Dear CNC Friends,
170 years is a long time. The state of Iowa was in its first decade of statehood. Minnesota was still two years away from that milestone. During June, over 1,500 pastors, leaders, and missionaries from across our nation and around the world descended on First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Maryland to celebrate what God has been faithfully building through the ministry of Converge for 170 years.
Our movement started in our region. Swedish leaders settled in the Mississippi River Valley in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. They did what God’s people have always done. They prayed, they evangelized, they started new churches, and they relied on God through it all. It’s hard to imagine the kind of challenges that those first leaders faced as they planted our very first churches in faith. But I do know that our movement wouldn’t be as strong as it is today if they hadn’t taken big risks for God.
The time together outside our Nation’s capital was a sweet reminder of what God can do when His people move in faith, collaborate for the gospel, and are unified around a shared mission for Christ. We had wonderful moments of celebrating the increasing diversity and the shared heritage of church planting. We dreamt together of what God wants to do next. I left the Converge Together conference with a feeling of spiritual gratitude for those pioneers who came before us and confident in the men and women whom God is weaving together now to continue doing His work of praying, evangelizing, planting, and leading. I’m grateful for you and your desire to join us in the work that God has for us.
Better Together,
Andy Kumpel
Regional President
Camping
We’re one month into summer camp, and it’s all the incredible memories and life-changing moments.
What’s Happening at Summer Camp
Here’s a glimpse of what’s happened so far this summer at Trout:
- Video update for parents: We asked campers to give their parents an update. You can watch the video, and here’s one great quote: “We are doing horseback riding. We had fun at the mercantile, aka store for all you old folks, and we’ve gone on the slip ‘n slide and all that stuff. It’s been really fun.” -Wild Woods camper
- Update from a cabin leader at Wild Woods: “So far this week we’ve played lots of games! Our favorite game so far was running around camp and defeating ‘knights’ with pool noodles! We’ve been learning how to use our Bibles and locate chapters and verses! All of the girls are eager to pray and learn all about the Good News!” -Izzy
- Update from a cabin leader at Timber Ridge: “We’ve had an amazing first day of activities! The boys have had such positive attitudes and are enjoying all the activities. We have especially loved high ropes and mountain bikes. During chapel the boys have been learning about what it means to live differently for Jesus. Today we are excited to go to the waterfront and do low ropes. We can’t wait to have a great rest of the week!” -Eric
Check out the camp photos and cabin updates to see for yourself.
Camp Photos: https://troutlakecamps.org/summercamp/media
Cabin Updates: https://troutlakecamps.org/summercamp/cabin-updates
Thank You
This kind of ministry happens thanks to your support. Join us in praying over the lives being changed at camp right now.
Starting
What if More Churches Became Parents? (4 minute read)
Last year at this time, three new CNC church plants were preparing for their fall launch. They had one thing in common. It wasn’t their location, target audience, church size, worship style, or the ministries that formed their foundation.
Each one had at least one parent church standing behind it.
Two more CNC church plants are preparing to launch in the coming months. They also have something in common: both are being parented by churches doing this for the very first time.
Churches parenting churches has been a cornerstone of CNC church planting for more than 30 years.
Those new church launches raise a bigger question.
What would happen if more of our churches began thinking of themselves not simply as churches, but as future parent churches?
Church planting is about bringing the gospel to new cities, towns, neighborhoods, and communities. But it’s also about embracing a culture of multiplication—of disciples, leaders, ministries, groups, and ultimately new churches.
The goal isn’t simply to plant more churches.
The goal is to become healthy churches that naturally reproduce.
Many CNC pastors and staff attend the Exponential Conference each year in Orlando, where one of the recurring themes has been the 16% Mission.
Research suggests that today, only about 7% of churches intentionally reproduce by developing leaders, sending people, and planting churches. Exponential’s vision is to see that number grow to 16%.
Why 16%?
Because researchers have found that once enough early adopters embrace a new behavior, it reaches a tipping point where it begins to spread much more naturally. The hope is that multiplication becomes the expectation rather than the exception.
Here’s the encouraging news.
Over the past ten years, more than 9% of established CNC churches have participated in parenting a new church in one way or another.
What would it look like if we intentionally moved even closer to that 16% vision? What if parenting and reproduction became part of the normal life of more CNC churches?
What’s exciting is that this isn’t new for us.
Churches planting churches has been part of our DNA for decades.
Consider this.
Between 1990 and 2020, the number of CNC churches in Minnesota and Iowa grew by more than 20%. Much of that growth can be traced back to just three churches—Bethlehem, Grace Fellowship, and Wooddale. Those churches planted churches that planted churches that planted churches. Over 30 plus years, they eventually produced 43 churches in 35 cities.
And the family tree is still growing.
That’s the power of multiplication over time.
“But we’re not a big church…”
Becoming a parent church isn’t reserved for churches of a certain size.
It simply looks different depending on a church’s context.
One church may take the lead in launching a daughter church. Another may send a future planter, coach a young leader, provide financial support, partner with another church, or faithfully encourage a planter through prayer and relationships.
Healthy things reproduce according to their capacity.
Imagine what could happen over the next several years if more CNC churches began asking simple questions:
- Who could we help become the next church?
- Who are we developing today that God might send tomorrow?
- What could we sow now that someone else will reap in the years ahead?
If you’d like to begin exploring what becoming a parent church could look like in your context, let’s start a conversation
Strengthening
The timing is right! (1 minute read)
Andy’s opening article in this newsletter looked back on the recent celebration of our history together as Converge. It’s a history that includes a shared investment in being shaped together, continually forming future leaders who today are reproducing the gospel, in most cases through regional collaboration.
As that takes place (historically true), we find pastors, boards, and whole churches in partnership producing evangelistic disciples reaching people here, near, and far through the power of the Holy Spirit and active engagement of Jesus’ followers.
Individual strengthening can happen at a conference. But God strengthens his people corporately as we continually “Converge Together.” As you wrap up summer breaks and vacations and begin plotting your fall. Plan to be strengthened by “Converging” – around real life and ministry as it takes place in real time. Let’s find paths to partner together!
Two recommendations (many more exist) that will continue our historic and current strengthening for you to engage with this fall and beyond:
- Commit to participation and engagement with a CNC Regional Team!
- Not sure who your leader is and/or need to get connected? Contact Jonathan Dahl via e-mail or text: 612-505-7510
- Engage in an Evangelism Cohort beginning this fall!
Strategic Partners
Equipped to preach the gospel (1 minute read)
The gospel is central to the Christian faith, and that’s why preaching it in a way that transforms lives is crucial. At Bethel Seminary, students are equipped to preach the gospel with biblical depth, clarity, and purpose.
One way this happens is through the Edwin J. Omark Preaching Competition. In this year’s competition, students—including those in Bethel’s 3+2 ministry degree pathway— wrestled with the question: “What is the gospel?” Through sermons exploring its meaning, depth, and transforming power, they reflected on why the good news of Jesus remains central in a divided and hurting world. Meet the 2026 winners and listen to their sermons.
From degree programs to continuing education, leadership development opportunities, and practical ministry resources, Bethel equips pastors and ministry leaders at every stage of their calling.
Events & Opportunities
September 18-20 Women’s Fall Refreshment Trout Lake Camps
September Family Retreats Trout Lake Camps
November 5-6 Fix The Finances 3.0 – The Program Pivot And Upgrade Roseville, MN (registration opens Sept 1)
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)
Prayer
Jesus, as we move into the second half of the summer and our fall ministry-launch date approaches, our hearts are full of anticipation for what You’re about to do. We lean into what’s next. Lord, prepare our hearts. Give us clarity in planning, energy for the work, and eyes to see the people You’re bringing into our churches. May we in CNC be invitational and clear in presenting the gospel.
As Paul reminded the Philippians, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). We trust You to finish what You’ve started. May the volunteers step forward, may we equip them well, and may this fall ministry-launch fruitful — not by our strength, but by Yours. Amen.
