WE ARE A CONGREGATIONAL BIBLE BELIEVING FELLOWSHIP

WE’RE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY, SERVING THE SHOREWOOD AREA SINCE 1907

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Home 9 About Minnewashta Church

Minnewashta Church – A Place to Belong

It’s an exciting time to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Minnewashta Church continues to be a ministry center where people can discover Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, recognize their own spiritual gifts and use them in the body of Christ. Minnewashta has been serving the community since 1907 and has grown from serving the immediate neighborhood to impacting lives throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. Today, we are blessed to be able to share our building with Branch Church, a new and growing, family-centered ministry. We feel God’s hand in making room for them, and, once again, the place is bursting with kids who are the future in our community of Christ.

A Brief History

In 1901, several neighborhood women decided to start a Sunday school. With the success of the Sunday school, according to Minnewashta’s historical documents, member Jean Hobart called on several local families who were interested in forming a church, and the faith community came together in 1907. The formation of the Ladies Aid Society followed at the end of 1908. Sometime between 1909 and 1911, the Ladies Aid purchased a lot for $105 and plans for the original building were set in motion. After years of perseverance by its members, the Minnewashta Chapel was dedicated in 1916.

In 2021, the church hired Grant Hill as its 24th pastor. Music and fellowship have long been important aspects of weekly services. Minnewashta Church has a welcoming culture – A Place to Belong. Members have been drawn together by their shared desire to reach out to others in need and to share their faith with the greater community. By making room for the Branch Church services on Sunday mornings, we have begun the Midweek Chapel Service on Wednesdays at 11:30 AM. This is a “senior-centered” service with Prayers for the People, favorite hymns from our Hymnal and Best of the Best songbook, and a Biblical-focused sermon. Communion is served on the first Wednesday of the month.

The next chapter belongs to Branch Church. After nearly 120 years, in January 2026, Minnewashta is turning everything over to the Branch. We know this was God’s plan all along. As we have been aging, our numbers have been declining while the Branch family is growing by leaps and bounds. They stepped out in faith, as our founders had also done so long ago and God answered all of our prayers for over a century. To God, alone, be the glory for the next generation who will “Know God, and Make God Known” by sharing Christian fellowship and reflecting God’s love through service. Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place, as it was, it shall continue to be. We are so very blessed.

Pastor Timeline:

  • 1907: Founded by Mrs. Jean Hobart
  • 1918–1927: Rev. Luther M. Tesh (First Full-Time Minister)
  • 1927–1931: Rev. B. L. Richardson
  • 1932:  Mrs. Hobart (Interim Pastor)
  • 1932–1936: Edward J. Ridings
  • 1937–1943: Rev. J. E. Swenson
  • 1943–1948: Rev. C. N. Hamrin
  • 1948–1950: Lawrence Perkins, Jr
  • 1951–1953: John Stone (Interim Pastor)
  • 1953–1955: Rev. J. S. Shelby
  • 1956–1958: Rev. Austin Guild
  • 1958–1962: Rev. Allen Ulseth
  • 1963–1964: Clem Wagstrom
  • 1965–1969: Rev. Paul Flucke
  • 1969–1974: Rev. Norm Pavey
  • 1974: Harold Shippits (Interim Pastor)
  • 1974–1978: Rev. Walter Ross
  • 1978–2001: Rev. Doug Roper
  • 2002–2007: Rev. Kevin Ryherd
  • 2007–2009: Dr Scott Moats (Interim Pastor)
  • 2009–2015: Pastor Harlan Seri
  • 2015–2017: Dr Scott Moats (Interim Pastor)
  • 2017–2021: Marcus Dahl
  • 2021–Present: Pastor Grant Hill
  • January 2026: Branch Church

Our Mission

Minnewashta Church is united through worship to do God’s will by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching the Word of God as it is revealed in the Holy Bible, sharing Christian fellowship and reflecting God’s grace through service.

We recognize the Bible as the sufficient rule of faith and practice. We believe that living in accordance with the teaching of Jesus Christ is the true test of fellowship. Each member has the undisturbed right to follow the Word of God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our mission: To Know God and to Make God Known.

Beliefs and Values

  • WE BELIEVE the Bible consisting of the Old and New Testament, to be the only inspired inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.
  • WE BELIEVE that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • WE BELIEVE in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  • WE BELIEVE that for salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
  • WE BELIEVE in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world.
  • WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
  • WE BELIEVE in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.

 

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