The members of GCF have all been through the process of finding a local church. A few years ago, we asked them to share their collective wisdom. The following list is a result. Details and comments have been posted as they were submitted. For more information, or up-to-date service times and activities, contact each church individually.
| Andrew-Riverside Presbyterian Church |
| Denomination: |
Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
| Location: |
Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood, Mpls. |
| Size (approx): |
75-100 @ worship each Sunday |
| Worship Style: |
Mix of contemporary and traditional - format is mostly trad., but lots of contemporary and alternative-to-traditional-hymns music |
| Service Times: |
11am (all-ages education hour every Sunday at 9:45) |
| Web Site Info: |
www.arbanners.com |
| Comments: |
Close to U, convenient for those who live in SE Mpls. The best thing about this church is the PEOPLE - from the very first time I went there they drew me in, which is what kept me coming back. Church has experienced a lot of growth in the 4 years since I started going. There is a sizable population of 20-somethings who go there now, and they have a young adults ministry that includes many groups and activities for this age group (Bible studies, social events, service opportunities, etc.). They also have a large ministry to international students there; the church has a very "global" focus/outlook. There is an annual summer mission trip to Guatemala, as well as various other opportunities throughout the year. The church and its people really try to reach out to and get involved with the local neighborhood, too, which is nice. |
| Bethlehem Baptist Church |
| Denomination: |
Baptist General Conference |
| Location: |
Downtown Minneapolis |
| Size (approx): |
1000 |
| Worship Style: |
Modern |
| Service Times: |
8.00am, 9.45am and 11.30am on Sundays |
| Web Site Info: |
www.bbcmpls.org |
| Comments: |
The senior pastor, John Piper, preaches a great in-depth sermon on Sundays. |
| Bluer |
| Denomination: |
Vineyard Church |
| Location: |
Currently meets at Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis |
| Size (approx): |
50 regular attenders |
| Worship Style: |
Intimate acoustic worship. |
| Service Times: |
7pm Saturday evenings |
| Web Site Info: |
www.bluer.org |
| Comments: |
Young adult focused but all ages are welcome. If you want an alternative/emergent church, this is a good place to go. Phone : (612) 741 blue |
| Calvary Christian Reformed Church |
| Denomination: |
Christian Reformed Church |
| Location: |
Edina (5300 France Ave.) |
| Size (approx): |
about 300 |
| Worship Style: |
Fairly traditional |
| Service Times: |
9:15 AM: Church School and Adult Education
10:30 AM: Morning Worship
5:00 PM: Evening Worship |
| Web Site Info: |
www.calvarycrc.net |
| Comments: |
The church is strongly family oriented with very scripture-based sermons. |
| Central Free Church |
| Denomination: |
Evangelical Free Church of America |
| Location: |
Downtown Mpls near Metrodome |
| Size (approx): |
175 |
| Worship Style: |
somewhat contemporary |
| Service Times: |
9:30 service 11:05 Adult education hour |
| Web Site Info: |
www.centralfree.org |
| Comments: |
|
| Colonial Church of Edina |
| Denomination: |
Church of Christ (Congregational?) |
| Location: |
Edina |
| Size (approx): |
Around 500 |
| Worship Style: |
Traditional ("high church" choir and organ); Contemporary (praise band) |
| Service Times: |
9:00 and 10:30 |
| Web Site Info: |
www.colonialchurch.org |
| Comments: |
|
| Extreme Life |
| Denomination: |
Lutheran/member of the Alliance of Renewal Churches and the Judea Network |
| Location: |
Seward (Near UMN Minneapolis) |
| Size (approx): |
(Currently) Under 20 |
| Worship Style: |
Mainly Contemporary |
| Service Times: |
7-9 PM, Tuesday |
| Web Site Info: |
|
| Comments: |
The name "Extreme Life" comes from John 10:10, and is an acronym that stands for: Encouraging Gen-X Through Relationships, and Empowering them for Ministry, Evangelism, and Loving Intimacy with the Father by Experiencing Jesus. Pastors are Nate Johnson and Andrew Anderson, both students at the Master's Institute, a seminary housed at North Heights Lutheran Church. |
| Grace Church |
| Denomination: |
Non-denominational |
| Location: |
Eden Prairie |
| Size (approx): |
2000 |
| Worship Style: |
variety of contemporary and traditional |
| Service Times: |
9:00 and 10:45 am |
| Web Site Info: |
www.gracechurch-mn.org |
| Comments: |
Dynamic local and world mission oriented church with a senior pastor who was the former president of a local Christian College and whose sermons are carefully constructed Bible studies in seminar series format. Vibrant college group and ongoing outreach to international students. |
| Grace Church Roseville |
| Denomination: |
Independent (Evangelical) |
| Location: |
Roseville (20 minutes from Minneapolis campus, 5 minutes from St. Paul Campus) |
| Size (approx): |
1,000 total, ~300 per worship time |
| Worship Style: |
2 blended/traditional services, 1 contemporary |
| Service Times: |
b/t: 9:00, 10:15, cntmp: 11:30, all Sunday AMs. |
| Web Site Info: |
www.gracechurchroseville.org |
| Comments: |
The b/t service has an excellent music/worship program, regularly (although not weekly) featuring choir & orchestra. The contemporary service (called Face to Face) has an evolving worship band, ever seeking to minister more effectively to adults, aged 18-40 (quite a gap!). Preaching at both services is mostly done by Sr. Pastor Brian Myers, and we're right now going through the Epistle to the Romans. |
| Grace University Lutheran Church |
| Denomination: |
Lutheran (ELCA) |
| Location: |
324 Harvard St. SE (University of Minnesota Neighborhood, Minneapolis) |
| Size (approx): |
180-200 |
| Worship Style: |
A mixture of the "green book" and the With One Voice "blue book." |
| Service Times: |
8:00 am and 10:00 am, with an Education Hour at 9:00 am and coffee hour from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm |
| Web Site Info: |
http://www.GraceAtTheU.org |
| Comments: |
The primary mission of Grace is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as an instrument of God's reconciling love in the world. We do this so that reconciliation with God may become a reality for all (II Cor. 5:18 - 21). Grace sits in the heart of the U of M Campus, near the corner of Washington and Harvard, tucked beneath Moos Towers. The community is comprised of students, hospital visitors and other guests (30%) and members from across the metro area. We value solid worship and music, grappling with social issues and living out one's faith in action. We treasure relationships between generations and regard our mission as outreach to the hospital, university, and those in need. We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation and a Peace site. |
International Student and Family Center
Como Evangelical Free Church |
| Denomination: |
Evangelical Free Church of America |
| Location: |
Marcy Holmes/ Dinkytown |
| Size (approx): |
Varies |
| Worship Style: |
A mix of traditional and contemporary songs. |
| Service Times: |
10:30 am Sunday |
| Web Site Info: |
http://www.isfc-como.org |
| Comments: |
Walking distance from campus. Opportunities to develop ministry skills. Interaction with international students in teaching English as a second language. Facility for organizing events. |
| The Exchange at Woodridge Church |
| Denomination: |
Baptist (affiliated with the BGC) |
| Location: |
Plymouth/Medina (it's worth the drive!!) |
| Size (approx): |
1,200 (200 college/career aged) |
| Worship Style: |
Contemporary |
| Service Times: |
9 am, 10:30am, The Exchange meets at 6:30pm |
| Web Site Info: |
www.woodridgechurch.org
www.maketheexchange.com |
| Comments: |
Amazing church/many opportunities to serve and grow in relationship with God. The Exchange is a young adults ministry that has it's own church service Sunday night and then small group discussions on Tuesday nights. |
| Messiah Episcopal Church |
| Denomination: |
Episcopal |
| Location: |
St Paul (Highland Park) |
| Size (approx): |
450 |
| Worship Style: |
Liturgical (blended music style) |
| Service Times: |
7:45, 9, 11 |
| Web Site Info: |
www.messiahepiscopal.org |
| Comments: |
|
| Mount Olivet Lutheran Church |
| Denomination: |
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America |
| Location: |
Minneapolis |
| Size (approx): |
BIG (4 Sunday am services) |
| Worship Style: |
Liturgical |
| Service Times: |
9, 10, 11, and noon
8,9,10, 11 (in the summer)
Wed 10am : Prayer and Praise service |
| Web Site Info: |
www.mtolivet.org |
| Comments: |
|
| Pilgrim Baptist Church |
| Denomination: |
Baptist |
| Location: |
732 W. Central Ave, St. Paul (intersection Central/Grotto; bus 16 stop: University/Grotto) (651)227-3220 |
| Size (approx): |
400 at each service, I'm terrible with numbers, let's put it this way: the pews are full but not overcrowded |
| Worship Style: |
largely African-American congregation, gospel music, congregational response |
| Service Times: |
Sunday 7:45am, 10:45 am, Young Adult Bible Study 9:30am @ Big Apple Bagel University/Victoria Crossing, Wednesday Hour of Power service 7pm |
| Web Site Info: |
www.pilgrimbaptistchurch.org |
| Comments: |
If you are looking for a church family, consider Pilgrim!! There are quite a number of young adults and we always welcome more brothers and sisters in Christ. |
| Plymouth Apostolic Lutheran Church |
| Denomination: |
Apostolic Lutheran Church of America |
| Location: |
Plymouth (about 15 min West of Minneapolis) |
| Size (approx): |
150 |
| Worship Style: |
Traditional worship style, typically with organ and hymns |
| Service Times: |
9:30 am Worship Service |
| Web Site Info: |
www.plymouthapostolic.org |
| Comments: |
A not-too-big church with a long history and tradition, started in Finland. Fairly friendly and open to visitors. |
| Roseville Baptist Church |
| Denomination: |
Southern Baptist Convention |
| Location: |
Roseville on County B2 just west of Rice St. |
| Size (approx): |
relatively small (~60 regular attenders) |
| Worship Style: |
|
| Service Times: |
|
| Web Site Info: |
|
| Comments: |
The church is part of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the congregation contains many members who have moved from the south. The congregation is composed mostly of couples over 50 and college-age singles. |
| The Rock |
| Denomination: |
Nondenominational |
| Location: |
Jefferson Elementary School in Uptown (Hennepin Ave and 26th St.) |
| Size (approx): |
300 |
| Worship Style: |
Contemporary |
| Service Times: |
7:30 PM Fridays |
| Web Site Info: |
www.rockthechurch.com |
| Comments: |
The Rock is a church for singles, college students, and young married couples. |
| Stadium Village Church |
| Denomination: |
Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
| Location: |
Stadium Village, Minneapolis |
| Size (approx): |
50+ at worship each Sunday |
| Worship Style: |
Contemporary student. Eve candlelight for post-modern generation |
| Service Times: |
9:00 AM - Breakfast
9:30 AM - All ages education hour
10:30 AM - Student, contemporary, Biblically based messages (The Book of Acts until Advent)
7:00 PM - candlelight post-modern worship in partnership with THE ROCK of Uptown. |
| Web Site Info: |
www.stadiumvillagechurch.com |
| Comments: |
Across from Frontier Dorm on Oak St. at the U. A multicultural congregation with 17 Conversational Eng. classes weekly. Alpha Course runs Spring semester. This congregation makes disciples who will make disciples. (student groups) Great service opportunities with international students and Ronald Macdonald/Hospital patients & visitors. Reaching out by and to faculty and students. Evening service especially good for American seekers. |
| Summit Avenue Assembly |
| Denomination: |
Assembly of God |
| Location: |
Summit Ave at Victoria in Saint Paul |
| Size (approx): |
~1500 |
| Worship Style: |
Traditional and contemporary |
| Service Times: |
8:30 AM, Traditional Worship
10:00 AM, Bible Classes
11:00 AM, Contemporary Service 6:00 PM, Evening Service 7:00 PM Wednesday, Family Night Ministries |
| Web Site Info: |
www.summitag.org |
| Comments: |
In addition to Sunday services, there are youth and family ministries, and a young adult/post-college group. The church purposely decided to remain in the city when many other churches relocated to the suburbs, and actively supports domestic and international missions work. Every summer, the Services are translated for both Spanish and deaf attendees. The church building is shared with Cambodian, Eritrean, and Malaysian/South Indian congregations. |
| Woodland Hills Church |
| Denomination: |
Affiliated with the Baptist General Conference |
| Location: |
Maplewood (towards St. Paul) |
| Size (approx): |
5000 |
| Worship Style: |
Contemporary worship style with worship band |
| Service Times: |
Saturday 5:00 pm, Sunday 8:45 and 11:00 am |
| Web Site Info: |
www.whchurch.org |
| Comments: |
A LARGE church with upbeat worship and good fundamental preaching. |
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