Category: Duluth Ministry

Updates from our sister church in Duluth, MN

December 10, 2024 Believers Church Duluth

At Believers Church Duluth, we’re part of a story. It’s the story of God bringing a bunch of sinners together, teaching them to love and serve, and inviting them to live lives of purpose. What you’re about to see are the newest pages that have been written. God has been very good to us the last few months, providing opportunity to engage each other and our local community. Keep scrolling to see what we mean.

FALL FEST

Chester Bowl, a local park and ski hill in town, holds Fall Fest each September. Around 10,000 people from the community attended the art and craft fair this year. There were also a handful of food trucks, including our coffee trailer. A group of us worked in shifts to take orders, pull espresso, steam milk, and serve a variety of drinks. By the end of the day we were all the good-kind-of-tired. Events like this teach us to work together as a team, help us make connections in the community, and raise money for missions.

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Our young adult ministry is a group for those who are post-college but not yet over-the-hill. We took a trip on the Brule River and paired up for a total of 12 canoes. Some of us were veterans on the water, and some of us were not. Some folks got soaked and some got scraped. Needless to say, the four hour trip was a bonding experience because we made it to the end…together.

In October, our group set up a brunch tailgate at one of the UMD football games. We cooked pancakes, bacon, and eggs on a grill and camp stove in the parking lot. Later on, we closed up shop and headed over to the stands to watch the game. Hot breakfast + thrift store blankets + football = cozy Fall vibes.

CAMPUS OUTREACH

A new Fall semester means Street Level is back in session on Monday nights in Superior. Other than being physically located close to campus, we’ve been meeting students through JacketFest (an org. fair for students held at the beginning of the year), as well as regular tabling at the student center.

Across the pond, we’ve had a few tabling events at UMD. In the past, we’ve brought plant clippings for students to add a little green to their dorm rooms. It was a huge success, so we’ve turned it into an annual event. We brought as many plants as we could this year, pallets worth, and still ran out before the afternoon.

At our next UMD table, we gave out stickers instead of plants. It was incredibly eye-catching because it was fun to sort through them and look at all of the designs. There were stickers for every interest: star wars, hiking, animals, vintage, and more. We met a lot of new students as well as connected with some who knew us from the plant giveaway.

INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK

In November, we gathered at the Streel Level house and garage for a potluck to beat all potlucks. Some folks brought dishes from their home countries, and some others made dishes inspired by a country of their choice. The evening couldn’t have been better–enjoying good food and good friends.

LIFE TOGETHER

On occasional Sunday afternoons we gathered at a trailhead not too far from church. It’s a decent length to stretch our legs, but the best part is the new dairy store (with ice cream!) at the turnaround point. You know we spend a lot of time together when we start dressing alike.

Our game night brought out the diehard boardgame players and those more or less there for the junk food. Either way, we had a great (and late) night.

We are studying the book of Acts on Sundays, and we have a rotating schedule on Wednesdays: verse-by-verse through the Old Testament, men’s and women’s studies, and rewind small groups. Our Old Testament study is currently in the book of Daniel. The stage production group Sight and Sound recently released Daniel as a filmed version of the stage play. We watched it as a group, and boy did it inspire all of us. The quality was top-notch and truly brings history to life.

Last, but not least, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our church being in its current building. So much has happened over that time, and God has been intimately working through it all.

If the last few months (and last 15 years) are any indication, God is writing a pretty great story. We are thankful for what’s behind and eagerly await what’s ahead.

September 10, 2024 Believers Church Duluth

In Duluth, we sure love summer…but we love each other more. The last few months provided great opportunity for fellowship. On Sundays we’ve been learning about the building of the church in the book of Acts, and it’s given many parallels to the growth of our rag-tag group. Keep scrolling for just a few examples of what we’re thankful for lately.

Young Adult Hike

In early June our young adult group hiked ten miles that concluded in Jay Cooke State Park. It built comradery and character, similar to adventures written by Tolkein himself. We didn’t get lost, thanks to the trusty map, and all of us were still smiling at the end.

Park Point Rummage Sale

Duluth’s Park Point neighborhood hosts a two-day, miles-long rummage sale event at the beginning of each summer. We brought the coffee trailer for both days, met the community, and fueled them for bargain shopping. This opportunity accomplishes so much in a short amount of time: we get to work shoulder-to-shoulder, meet new people, and raise money for missions. No wonder why we look forward to it every year.

Annual All-Church Bike Ride

In July, we took our annual bike ride. We began in West Duluth at the church and rode all the way to Lester Park on the east side of town, a little over 20 miles roundtrip. There were a few scrapes, a flat tire, and a little bit of rain, but they did not detract from a great time.

Walking + Working

We took advantage of the beautiful weather as often as we could. This included fireworks, walking for ice cream, and a handful of Sunday evenings at Gordy’s restaurant in Cloquet. As we moved into August, we started working on our ‘back-to-school’ plans at the local college campuses. There is a lot in store, and we are looking forward to welcoming new and returning students.

All-Church Campout

The end of the summer concluded with the infamous all-church campout where we joined the Menomonie and River Falls groups for a family reunion of sorts. We are blessed beyond measure to spend time with them camping, laughing, and eating…lots of eating…oh and walking, too. After a weekend like this, we are ready to hit the ground running in our local community.

We are excited for what God has in store for us, knowing there are both ups and downs to navigate. We have a lot to be thankful for and, boy, does it show.

June 10, 2024 Believers Church Duluth

As summer kicks off here in Duluth, we’re excited to share some of the great things that have kept us busy over the past few months. It’s been a time filled with growth, connection and plenty of fun that’s brought our community closer together and built up God’s kingdom. Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to.

March: Fun and Fellowship

We kicked off March with a game night, featuring some of our recent favorites: Bananagrams, Organ Attack, and Settlers of Catan. It was great to see both familiar and new faces enjoying the evening together.

Later in the month, our Young Adult Ministry had a pizza night followed by roller-skating at a local rink. Some of us were new to skating, but it turned out to be a great time for everyone. We ended the month with a members retreat, which was a great break, offering a chance to relax and recharge.

April: Outdoor Adventures and Creative Outreach

April brought warmer weather, perfect for a post-church hike on a local trail. It was a small but glorious taste of the summer weather to come. Our Young Adult Ministry also had a bowling night, where we discovered who the real bowlers were—though everyone had fun regardless of skill.

As the school year ended, we said goodbye to several students moving on to new adventures. We celebrated with a grill-out at the Street Level House, sending them off with our best wishes.

May: An Action-Packed Month

We got to do so many awesome things in May! We started things off with a work day where we put a fresh coat of polish our coffee trailer, did some yard work and installed a giant neon sign on the top of our church. We’re happy to share that you can now clearly see us from the local freeway!

Since hauling a huge sign like that up to the top of the church was something of a feat, we’re glad that God blessed our efforts and kept everyone safe and sound.

We hosted our annual rummage sale in May as well. This is always a great day of serving together and raising money for missions, both domestic and international. We also saw lots of returning customers, as many people make a point to stop by every year! We served breakfast, bakery and lunch from our coffeehouse, and espresso drinks and coffee from our coffee trailer.

Looking Forward to Summer

As we look towards the summer, we’re excited for everything God has for us. Please keep us in prayer as we enjoy the warmer weather together, get outside more and make friends in our communities. Until next time!

March 10, 2024 Believers Church Duluth

As an uncharacteristically warm winter comes to an end, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the life of our church community here in Duluth. From fun events and gatherings to weekend retreats and serving togethering, we’ve covered a lot of ground in the first few months of 2024. Here’s what we’ve been up to!

We celebrated the New Year with a festive game night featuring a crock pot buffet filled with delicious food. The next day (aka literally just several hours later), we kicked off the first day of the year with a wintry hike. We had a great time and enjoyed ringing in 2024 together.

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In January, the Young Adult Ministry embarked on an ice fishing trip. They enjoyed a beautiful frozen landscape and even reeled in a few catches, adding an extra thrill to the adventure. Afterwards, those who were interested got a tutorial in how to clean a fish.

Our college-aged ministry, Street Level, remains active on Monday nights as we gather for a meal followed by working through the book of Mark. We read it together during our sessions and then have a group discussion. Welcoming several new faces, these meetings have been a great chance to get to learn more about the Bible and get to know each other.

We also hosted an international cooking night at the Street Level house, where a diverse gathering of people came together. It was a memorable experience, filled with flavors from around the world.

Members of Street Level also joined our larger counterparts from Menomonie in Chetek, WI for a weekend of fellowship. The ministry as a whole dedicated Friday night and Saturday to addressing cultural barriers that prevent sharing the Gospel. Large group sessions focused on relevance, relationships, and repentance, while small groups allowed us to share testimonies and simple gospel messages. Practical prayer was weaved into the weekend and greatly emphasized. We prayed together for ministry opportunities, boldness, obedience and each other.

We served coffee at Ice Fest in Superior, though the lack of snow and warm temps turned it into more of a mud fest. Which was okay by us, because it meant we didn’t have to bundle up as much as usual! Nevertheless, it was a successful event where we connected with many people, raised funds for missions and even managed to enjoy a round of free mini golf.

Some of our singles attended a Regional Christian Singles Retreat in Chetek, WI hosted by Believers City Church in Menomonie. During the retreat, they delved into sessions by Andy Stanley, focusing on making Godly decisions, all while enjoying the camaraderie among attendees.

In February, we enjoyed watching the Chiefs beat the 49ers at our annual Super Bowl Party. For those of us who aren’t into football, we had plenty of games and tasty treats.

Several of us joined a team on a trip to New Orleans to help renovate a church. This was a rewarding experience that left us feeling immensely blessed to be part of this important work. Wrapping up February, we enjoyed another game night filled with snacks and laughter.

On Sundays, we started going through the book of Acts, placing a special focus on the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, our Wednesday evenings keep things fresh with a rotating schedule. Whether we’re delving into verse-by-verse Bible studies through Lamentations, exploring the life of David in men’s and women’s groups, or engaging in insightful ‘rewinds’ to discuss recent sermons, our time together has been enriching. We even took one Wednesday evening to watch “The End of the Spear,” a film about the sacrifice of several courageous missionaries.

Looking ahead, we’re excited for all the upcoming months will have in store. With endeavors such as our community Bible studies for young adults and a missions trip to Mississippi, we’re excited to set out on new adventures together. And let’s not forget a fun-filled rollerskating outing planned for our Young Adult Ministry!

If you’ve been supporting us through prayer, thanks so much. If you’re not and would like to do that, we would greatly appreciated it!

December 13, 2023 Believers Church Duluth

Taking a look back at Fall 2023 in Duluth, we’ve got a lot of reasons to be thankful. Our crew made a lot of memories together, from serving to just hanging out. We’ve welcomed lots of new faces and continue to grow. Here are the highlights!

Street Level and Young Adult Ministry
Street Level, our college-age ministry, has moved from campus to the first floor of the Street Level house. Here, every Monday night, we host a home cooked meal and Bible study. In September we organized a rummage sale at the Street Level house garage. Our new coffee trailer made an appearance and we gave away plants to students. We also threw a Halloween party and some of us enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner together.

Our Young Adult Ministry embraced the fall season with activities like apple picking, pie baking and hiking. They’ve also been meeting at a local brewery occasionally for ‘beer and bible study’ to go deeper with some of the new people who have been coming.

Coffee and community outreach
We served coffee at Fall Festival and Boo at the Zoo, two annual events that are much-loved by locals. It was a great way to meet people, get the word out about our church, and raise money for missions. We also just really like serving together. We had an awesome time at both!

Every Thursday, RavenFed Underground Gathering hall (aka the lower level at our church) is now open, offering bakery and a full espresso bar. A few of us across different ministries gather there for service at that time. Our addiction recovery group Most Excellent Way meets there as well. It makes for a lively, coffeehouse atmosphere where anyone can join to study, play games or just hang out.

Learning and fellowship
Mid-October marked the commencement of a new Believers Class session, with about a half a dozen students. This group will be diving into a year-long journey through fundamental doctrines of Scripture. In November, we had a baby dedication for the Jersett kiddos. Additionally, in December our volunteers for the Douglas County Jail ministry got together for breakfast and a training session.

As the fall season drew to a close, we squeezed in one last game of kickball, enjoyed a game night, and decorated for Christmas. These moments of fellowship capped off a full and memorable season together.

Looking back on everything, it’s not hard to be thankful for the blessings and growth we’ve experienced. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing support. As we get ready for the winter months, we’d love for you to keep praying for us. Stay tuned for more updates to come!

September 10, 2023 Believers Church Duluth

As we begin to put away our shorts and sandals, it’s a great time to reflect on the past few months. Summer 2023 has been a season filled with lots of reasons to be thankful, including opportunities to serve, new beginnings and memorable moments of fellowship. We’ve been really blessed and want to share everything God has let us do!

Serving locally, nationally and beyond
We started things off serving coffee from our brand-new coffee trailer at the Park Point Rummage Sales. This year, we also hosted a small rummage sale as well. It was a great opportunity to engage with our community, work together and raise funds for missions. Overall, we counted it as a successful event.

Speaking of missions, we had a big change at the beginning of the summer: We sent off Jesse and Chelsey to the Philippines as full-time missionaries. Do we miss them? You betcha we do. But we’re grateful for the chance to support God’s work there and excited to see how He’ll use them. 

Recently, a few of us also traveled to Mississippi to partake in a construction project. This group was able to help build a pole barn for a local church so that they can build beds for children in their area. Those who were on the trip worked hard through scorching 90-degree weather and sweated buckets. But, they left feeling like they were the ones who received the bigger blessing in being a part of the work.

Starting a new ministry
This summer, we also kicked off something pretty cool – a new ministry geared towards young adults. This is meant for those of us who’ve graduated college but haven’t started families. This is a large group of people here in Duluth and within our church, so we’re excited to see how God uses it. 

Throughout the summer, this group hung out once a month hosting bonfires, an outdoor movie night, some volleyball matches, and, believe it or not, even tackled a midnight 5k run! It’s been awesome to get to know new friends and each other better.

Enjoying time together
We also made a lot of memories just being together. Our annual all-church bike trip took us to Carlton, where we enjoyed lunch and, at the end of the day, pedaled more than 30 miles together. We also braved the heat for a thrilling game of dodgeball and made frequent visits to Gordy’s, a local summer-time favorite for burgers and fries. 

For National Night Out, we threw a yard party in West Duluth. This allowed us to get to know our neighbors better. It was such a great shindig that the Duluth Fire Department even made an appearance. 

Our summer adventures concluded with the annual church campout, where we camped alongside fellow believers from Menomonie and River Falls. We especially loved seeing a few of our friends get baptized. Hearing their stories of how Jesus has transformed their lives was awesome.

Into the Fall
As we transition into the next season, our focus shifts to the University of Superior, where we’re excited to host Bible studies as part of Street Level, our college ministry. Plus, our addiction recovery group, Most Excellent Way, continues on Thursday nights, and we’re gearing up to serve coffee at Fall Fest. 

We appreciate your ongoing prayers and support and look forward to sharing more updates soon.