Gathering with Northside Neighborhood Church

Northside Neighborhood Church

This past Sunday, Ami and I (Jason) had the opportunity to visit and serve a church plant that Trinity has partnered with in North Minneapolis: Northside Neighborhood Church. Northside was planted by Patrick Ray a few years ago with the hope of being a healthy church in North Minneapolis.

It might be important to ask, ‘What are signs that things are going well?’ The answer we are looking for isn’t always the right answer. Historically, church plants are measured by ‘budgets, butts in seats, and baptisms.’ These things don't necessarily mean that things are going well, however. True signs are harder to spot, but there were many wonderful things we got to experience in our short time. The first is that we saw a congregation growing to know itself as a church. Members were showing concern for other members, asking about their week, their struggles. A new member was added to the congregation, and the church together confessed its membership covenant. Another sign of growth is that the congregation is working at recognizing and raising up leaders. Soon, they will add an additional lay elder to help lead the congregation.

Finally, the structure of the service and the sermon event itself was a wise catechism in what it looks like to be a healthy church. Patrick spoke of the importance of the church being a city of peace, a healthy society so that the congregation outlives each and every member. Northside Neighborhood Church is seeking to pursue healthy leadership, true and simple gospel neighboring, and loving the whole body of Christ.

Continue to pray for this young congregation on the Northside. Pray for its leaders, Patrick, Andrew, and Brian. Pray for the church’s ministry in North Minneapolis that it would be an enduring witness to the saving power of Christ to a dying world.

Trinity City Church Sending Out Immanuel Fellowship this Fall

Trinity City Church is a community of witnesses who not only share the gospel personally but also corporately by starting new churches. This last Sunday, Pastor Bryan announced that Trent Senske is now a Church Planting Resident at Trinity, which means Trinity is the sending church for Immanuel Fellowship.

Immanuel Fellowship will have preview services and neighborhood parties throughout the summer. In addition, here are some key dates coming up this fall: 

• September 9: The Immanuel Fellowship Team will be commissioned at Trinity City Church
• September 16: Immanuel Fellowship begins weekly services at Laura Ingalls Wilder Complex in south Minneapolis. 
• October 14: Celebration Service for Immanuel Fellowship supporters at the Wilder Complex.  

Stay updated on the latest details by following Immanuel Fellowship on Facebook. 

In the audio above, Pastor Bryan exhorted everyone to support Immanuel Fellowship by doing one (or more) of the following:

1. Praying: commit to praying regularly for this church plant.
2. Giving: donate to Immanuel Fellowship. 
3. Advocating: spread the word about Immanuel Fellowship especially among those in south MPLS. 
4. Joining: become a part of the Immanuel Fellowship team! 

Everyone at Trinity City Church can do at least one of the above options. It's a specific way we may continue to make disciples who join God in the renewal of our city and world!

Pastor Trent shares the vision and values of Immanuel Fellowship at the Space Preview.

Pastoral Resident: Trent Senske

We recently introduced Trent Senske as our new Pastoral Resident at Trinity City Church. The residency is designed to give Trent more pastoral experience as he continues to work towards planting Immanuel Fellowship in south Minneapolis. 

If you missed the introduction, then listen to the audio below.

Also check out this video Trent did with Pastor Bryan for his latest update. 

Finally, here is a short bio of Trent from his website: 

Early on, I sensed a calling to spiritual leadership, and so for seven years I learned the ropes of discipleship, preaching, and leadership by ministering to college students. For the past several years, I worked for Coram Deo Church in Omaha, NE, as a pastoral assistant, in the privileged role of serving and shadowing Pastor Bob Thune. [...]

Last year, God called me to start a church in Minneapolis — or perhaps more accurately — the Spirit unfolded how Jesus had been hinting at it for years. 

In college, I voiced interest in church planting to my pastor, mostly because I thought it was cool. But after college, I became convinced it was crazy. I loved the thought of [church] planting, but I was reluctant about the work. Nevertheless, one morning while walking and praying in Memphis I sensed the Lord saying, “Give your life to preaching the gospel, planting urban churches, and training leaders for my Kingdom.” In August, we moved to Minneapolis to get assessed as potential planters and begin that work.