty-plus years, I’ve been part of the CNC staff.

Maybe I’m an outlier. A dying breed.

Some might say my view of the evangelical church landscape is myopic. I don’t see it that way.

I see deep relationships. Old ones that have helped sustain me for decades and new ones that invigorate and challenge me. Youth pastors and camp counselors from my youth are now colleagues and partners. When I was a young pastor, I attended CNC groups and meetings primarily to hang out with other young pastors. More than thirty years later, many are still friends and confidantes. And that circle of ministry partners continues to grow.

I see a pool of knowledge. I never have, and never will, have all the answers to the complexities of ministry and pastoring. Have you, like me, come across a situation and thought, I must have missed that class in college or seminary? When I need more than a podcast or a Google search, I have a natural network of friends and colleagues to draw on. And the learning goes both ways. As we listen, learn, and invest in one another, we are shaped together.

I see the value of moving past transaction to transformation. Within these relationships, I want more than solutions to my questions or opportunities to offer someone else an idea or a new perspective. Those things are valuable, but I ultimately want transformation. I want to be better because I spent time with that person or that group. I want to grow as a disciple of Jesus, leader, and pastor. And I want the people and groups I’m part of to be better because I take the time to participate and contribute.

That’s part of what it means to partner with CNC: being shaped together and developing a shared identity. Over time, our relationships deepen the convictions we share and shape how we live them out in our churches and communities.

I recently finished the novel Virgil Wander, by Leif Enger. Enger, a Minnesotan, sets the story in a fictional town along the North Shore of Lake Superior. One of its themes is the power of community and its collective resilience. Near the end of the book, the main character concludes, Your tribe is larger than you think. Sometimes we discover the size of that tribe simply by showing up and making room for one another.

Whether through Regional Teams, our Biennial Meeting this February, a regular Zoom call, or coffee with other pastors, be intentional about finding people to journey with. These are opportunities to build relationships, contribute what you’ve learned, and let others help shape the friend, leader, and pastor God is calling you to become.

Our shared identity grows as we keep showing up for one another. That’s how we become better together.

Joel Nelson

Where Your Church’s Gift Goes

Did you know that when your church gives to the Converge North Central general fund, we tithe 10% of that gift to the Converge national office? We want you to be aware of this, because churches sometimes ask us, “How should our church divide its giving among Converge, Converge North Central, and Trout Lake Camps?”

That 10% of your church’s gift to CNC helps fund our national movement and ministry across the country. On the other hand, gifts your church makes directly to Trout Lake Camps go 100% toward Trout’s ministry.

Thank you CNC churches for your continued trust in the work we do. Nearly half of Converge North Central churches give to our general fund and our work wouldn’t happen without your partnership.

Where Your Individual Gift Goes

Gifts from individuals to Converge North Central stay within our region. Some individuals give to CNC, some to Trout, and some to both, and every gift is directed to the appropriate fund based on the donor’s designation.

If you have any questions about giving to CNC or Trout, contact us anytime.

The bad news: We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore under condemnation.

The good news: We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to Earth.

The best news: We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

So, pastors, churches, what are we doing with this Gospel?

There is only one right answer: we need to be actively reproducing this good news here, near, and far.

Pastors, what did you do yesterday, what are you doing today, or what do you have on your calendar for tomorrow that is focused on expanding God’s Kingdom by encouraging people to have an active, growing relationship with Jesus? If Converge North Central can help re-focus you, contact us; it’s why we exist. We have tools available to ensure healthy pastors, healthy boards, healthy churches, and healthy people sent out on mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Re-read the first sentence of this article. It matters. When sin (and lost sinners) matters to us personally, it changes our outlook (through the work of the Spirit). Let it refocus your day and week, then let us know what God does when we share His gospel!

Ministry happens year-round at Trout. Here’s what a mom from our fall Mother & Son retreat had to say: “We pray together, we learn about Jesus together, and we also go off and do really fun adventures together.” (Watch the video)

We Are Trout Project Updates

A big thank you to all our volunteers and partners who make things happen at Trout. Here are a few updates:

• Project 365: Cabin updates continue. Lynx at The Point is currently being dismantled and Red Cedar at Timber Ridge is being built. The upper level will be staff housing and the lower level will add an additional bath house and laundry facility. We’re able to do that work thanks to volunteer help and the support of Project 365 donors, who give $1 per day to fund ongoing improvements at Trout Lake Camps.
• Project Next: This past year we upgraded The Ranch with new stables and Lil’ Barn. Check out the Ranch video for a tour.
• Project Scholarship: This year we had the most campers ever using scholarships to come to camp. We never want money to be an obstacle that keeps a kid from coming to camp and hearing about Jesus. Thanks to your support, that commitment continues!

We couldn’t do any of these projects without your support. Thank you! If you’d like to contribute to any of these efforts at Trout, please reach out and we can share options.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your Word, which guides and directs us. Scripture declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16–17).

Lord, continue to use our CNC pastors, church staff, and lay leaders as ministers of your gospel. Fill them with your Spirit so they proclaim the Good News clearly and without fear. Open our eyes to the neighbors, towns, and cities around our churches, and make us people who invite others in. Draw many to yourself, and let them come to saving faith.

In your name, Amen.

Oct. 22-23 EBA Training Eagle Brook White Bear Lake, MN

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. 24 Securing Sacred Spaces: House of Worship Security Summit Westwood Community Church (Bush Lake Campus)

Oct. 28 Retired Pastors and Missionaries Luncheon Bethel University

November 5-6 Fix The Finances 3.0 – The Program Pivot And Upgrade Roseville, MN
   This is for all lead pastors, two board members and their spouses (paid for by Lilly Endowment)

November 12-14 The Ezer Collective Mill City Church, Minneapolis, MN

November 14 Borders & Belonging Excelsior, MN

Jan. 26-27, 2027 EBA Training Eagle Brook Plymouth, MN

Feb. 18-19, 2027 CNC Biennial Gathering Renovation Church and Bethel University

Feb. 22-24, 2027 Pastors Prayer Retreat Trout Lake Camps

Apr 15-16, 2027 EBA Training Eagle Brook Apple Valley, MN

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)

We’re excited for our upcoming Biennial Gathering because something powerful happens when believers come together. Friendships form, faith grows stronger, and we’re reminded of the common purpose we share in Christ.

During our time together we’ll be challenged to reach, develop, and eagerly pursue the next generation of believers. Our workshops will go deeper in four areas: evangelism, residency programs, church planting, and ministry innovation. You’ll leave inspired, challenged, and encouraged as a partner in CNC’s ministry.

Dates: February 18–19, 2027
Locations:
Thursday – Renovation Church, Blaine
Friday – Bethel University (main campus)