Weekend Worship & Classes—Saturday 5:00pm and Sunday 9:00 & 10:30 a.m. at 12522 Main Street, Rogers, MN 55374

Office Hours 9:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Tuesday—Friday, (763) 428-5115, www.northridgefellowship.org

May—June 2015

12522 Main Street

Rogers, MN 55374

Sermon Series by Pastor Ben McEachern

Love God—Worship & Prayer Ministry

May: Rock Your World—John 15-17 There seems to be universal agreement that this world could use a change for the

better. But what will it take? I believe Jesus calls us, his followers, to rock our world.

As I read the Bible I see an expectation that his people are agents of change. He

seems to expect that the world will be different because we are here. But what will it

take? That precisely is the question as we wrap up the study of the Gospel of John

we started last December. Before Jesus was crucified, risen and ascended into heaven, He gathered those who would carry

on here on earth around Him and gave them His final instructions. They must have been pretty powerful because a few

short years later these same men were accused of "turning the world upside down." In short, they rocked their world. Join

us as we study John 15-17 and learn from Jesus how to rock our world.

June: Simple Church—Philippians 1:27 Simplicity is a beautiful thing, but it’s a lot of work. For some reason it seems that

complexity is the norm. This is so true for the church. There are a lot of different

“ministries” and for every ministry there are several good ways to do it. And if that

wasn’t complicated enough, we are not always on the same page. At NorthRidge,

we have done and continue to do the hard work of being a simple church with a

simple process for fulfilling the mandate Jesus gave us to “make disciples.” This

series is about that process. We will explore these four basic ideas that frame our

approach to ministry: Clarity, Movement, Alignment and Focus.

Believer’s Baptism

On the Saturday evening April 4 before Easter, thirteen

people declared that they wanted to be "all in" with Christ

by committing their lives through believer's baptism.

Romans 6:4—"We were therefore buried with him through

baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised

from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may

live a new life"

Baptism is a symbol of salvation in that it depicts Christ's

death, burial and resurrection and our identification with

Him in this experience.

The act of baptism is a

statement of faith in

Christ and a testimony

of our commitment and

desire to follow Him.

The following people took that step of faith on Saturday,

April 4: Maria Ericson, Andrew Johnson, Diane Kondratuk,

John Kondratuk, Jackie Lembcke, Grace Manz, Tim Pung,

Laurie Pung, Thomas Stevenson, Nathan Engman, Gail

Tiedeken, LuAnn Tyson, and Tom Tyson.

Child Dedication

One key step in marking your desire to nurture your child in

the ways of God, is to dedicate him or her to God publicly,

through a child dedication ceremony. This is a ceremony in

which parents formally call upon God’s blessing for their

child and publicly commit to raise him or her in accordance

with scripture. NorthRidge encourages Christian parents to

dedicate their children.

Recent Dedications (November 2014 – April 2015):

Sadie Sorensen, Griffin Schultz, Ryan Pomeroy,

Harper Gould, Silas Fredman, and Kellan Barney

Pastors Page, by Ben McEachern, Lead Pastor ben.mceachern@northridgefellowship.org, 763-428-5115 x12

“I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the spirit,

to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” (Romans 15:30)

It’s hard to believe, but one ministry season is wrapping up and another is about to begin. It has been a privilege to serve

Jesus together. Thank you for the joy of working together for the sake of Christ. The prayer and hard work of everyone at

NorthRidge has been blessed and God has used us for his glory. We should be very encouraged.

As we head into our Minnesota summer, I have a couple thoughts I want to share with you all. The first has to do with the

verse above. The Apostle Paul knew the battle is not against flesh and blood, and any effectiveness he might have would

come as the followers of Jesus Christ united in prayer. To that end, I want to call us to prayer. Now, I can almost hear

someone say, “Um, Ben, I thought you said it was the end of the season. This is Minnesota! Ministry is over until after

Labor Day.” I am sure it is said tongue in cheek of course! Because ministry in Jesus name is never over. It ebbs and flows

and it changes and adapts but it is never over.

Summer is just different, so I am calling you all to pray and serve as ministry shifts gear into some pretty important

activities for the gospel. Many of these activities are listed in this newsletter and they are among the most spiritually

impactful things we do all year. Two of the biggest things that happen this summer are VBS (Vacation Bible School) and

mission trips.

Think about VBS. This year hundreds of kids will descend on the NorthRidge campus and fill this place with songs and

Bible stories and noise and activity and then on the following Sunday the kids will help us sing and worship God. Many of

those kids will have been invited by their NorthRidge friend. By God’s grace, some of them will find a relationship with

Jesus. That means we must pray!

Think about the mission trips. This year dozens of NorthRidgers will be scattered all over the globe serving in Jesus name.

We will be in Alaska, Staten Island, NY, Honduras, Nett Lake, and Russia. We will be preaching and teaching the gospel,

playing games, giving medical attention, teaching life skills, doing construction work, eating dangerously and building

relationships all for one purpose only, to share the love of Christ so that people will be saved and the church will be

encouraged and strengthened! That means we must pray!

Finally, think about the ministry that will be happening right here. This year’s budget will be voted on at the annual

meeting on June 14. Our budget reflects the ministry plan for the coming year. It is exciting to see the growth we have

experienced and this budget reflects that. When it comes out you will notice a new position. We will be looking for an

Adult Minister to provide leadership in the Love Each Other focus of our vision. I am convinced this hire is critical for the

long-term effectiveness of NorthRidge. As we look at the growth of the ministry of NorthRidge, it has become increas-

ingly clear that we need focused leadership in Adult Ministry if we are going to continue to be effective at helping people

grow spiritually. This full-time position will oversee all aspects of small groups, men’s and women’s ministry and our

Connections Ministry. Pending congregational approval of the budget, we hope to have this person on the job by Sep-

tember, but we will be more concerned about finding the right person than keeping a timetable. This means we must

pray!

The Church is not a human enterprise. Nothing of spiritual value happens apart from prayer. Please join in the struggle

by praying for the gospel effectiveness of NorthRidge Fellowship this summer!

Page 2 May/ J un e News l e t te r

Page 3 May/ J un e News l e t te r

Overseer Letter, by Tom Steinle—overseers@northridgefellowship.org

Love Each Other—Family Ministry (Adult, Youth & Children)

Base Camp (noun): a main encampment providing supplies, shelter, and communications for persons en-

gaged in wide-ranging activities, as exploring, reconnaissance, hunting, or mountain climbing. (Dictionary.com)

It’s only been two years, but it seems like such a long time ago that the Base Camp Build Out vision was

communicated and the giving campaign started. It even seems like a long time ago that we broke ground

for the building expansion, and that was just last spring!

Base Camp Build Out has been an amazing process where God has provided so many times and in so many ways. It’s

been wonderful using the new facilities, the great room, classrooms, kitchen, expanded youth room, nursery and more.

However, the point of our Base Camp Build Out has never been simply to create comfortable, accommodating facilities

for NorthRidge to use. The point of a base camp is never the camp itself! It’s always about creating a launching pad for

venturing out to fulfill a greater purpose. We strongly believe God is calling NorthRidge to be an effective base camp for

his Kingdom.

The definition of the NorthRidge base camp could be something more like this:

Kingdom of God Base Camp (noun): a main encampment providing

worship, training, and community support for persons engaged in wide-

ranging Kingdom Impact activities, as loving others, especially the hard-

to-love, praying for the furthering of God’s kingdom, and telling others

about God’s forgiveness and love.

Of course, a base camp cannot be effective unless its inhabitants (that’s you

and me) actually venture out! Venturing out and engaging in Kingdom Impact

activities can be done in so many ways. NorthRidge is sponsoring a lot of

opportunities this spring and summer for just this purpose. Locally, you could

partner with CROSS in a farmers market, attend the National Day of Prayer

event, and fulfill needs as the holy spirit opens your eyes to those around you.

This summer there will be mission trips to Nett Lake, Staten Island, Alaska, Honduras and Russia. And if the Holy Spirit is

whispering to you to consider joining the Lindeen's in starting Mosaic Church in Maple Grove, pay attention!

There are also so many ways that we can venture out from the NorthRidge Base Camp in our everyday lives. When we

go out of our way to help that neighbor that is tough to get along with; when we spend real time praying for those who

are hurting or those who need to meet Jesus; when we tell our coworker who is struggling with life about the way Jesus

has changed ours, we are engaging in Kingdom Impact activities!

Yes, NorthRidge is a wonderful church. It’s a place where we worship God, learn about Him and find community with

others who are also seeking to follow Him. But it doesn’t end there. God calls each of us to get involved in Kingdom

Impact activities. So don’t just think of NorthRidge Fellowship as your church, think of it as your Base Camp. Ask God

what Kingdom Impact adventure he has for you…then pursue it courageously!

“The point of a base camp is

never the camp itself! It’s

always about creating a

launching pad for venturing out

to fulfill a greater purpose.”

A community is always becoming – it is never static. We

want to intentionally grow in our relationships with each

other in a way that provides real Christ centered communi-

ty for each person who is a part of the NorthRidge family.

As we grow in size we need to become more intentional

and organized in order to meet this goal.

This is why the budget that will be presented to the con-

gregation in May and will be voted on by the membership

in June includes funding to hire an adult minister. The

main goal for our adult minister will be to provide oppor-

tunities for adults within NorthRidge Fellowship to build

healthy relationships that encourage spiritual growth.

He/she will do this through leading our small group minis-

try, recruiting, equipping, and supporting small group lead-

ers and working with small group leaders on curriculum

choices so that we offer a balanced menu of small groups

that will effectively disciple our growing congregation. Our

adult minister will also oversee and support our other adult

ministries including men’s and women’s ministries and will

lead our connections ministry.

Join us in asking God to send us the right person to fill this

role and to help us make NorthRidge a place where rela-

tionships matter (John 13:34-35).

Teri McEachern, Family Pastor

Our Mission - To become a Community of Christ-followers that love God and express His love to others (Mark 12:30-31)

Page 4 May/ J un e News l e t te r

Love Each Other—Family Ministry (Adult, Youth & Children) Teri McEachern, Family Pastor, 763-428-5115 x13, teri.mceachern@northridgefellowship.org

Children’s Ministry Teri McEachern, Family Pastor

As we move toward summer, I am so

thankful for the many people who have

served children throughout this year. These

servants have modeled Jesus’ love by cuddling and playing

with our youngest treasures in TreasureCove, by challeng-

ing our older children in TreasureLand and TreasureQuest

to hear God speak to them through the Bible, and by con-

sistently modeling a life of prayer.

Serving Opportunities:

We are looking for a team of people who are willing to

teach and care for our younger children occasionally over

the summer months. Please call the church office or email

children@northridgefellowship.org.

Youth Ministry Matt Pfadenhauer, Youth Minister

763-428-5115 x15, 641-224-9988 (cell)

youth@northridgefellowship.org

Acquire the Fire—March 13 & 14

(from the perspective of Lynnea Helman, 9th grade student)

Acquire the Fire was a great weekend for

the youth with lots of learning through

worship, speakers, concerts, and conver-

sations with our adult leaders. We grew

closer to God learning to be RESILIENT

through all the curveballs life can throw

our way. Speaker Joel Jones taught us

that all we have to do is have just a speck

of faith and God will do over and above

what we ask of Him. Even through our

struggles, our problems can’t outweigh

our God, because He is so much bigger

than our problems. Kemtal Glasgow

taught us, “the word of God will work for

you, wherever you are, because if God

says it, we know it’s true.”

Some other highlights of the weekend

were singing many cappella songs, hav-

ing a big dance party out in the parking

lot, lots of laughs, and many others.

Overall it was a great weekend of not

only growing closer to God, but growing

closer to each other.

TreasureCove

A positive safe place where

children will feel treasured by

God and the people of

NorthRidge Fellowship

TreasureQuest

A consistent place for

children to invite their

friends to meet Jesus

TreasureLand

Building a strong base of

knowledge and faith in Christ

in the context of healthy

relationships

Adult Ministry

Mosaic Church Luncheon

A total of 60 NorthRidgers at-

tended the Mosaic Church infor-

mational luncheon on March 15.

A second luncheon that was held

at Grace Fellowship attracted 20

people. Currently there are 30 NorthRidgers (adults and

children) that have officially signed on to join the Mosaic

launch team. 17 more people, outside of NorthRidge, have

also joined the team. In addition, there are approximately

40 people from NorthRidge, Grace and other churches that

are praying about joining the Mosaic team.

Pizza Night

The great room

was filled with

laughter and

conversation

during a casual

evening of fel-

lowship follow-

ing the Saturday

evening service

on April 25.

People were encouraged to meet someone new and to

catch up with old friends.

Page 5 May/ J un e News l e t te r

Men’s Ministry Jeff Ekstrand

men@northridgefellowship.org

March and April Men’s Breakfasts

On March 14, Paul Jonason shared his testi-

mony of God's faithfulness in his life with the guys after we

enjoyed a big breakfast. I'm para-

phrasing, but Paul said it this way:

"It's easy to live this life basing our

self-worth on the approval we re-

ceive from others. This type of

"approval" can feel good for a while

but it always falls way short of God's

approval and really is nothing more

than an idol. God created us and his

intent is for us to know him and re-

ceive our approval from him alone

and he is patient and faithful in

teaching us lessons like this." Thanks for the encourage-

ment Paul!

April 11 was Doug Whitleff’s turn and it was nice for a

bunch of us to get to know him better. Doug is a North-

Ridge old-timer turned new-comer when he returned to

NorthRidge a year ago to share some of the pastoral du-

ties. What stood out most to me from his testimony was

the fellow archer who befriended him at the archery range

and became, for Doug, an example of a true Christ follower

that God used to bring Doug to a saving faith. Doug called

himself "the biggest sinner" and implored the guys to trust

that God has made a way of forgiveness for all sins and

sinners through Jesus. Thank you Doug!

After the breakfast, Doug treated

the guys to an extensive turkey

seminar. Besides connecting out-

door lovers with each other, and

providing an example for a min-

istry opportunity for hunters to

invite others, several attenders

said that Doug really put on a

clinic that will help them bag a

turkey this spring. Thank you

Doug for offering training and

encouragement to us that will

help with both fellowship and

shooting a tom. Great stuff!

God received glory when these two guys talked about His

loving intervention in their lives. Paul and Doug both

pointed out in their testimonies the role the body has

played as well. This was a real encouragement to keep up

with "loving each other."

Women’s Ministry Ann Harms & Chris Peters

women@northridgefellowship.org

On Friday, March 6, the women's ministry team held a book

night to discuss Kristen Welch's book, Rhinestone Jesus.

The story is Kristen's journey of saying yes to God; the book

challenges all women to be open to what God might be

asking them to do and to rely on Him for the strength and

guidance to do it.

We enjoyed snacking

and discussing the

ways the Lord has

made us unique and

what ways He may be

calling us to use our

gifts and talents to

make a difference for

His kingdom.

Small Group Ministry Kevin Hyde

smallgroups@northridgefellowship.org

It has been another great year for small

groups throughout the 2014/2015 season.

As we find ourselves winding down for the summer, we en-

courage those in small groups to continue to get together

this summer. Have a BBQ, enjoy a day at the beach, or head

to a Twins game together. Summer schedules seem to get

us running in many directions but it is a great time for fel-

lowship within our church body as well.

Thank you to all of the leaders this year. We appreciate all

the work, preparation and time that you put into each of

your studies. We plan on having an appreciation lunch or

dinner in the near future and we hope to see you all there.

Groups discussing the book

Paul Jonason giving

his testimony

Doug Whitleff sharing

turkey hunting tips

2015 Spring Photo Shoot—Thank you!

Recently, 100 families/individuals took part in the 2015

Spring Photo shoot, allowing us to capture the great smiles

and happy faces of many of our NorthRidge Fellowship

families. We want to say a big "Thank You!" to Shawn Niel-

sen of Nielsen Studios for sharing his creative gifts in sup-

port of this project.

The photos will be used in vari-

ous internal church communi-

cations, as well as our online

community directory. If you

missed the opportunity this

spring, we will offer another

photo shoot later in the fall.

The Rokala Family

Page 6 May/ J un e News l e t te r

Make a Difference—Missions & Benevolent Ministry Dan Monson, Missions Pastor, 763-428-5115 x17, dan.monson@northridgefellowship.org

Amy White, Missions Ministry Leader

missions@northridgefellowship.org

Seeing God at work through relationships in Honduras

Pastor Ben McEachern, with David Molina, YWAM missionary and Spanish translator, traveled to San Je-

ronimo, Honduras March 2-10 at the invitation of our mission partner, Pastor Olman Estrada of Fuente de

Vida Church, to support Pastor Olman in his efforts to encourage local church leaders and pastors. Pastor

Olman arranged for Pastor Ben and David to speak with 70 local Honduran pastors about growing strong and vibrant

churches. They also met with leaders from Pastor Olman’s church, which since 2013 has launched 32 community small

groups hosting more than 360 people weekly.

David said he was struck by the idea that they really didn’t bring anything to the mis-

sion, but a willingness to be a witness to what God was doing, and through that, God

showed His power. “I have been serving in missions and interpreting for years, but on

this trip I was amazed by the experience of God using me to move beyond mere interpre-

tation to sharing what He wanted to say through Pastor Ben.”

Pastor Ben said, those times of sharing benefitted him as much as the other pastors.

“But the highlight of the trip for me was the bond of love formed with the other pastors.

For a brief time I shared in their daily struggle to serve and make a life in this third-world

country,” said Pastor Ben.

That struggle was demonstrated dramatically on the very first day of their trip, during

the two-hour drive from the airport in the capital of Tegucigalpa to the church in San

Jeronimo north of Comayagua.

“Through the whole drive Olman was telling us about all they were doing – from their ambi-

tious plans to plant 1,000 churches in the next 10 years, to organizing local pastors to build

each other’s homes – he hardly stopped to take a breath,” said Pastor Ben, It started to rain

and the roads were slick. We came to a sharp curve, and we were going too fast. The truck hy-

droplaned, flipped and began to roll, skidding directly for a 20-foot ravine. Later, the pastor in

the following vehicle said the truck should have crashed into the ravine, but instead defied the

laws of physics and flipped back onto the road ‘as though by the hand of God.’

“There is no doubt in my mind God protected us. And that moment changed our trip,” said Pastor Ben. Thankfully, everyone

walked away with minor injuries. The truck was less fortunate. Losing his truck was a substantial hardship for Olman, an

active pastor living on a margin that sometimes requires him to decide between groceries or gas. In response to that

loss, God showed His provision. “I saw the community of pastors come around Olman in an amazing way, and I was invit-

ed into those real relationships,” said Pastor Ben.

Upon their return, Pastor Ben made an impromptu request for financial gifts to help

with repairs to Olman’s truck. In one week, the people of NorthRidge gave more

than $4,000 – fully covering the cost. “We are so rich to have the friendships we have

in Honduras,” said Pastor Ben, “I’m excited for the team going down this coming July.”

For more information about opportunities to serve in Honduras and with our other

mission partners, contact Pastor Dan Monson.

Pastor Ben and David Molina speak

to a group of young soccer players at

a community program organized by

the worship pastor of Fuente de Vida

church

CROSS Collection Needs

May—Coffee or Tea & Cooking Oil

June—Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, etc. & Laundry Deter-

gent (16 oz. or smaller)

Volunteers Needed

All summer, CROSS needs volunteers to staff the

CROSS booth at the Rogers Farmers Market. Contact

Stephanie@CROSSservices.org for more information.

Page 7 May/ J un e News l e t te r

May 7—National Day of Prayer

Let’s join together for the National Day of Prayer, the 64th

consecutive recognition of this special day. Unite with us

in this unique opportunity to ask God’s blessing on our

country and its leaders. The event will be held at 7 PM at

Rogers Elementary.

May 9—Senior Recognition

During the 10:30 AM service we will recognize our high

school graduates. If you or your teen is graduating this

year, e-mail Pastor Matt (youth@northridgefellowship.org)

a senior picture and open house information.

May 15-17—Nett Lake Trip

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact

Dale Dimitroff at daledimitroff@comcast.net.

May 16—Women’s Spring Brunch

Ladies, join us for a morning of great food, fellowship and

testimonies of His faithfulness from NorthRidge attendees

Melisa Jensen and Heidi Schneider. You won’t want to miss

this fun and encouraging morning 9:30—11:30 AM.

May 16—Child Dedication

If you are interested in dedicating your child, please

contact Tammy in the office to pick up a packet and to

schedule a time to meet with Pastor Ben.

May 31—Thailand Review and Recruit

Come and hear an update from Jan and Murray’s February

trip and Karen Indehar share about short-term opportuni-

ties in Bangkok at 11:45 AM.

June 3—Rogers High School Baccalaureate

All are welcome and encouraged to attend this Christian,

interdenominational ceremony for the Rogers High School

graduating class. The ceremony will include music, readings,

prayers, and guest speakers. The event will be held at Word

of Peace Church at 7 PM.

June 6—7—Celebration Weekend

We will spend the entire worship service saying thank you

and celebrating what God has done over this past year. We

will have great music and a time for people to share their

stories of how they have seen God at work. After the 10:30

AM Sunday service we will head over to Otsego Park for a

picnic and baptism. If you’re interested in being baptized in

the river and taking this step of faith, contact the office or

talk to any of the pastors.

June 14—Annual Meeting

Mark your calendar for our annual meeting immediately

following the 10:30 AM service. We’ll recognize new mem-

bers, seek congregational approval for the budget and vote

in overseers. Everyone is invited, however only members are

able to vote. Lunch will be served for attendees and their

family that attend the meeting.

June 20—Rockin’ Rogers Parade

We need plenty of NRF family to help host this event, to

ride on our float or walk alongside it inviting our communi-

ty to church. Free t-shirts will be available for everyone who

participates.

June 22-26—Vacation Bible School

We are so excited to see what

God will do through Everest Va-

cation Bible School (VBS) this

year. We will embark on an icy

expedition where kids overcome

obstacles with God’s awesome

power, anchored in rock-solid

Bible truths that will guide them

through life’s challenges. Our VBS will run Monday through

Friday mornings June 22-26 for children who are 5 years

old through completed 5th grade. The cost is $10 per child

or $20 per family. You may register for VBS online through

a link on our website beginning in May.

Our purpose in running VBS at NorthRidge is to provide an

event that our children and families may use to invite their

friends to meet Jesus. Please prayerfully consider who you

could invite to attend this exciting week.

Easter Services Attendance 2014 vs. 2015

2014 Total Attendance: 1,211

2015 Total Attendance: 1,342

An additional 131 people attended Easter services in 2015!

143

262

178 133 202

391

307

130

276 310

110

217

374 331

LAST SUPPER

GOOD FRIDAY

5:00 PM 6:30 AM 8:00 AM 9:15 AM 10:30 AM

2014 2015

Scott Maronick

18940 Orlando Ave.

Hastings, MN 55033

NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 19

ROGERS, MN 12522 Main Street

Rogers, MN 55374

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Join us June 6 & 7 for