Author: Believers Church Duluth

September 10, 2025 Believers Church Duluth

To say that God has blessed us this summer would be a gross understatement. In the last few months we’ve celebrated a centennial anniversary, hiked and biked many miles, and witnessed believers being baptized. However, this Christianity thing isn’t something we do as a hobby or fit in when it’s convenient. When it comes to following Jesus and living in community, we’re all in.

IN THE WORD

Earlier this year we finished studying Paul’s missionary journey in the book of Acts. We are now taking a deep dive into Paul’s letters from prison, beginning with Ephesians. So far, we’ve learned foundational truths to the Christian faith and what it means to be in Christ. On Sundays we savor the message Pastor Justin has for us, and two Wednesdays a month we break into small groups to discuss the practical application of what we’re learning.

In August, we were very fortunate to have our missionaries from the Philippines visit us for a few weeks. Pastor Jesse preached on 2 Samuel 7 about David and Nathan. It was a great reminder that God doesn’t need us or our agenda. Rather, God desires for us to humbly submit to His will with worship and thankfulness.

IN THE COMMUNITY

We use coffee and espresso as a way to meet the community, learn to serve together, and raise money for missions all at the same time. In June, we packed up lots of cups, lids, ground espresso, and syrup bottles and headed to one of our favorite events: the annual Park Point Rummage Sale. It was quite chilly both days, but that was a match made in heaven for a steaming cup of coffee.

In addition to Park Point, we set up the trailer at Spirit Valley Days, a neighborhood celebration just a stone’s throw from church. It was a great opportunity to train new volunteers on making espresso drinks while putting faces to the name of Believers Church in our own backyard.

National Night Out is celebrated annually across the U.S. and serves to bring neighbors together to build community. Say the word potluck and we’re in. Folks from church as well as our West Duluth neighbors had a great time enjoying a summer evening, playing yard games, and sharing one of the largest chocolate cakes you’ve ever seen.

IN THE PAST

Pastor Justin, out of the blue, received a phone call from someone who had a very, very old cookbook. In fact, the book was from 1925 and was produced by the congregation that occupied our building at that time. The gentleman was kind enough to mail it to us, Pastor Justin delicately scanned each and every page, and we received our very own copies.

2025 is the 100th anniversary of the cookbook, so what better way to celebrate than to have a potluck with only recipes from this book. Many of us even dressed the part, and the evening was truly one to remember. In addition to the fun of deciphering recipes, we reflected on the cultural changes (or lack thereof) over the last century.

IN GOOD COMPANY

Our Young Adult group is very active, and this summer was no exception. We charted a seven mile course through the hills of Duluth for an urban hike. Our journey began at Chester Park, went down to Canal Park, up to Enger Tower, and back down to Lincoln Park where we ended with a barbeque for lunch.

As any true Duluthian knows, the weather is unpredictable. The Young Adult group planned a beach day for August, hoping to swim and soak up the sun. But, it turned out to be sixty degrees and damp. We weren’t deterred, however, and it turned out to be a great time. And yes, some folks still swam.

One highlight of the whole year is our annual all-church bike trip. We rode from church to Lester Park and back which is a little over 20 miles total. Biking like this on your own would be fun, but going with 25 of your friends is a whole new experience.

With fall approaching, we had numerous projects to work on both at church and at the Campus House. We tuck-pointed portions of the exterior of the church, sorted donated items for an upcoming rummage sale, potted countless plants for an upcoming UMD event and more. Though working hard can be tiring, it’s also satisfying knowing there is a lot of practical things we can do to advance God’s kingdom.

Our Duluth church is part of a greater Believers Church family including Menomonie and River Falls, WI, as well as Cebu, Philippines. Labor Day weekend is our annual all-church camping event with everyone that marks the end of summer. We had a wonderful time catching up around campfires, grilling lots of brats, and celebrating what God has done on a corporate level.

This is just a fraction of what it means to be all-in. There’s plenty more sorrow, more joy, more frustration, more endurance, more awe-inspiring encounters with God that are still ahead. May we all be able to say yes and amen to the popular hymn that sings, “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

June 10, 2025 Believers Church Duluth

The last few months have ushered in many transitions for us at Believers Church – Duluth, but that’s springtime for you. We’ve experienced beginnings, endings, and everything in between. All the while, God faithfully continues to grow us personally and corporately. And, just like the trees budding with new life, there is hope all around.

TO BEGIN WITH…

Believers Church actively seeks to get beyond our four walls and into the community. On the first and third Mondays of the month, a group of us meets at one of Duluth’s local brew pubs for a casual Bible discussion. Over the last year we’ve gotten enough traction that we’ve been able to split up our group. We recently began meeting at a second location–this time at a local burger/frozen yogurt shop.

Reaching out to people via community Bible discussions isn’t to the neglect of inviting people in. One of our favorite kick-off-to-Summer events is our annual church rummage sale. We get to meet our neighbors and raise money for domestic and foreign missions. Plus, it’s fun to sort through and buy each other’s junk.

With the (sporadic) increase in warmer weather, we’ve begun sitting outside on Wednesday evenings before Bible study. We get to break bread with each other and talk about what’s happening in our lives.

In The Middle of Fellowship

As an intentional group of believers, we look for any opportunity we can to be together. We celebrated Easter Sunday by eating ham and playing board games. On the outside it looks like a fun, Midwestern get-together. However, at the core is our thankfulness for Christ and how much He’s provided for us.

Over the last few months our Young Adult Ministry has partnered with our college group, Street Level, for team sports. We rented out Wessman Arena at UW-Superior and played broomball with the full length of the rink. Luckily, there were only minor injuries and no broken teeth.

On another occasion, we rented out the YMCA for a classic PE and dodgeball night. We competed in the presidential fitness test which brought back childhood memories some of us would have preferred to keep in the past.

Last but not least, our Young Adult Ministry partnered with a local organization to help clean up the Lincoln Park neighborhood. We were supplied with bags, buckets, reflective gear, and grabbers, and we hauled away bags upon bags of trash. Not only did we enjoy each other’s company, but the experience also reminded us to be good stewards of our surroundings.

The End…For Now

Our college-aged group, Street Level, meets every Monday at a building across the street from UW-Superior. The end of the school year arrived, so we celebrated by having an outdoor barbeque. Some students will be sticking around for the summer and some will be going home. Either way, it was a temporary goodbye until meeting again this Fall.

One of the biggest endings we experienced was Pastor Justin’s completion of the book of Acts. Through a total of 66 sermons, we studied the building of the early church, the Apostle Paul’s conversion and his missionary journey. However, as Paul is a prolific writer of the New Testament, this will not be the last we hear from him.

Though the Apostle Paul receives much of the focus of Acts, he did not live an independent Christian life. He could not do it alone and neither can we. Paul faced many trials that brought him to desperately low points in his life yet he insisted on finishing well and passing on the torch. Many, many chapters later, God is wanting to write us into the same story. You in?

March 10, 2025 Believers Church Duluth

This time of year, the days are short and the nights are long. The temptation to hibernate increases as the temperature decreases. However, this hasn’t deterred us from seeking the Lord and spending time with each other. We’re extremely fortunate to be a very active group of believers both physically and spiritually. In the last few months, God has taught us great things and has continued to grow our community. And, this isn’t just our story–it could be yours, too.

FRISBEE, FISHING, AND FOOTBALL FELLOWSHIP

Who says ultimate frisbee is a summer sport? One snowy evening, our young adult group gathered together to play a game complete with a light up frisbee and glow sticks. After working up an appetite, we warmed up with a smorgasbord of soups and breads.

Once a winter, Wisconsin does not require a fishing license. Our young adult group took advantage of the opportunity and carpooled to a lake about an hour south of the Twin Ports. We hauled our gear onto the ice, drilled holes, and waited (and ate snacks while we waited). We came home with a good number of fish as well as stories of surviving the elements.

Some of us like football, and some of us don’t. But, we all like a good potluck. We had an all-church Superbowl party that included watching the game and playing board games. There were lots of hearty crock pot concoctions, and it felt as comfortable as your family’s living room. Don’t be fooled–the Bears were not playing this year.

LEARNING AND LIVING THE WORD

Pastor Justin has been preaching through the book of Acts on Sunday mornings. The Apostle Paul has had an intense missionary journey thus far and is on the brink of imprisonment. Even though his earthly freedom is over, his ministry is not. Every other Wednesday evening, we get together in small groups to discuss the prior Sunday sermons. Like Paul’s ministerial transition, we’ve discussed how we’ve handled change in our own lives and what it means to look forward to next chapters.

When we’re not doing our rewind group discussions on Wednesdays, we alternate with men’s and women’s Bible studies as well as verse by verse teaching through the book of Daniel. Learning about Daniel’s life has been eye-opening as we navigate our own Babylon-like culture.

We took a break one Wednesday evening to watch a recent movie by Angel Studios depicting the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a pastor who died at the hands of the Nazis shortly before World War II ended. His fervency for Christ and the truth stands the test of time by way of his books that are still being read today.

While our knowledge of Scripture grows through traditional Bible preaching, we also learn by doing. This season we gathered on a Saturday to eat breakfast and complete projects around the church. We got our hands dirty and worked side-by-side, putting into practice what it means to be good stewards of the building God has entrusted us with.

BELIEVERS BEYOND BORDERS

Believers Church Duluth is not an island. We’re part of a greater group that includes Menomonie, WI; River Falls, WI; and Cebu, Philippines. In the last few months, we’ve been given quite a few opportunities to serve and fellowship with our extended family.

Four people from our church, along with several from Menomonie, caravanned many hours to Mississippi for a missions trip. They were able to complete much needed renovations as well as assist with teaching local youth.

The Kindred group from Menomonie, made up of single adults, invited us to join their winter retreat. We discussed in small groups what it means to be complete in Christ and were encouraged by the many examples of single people in Scripture. In the afternoon, we took a break to play board games, hike, and play broom ball.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” Indeed, God has given us much to appreciate the last few months. Our lives are extremely rich, even in winter.

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!