The ARC is happy to announce Northgate Church as our newest congregational member. Welcome to Pastor Steve Perkins and his team. I asked Steve to tell us a bit about Northgate. He writes:

“The beginning of Northgate Church is truly a God-story. From the beginning of a prayer meeting on June 20, 2010 which inspired a church plant, to the launch of Northgate Church in August of 2010 with an average of 475 people in attendance that first month, we’ve truly witnessed a miracle. Northgate Church began with nothing, but with the passion and the gracious support of our people, Northgate has been able to grow and meet the needs of thousands of people in our area. Today, two and half years later, we’re averaging 750 people in attendance on Sundays, plus 80 youth, grades 6-12 on Wednesday evenings. It is exhilarating to work alongside God as he touches hearts and brings people closer to him. At this past Christmas, we opened our doors to nearly 1400 people, and we’re expecting even more for Easter.

Northgate Church presently rents space from PACT Charter School in Ramsey, though we are breaking ground on our facility at the end of March, 2013. We plan to occupy our building by Thanksgiving of this year.

In the meantime, we are faithfully serving this community with everything we’ve got. Every week we meet multiple visiting families—both churched and unchurched. Many persons are making first-time commitments to Christ (180 in the last year!) Last Sunday there were four. And, we have a hard-working, team-driven staff of about a dozen people, including four pastors.

Northgate functions as a somewhat independent “Lutheran” church with three different affiliations, including the ARC. Our interest in the ARC is primarily about relationship and DNA. We appreciate the culture of the ARC, especially in regard to the things of the Spirit, and the relationship formed with different, like-minded churches, leaders, and institutions.”

Thanks for the introduction, Steve, and welcome aboard the ARC, Northgate!

We are excited to welcome Nathan Hoff to the Alliance of Renewal Churches. Nathan is senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro, CA and a member of the Board of Directors for Lutheran Renewal.

Nathan writes, “The Lord has been teaching me that thanksgiving is a fruit of true humility. Thanksgiving also severs the entitlement nerve that runs so strongly in me. ‘Thank you’ says ‘you have given me something that I didn't necessarily deserve.’ So I'm thankful! Thankful to introduce myself to a network that looks good on paper, but better in person. I'm thankful for good leadership in the ARC from the beginning days to today.

I'm thankful for my wife of 15 years, Joy (again much more than I deserve). She and I are grateful to parent 4 kids (Christian, Annika, Samuel, and Peter). I am thankful to serve as pastor at Trinity Lutheran in San Pedro, California. We have been at Trinity for 6 years. Trinity is giving thanks to God for 90 years of His faithfulness this fall. We are grateful for our past, and all that God is up to in the present, but also that He is leading us into a hopeful future here in the Harbor area of Los Angeles.

I thankful to join the ARC because I realized that ARC folks are the folks that I love to be with, minister with, and call when I'm in a bind and need prayer, support, or guidance. I love that the ARC values relationship.”

ARC members, you can meet Nathan at the ARC Midwest Gathering in St. Paul, MN on Oct 26-28. Welcome to the ARC, Nathan!

We are excited to welcome Corey Paxton to membership in the Alliance of Renewal Churches. Corey lives in Roanoke, VA with his wife Danielle and three little girls-- Hannah, Shilloah, and Norah-- serving as the Youth and Young Adult Minister of St. John Lutheran Church (LCMC). Corey also created and directs “Epic: Experiencing Passion in Christ”: a week of mission, discipleship, and adventure for teenagers in the Roanoke Valley. Before coming to the Lutheran Church, Corey served on Young Life staff and then as volunteer staff with Mosaic in Los Angeles while earning a dual master’s degree in Theology and Cross Cultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently finishing his MDIV with the Master’s Institute Seminary and is excited to join the ARC to connect with a band of brothers and sisters passionate about Jesus and His mission in the world.

Please add Corey to your prayer list, and you can look forward to meeting him at the ARC Midwest Gathering in St. Paul, MN on Oct 26-28. Welcome to the ARC, Corey!

We are excited to welcome Rev. Dawn Lundgren as the newest member of the ARC! Dawn is pastor of Cornerstone Church in Walker, MN, founder of Sundawn Ministries, and a graduate of The Master’s Institute Seminary. She and her husband Ed, will be married 53 years this July and have five grown children, nine grandchildren & four great-grandchildren. Wow! Talk about being fruitful and multiplying.

Following a devastating diagnosis of the onset of early Alzheimer’s Disease in 1983, Dawn retired to their home and began searching for God’s will in her life through His Word. In 1984 she experienced a “Damascus Road” encounter with the Living Lord, was touched, healed and commissioned on a path that eventually lead to an International ministry in 17 countries, plus conferences, seminars and worship services in many churches in the U.S.

In 2008 the Lord called her to become the pastor of a small, struggling church in northern Minnesota. With the support, love and prayers of many ministry friends and leaders, the church is growing, thriving and recently purchased the building they have been renting! Dawn writes: “I have chosen to become a contributing member of ARC partially because of my deep respect for the founders and leaders of this organization. After attending the 2010 Conference in St. Paul, and observing the number of passionate men and women of like minds and hearts, I was strongly moved to become a contributing part of this lively, inspiring and dedicated group of followers of the Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Welcome to the ARC, Dawn. We are excited to add you to our growing number in this band of brothers and sisters who want to kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.