Pointing the Way

Pointway Church was featured in the Brainerd Dispatch today. You can read the article HERE.

'We want to point people to God'

New church sprouting in fertile Brainerd lakes area

By HEIDI LAKE

Staff Writer

The Brainerd lakes area seems to be fertile ground for planting churches.

The latest sprout to pop up is Pointway Church, a branch of the Christian and Missionary Alliance's northwestern district.

Steve Erickson, church planter and Pointway's pastor, said the northwestern district of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which covers Minnesota and parts of North Dakota and South Dakota, decided to plant a church in Brainerd/Baxter because of the area's booming population. He said projected growth for the Brainerd area in the next few years is why it seems to be a popular place for churches to put down roots.

"It's a healthy, growing community," Erickson said. "When you look at the growth ... we'll need a number of new churches in this area."

"This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and the greatest thing I've done in my life," said Steve Erickson, Pastor, Pointway Church

In the last 10 years, Erickson said 20 Christian and Missionary Alliance churches have popped up in the northwestern district. In 1999, Erickson helped start his first church, Common Ground Church in Lake Elmo. In 2006, he was part of another church plant in Duluth.

"Then the Lord made it clear he wanted me to plant another church," Erickson said.

Erickson, 37, his wife Anne and son Asher moved to Brainerd in November.

"I've always saw myself as more of a city guy, but the sense of community is important to me. We're longing for a closer-knit community," he said.

Erickson calls himself a "pioneer planter" - he's building a church from the ground level. His first duty: Find a core group of about 10 families to join him in starting the church. Two families are on board and Erickson constantly recruits.

With the help of Mark Bjorlo, pastor of The Journey North Community Church, Erickson and Pointway are progressing. Erickson presented Pointway's vision - to transform lives by pointing people to God - at a recent Journey North church service and Bjorlo encouraged members of his congregation to consider joining forces with Erickson in starting the new church.

"The philosophy of The Journey North is to not be concerned about expanding individual churches," Bjorlo said, explaining the bigger picture as he sees it. "Our bigger passion is for seeing (all) churches succeed, rather than (just) The Journey North succeed."

The Journey North, part of the Baptist General Conference, is coaching Erickson in how to successfully plant a church in Brainerd. The Journey North started with a core group of 14 people four years ago. Now, Sunday morning attendance averages 500.

"The Journey North is partnering with us to see that we succeed," Erickson said. "They've been a great help.

"This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and the greatest thing I've done in my life."

It's uncommon for churches of different denominations to work together in church planting, but both pastors agree the focus is on getting people to go to church, no matter what denomination.

Bjorlo said research shows "church planting is the single most effective strategy to reach people not going to church."

Erickson hopes Pointway Church will open in September. The church likely will meet in its sister church's building at Heartland Alliance Church in Baxter.

Pointway will host the first of many preview services at 10 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 23, at Heartland Alliance Church, located on Highland Scenic Drive.

"My heart is to connect all people with God," Erickson said. "The name of our church is our vision. We want to point people to God."

For more information on Pointway Church, call Erickson at 838-9802.

HEIDI LAKE may be reached at heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5879.

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