It pretty much started with a lunch. In April 1987, our Conference Superintendent, Stan Henderson, invited the youth pastor from Redeemer Covenant Church to lunch. That youth pastor, Larry Magnuson, accepted the challenge from Stan to plant a new church in Maple Grove, and on December 6 of that year, a church charter was signed with 99 committed members, many of them from Redeemer Covenant, who became our "parenting" congregation. They came with a vision for evangelism and discipleship.
Our first regular meeting site was Rice Lake School, but within three years we had moved into our own building on 11 acres of land which the Northwest Conference already owned. Over the years, we've added to that original structure a few times, but our commitment to strong children's and youth ministry, as well as vibrant worship and solid adult ministry has not wavered. Beyond our walls, we've supported ministries like CROSS, Loaves & Fishes, Feed My Starving Children, and Angel Tree, along with career and short-term missionaries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
While the future will not look like the past, we still strive to give fresh vision and energy to the kinds of ministries that have made us strong and vibrant throughout our 35-year history, looking to know God will continue to build on what He's already done at MGCC to help us GO, LOVE, and LIVE.