Substance Church
Encyclopedia
Substance Church is a nondenominational, Evangelical Christian, megachurch
in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
. In 2010, Outreach Magazine
ranked the church as the 21st fastest growing congregation in the United States (8th in terms of growth percentages). Because the church has integrated niche worship , cell church
, and cafe church
methods into a singular megachurch setting, Substance is often cited as being "trend-setting"
campuses in Fridley
, Arden Hills
, Spring Lake Park
and Roseville
— many of which utilize high definition video sermons.
format and online social networking.
As a former rave-d.j., its founding pastor, Peter Haas, is often cited in numerous books and publications for his strange conversion to Christianity in a nightclub. Publications also often note Substance for its approaches towards Cell Church
methodology and regular emphasis on church planting
.
with some Neocharismatic overtones. Although Substance does not officially classify itself as an emerging church
, many articles find similarities, perhaps due to its youthful attendance and unorthodox methods. But despite their independent polity, Substance has assisted in the planting of numerous denominational and non-denominational churches ranging from Baptist
to the Evangelical Covenant Church
to Assemblies of God
.
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. In 2010, Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Vista, California. It focuses on activities of growing churches and is non-denominational.It is a periodical from the organization Outreach, Inc...
ranked the church as the 21st fastest growing congregation in the United States (8th in terms of growth percentages). Because the church has integrated niche worship , cell church
Cell church
A cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, or life groups.A church with cell groups is not...
, and cafe church
Cafe church
The Cafe Church, a Christian church model that can be associated with alternative worship and the emerging church movements, seeks to find new forms and approaches to existing as a church in the 21st century...
methods into a singular megachurch setting, Substance is often cited as being "trend-setting"
History
The church was founded in 2004 by Pastor Peter Haas in partnership with the Association of Related Churches. In May 2005, the church began holding Sunday services on the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul. After numerous re-locations, by 2009, Substance expanded into 4 multi-site churchMulti-site church
A multi-site church is one church that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s...
campuses in Fridley
Fridley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,449 people, 11,328 households, and 7,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,701.3 people per square mile . There were 11,504 housing units at an average density of 1,132.1 per square mile...
, Arden Hills
Arden Hills, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,652 people, 2,959 households, and 2,228 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,087.3 people per square mile . There were 3,017 housing units at an average density of 339.9 per square mile...
, Spring Lake Park
Spring Lake Park, Minnesota
Spring Lake Park is a city in Anoka and Ramsey counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 6,412 at the 2010 census. The city lies mainly in Anoka County....
and Roseville
Roseville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,690 people, 14,598 households, and 8,598 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,543.9 people per square mile . There were 14,917 housing units at an average density of 1,126.4 per square mile...
— many of which utilize high definition video sermons.
Distinctives
Although they attempt to be a multi-generational congregation, numerous publications have called it one of the most youthful megachurches in the country with over 70% of its members under 30 years old. Substance is often both praised and criticized for its "ultra-contemporary" approaches to worship utilizing turn-tables, rap, and other forms of media that are often avoided in traditional churches. This applies not only to their music but their use of videography in their multi-site churchMulti-site church
A multi-site church is one church that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s...
format and online social networking.
As a former rave-d.j., its founding pastor, Peter Haas, is often cited in numerous books and publications for his strange conversion to Christianity in a nightclub. Publications also often note Substance for its approaches towards Cell Church
Cell church
A cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, or life groups.A church with cell groups is not...
methodology and regular emphasis on church planting
Church planting
Church planting is a process that results in a new Christian church being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation...
.
Beliefs
Despite the churches' unorthodox methods they claim adherence to classic EvangelicalismEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
with some Neocharismatic overtones. Although Substance does not officially classify itself as an emerging church
Emerging Church
The emerging church is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, post-evangelical, anabaptist, adventist, liberal, post-liberal, reformed, charismatic,...
, many articles find similarities, perhaps due to its youthful attendance and unorthodox methods. But despite their independent polity, Substance has assisted in the planting of numerous denominational and non-denominational churches ranging from Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
to the Evangelical Covenant Church
Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of more than 800 congregations and an average worship attendance of 179,000 people in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the church is now one of the most...
to Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
.
See also
- Multi-site churchMulti-site churchA multi-site church is one church that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s...
- Contemporary WorshipContemporary worshipContemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the twentieth century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found to varying extents in a wide range of churches, including many that do not subscribe to a...
- Cell ChurchCell churchA cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, or life groups.A church with cell groups is not...
- Emerging ChurchEmerging ChurchThe emerging church is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, post-evangelical, anabaptist, adventist, liberal, post-liberal, reformed, charismatic,...
- Church PlantingChurch plantingChurch planting is a process that results in a new Christian church being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation...
- Seacoast ChurchSeacoast ChurchSeacoast is a large American interdenominational church located in the suburb of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, near Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It was founded in February, 1988 by Greg Surratt and a team from another large church in the area, Northwood Assembly in North Charleston. Surratt...
, Church of the HighlandsChurch of the HighlandsChurch of the Highlands is a non-denominational, Christian church in Birmingham, Alabama. Highlands is a multi-site church with campuses in several Alabama cities. The church was founded on February 4, 2001 by Pastor Chris Hodges and a core group of 34 people. In 2008, Outreach Magazine named...
, Celebration ChurchCelebration ChurchCelebration Church is a global, diverse, multi-site megachurch that reaches people from all walks of life. Founded by , now the lead pastor of the Jacksonville campus, Celebration began in 1998 and now has nearly 12,000 in attendance weekly...
- other notable ARC churches
External links
- Substance Church Home - http://substancechurch.com
- Substance Magazine - http://beingsubstance.com
- Star Tribune "Rock of Younger Ages" Jeff Strickler - http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/30269639.html
- Star Tribune "Growing Churches Blend the Old and the New" -- HERÓN MÁRQUEZ ESTRADA http://www.startribune.com/local/south/110453469.html
- www.peterhaas.org
- Association of Related Churches - http://www.arcchurches.com/