- Church planting & multiplication
Rachel Moran moved to Minneapolis about six years ago without knowing a single person in the large city.
She made her home in the Loring Park neighborhood among people of various incomes, races, ethnicities, ages and education levels. Along the way, she recognized that her neighbors seemed so different from each other that unity or friendship was difficult to imagine.
“We’re not a group of people who would have bonded over a book club or some sporting event,” Moran said of her neighbors.
But she was walking down the street five and a half years ago when a movie theater sign changed everything. The board announced that Miracle City, a church that reflects God’s mighty creativity amid human complexity, worshiped in that theatre.
“We’re a group of people that is bonded over Christ,” she said of the congregation. “It reflects the diversity of the neighborhood.”
God sees the great park and the glaring problems
The church, which was a campus of Wooddale Church (a Converge church that has launched several other churches) before launching as a church of its own in September, now reflects diversity and reveals miracles among the 10,000 people in Loring Park. They live close to the neighborhood’s namesake park, where people ice skate, watch movies and concerts or enjoy a wading pool on hot days.
Many are lawyers, young professionals and wealthy people who lead large businesses in multinational operations. But the community also has single moms, those afflicted by housing challenges and many with financial difficulties. There is gun violence, drug abuse and many other signs of the fall.
But the hardship and diversity attracted divine attention, pastor Trent Palmberg said. God stirred disciples to join him and his wife in starting Miracle City in September. They believe in a miracle-working God.
“We’re seeing people far from God come to faith,” he said. “We are seeing people knock on the door and say, ‘I need a miracle,’ and they give their lives to Jesus that day. And then they get baptized and their kids are coming here and they’re serving.”
What has the Lord done?
That transformation has happened in a single father of two kids who was at the end of himself but found Christ and now leads his family in discipleship. There are young adults burned by a church in the past who now follow Jesus. Plus, an alcoholic who was homeless now works at the church.
“That guy used to be doing harm directly to this neighborhood,” Palmberg said. “Now he’s giving back, he’s a leader within the church and his whole life has been transformed.”
God’s mighty works like that inspired the church’s name before it started, and it’s how he now sustains their obedience.
“That word miracle just kept coming up,” he said. “They talk about the miracles that God has done in their life. They talk about the miracle of the restored family and literal miracles of healing or deliverance that have happened in their life.”
Few here have heard the gospel
Jesse and Maribeth Moeckly grew up in Minnesota and chose to live there after they married in 2018. Since then, they’ve seen that very few people attend church or understand Christ’s identity, grace and truth.
“There are so many people who have not heard the message of Jesus who are searching and looking for a better future in the city,” Jesse said. “We want to be in the city to reach people, to share the hope and the love of Jesus and to see lives transformed.”
Pastor Palmberg said some in the community are young professionals crushing it in their careers. But the Twin Cities native said those same people can be spiritually confused and feel lost.
Palmberg said Miracle City Church accepts the questions that friends and coworkers ask, whether they are financially stable or struggling. Then, the Converge North Central church can point people to Jesus along the way.
“They don’t even have a starting point of who Jesus is,” Palmberg said. “We reach a lot of people who have never even heard the gospel.”
The church gathers for worship, Bible studies with a high level of accountability and intercessory prayer before ministry on the streets. Jesse Moeckly said an emphasis on being disciples who make disciples, especially through home groups, empowers believers to reach people and help them mature. Then, those people can be sent out and share the life-transforming power of God with others.
Palmberg added that helping someone step into a relationship with Jesus often begins when Miracle City’s disciples meet the practical needs of their neighbors.
“Jesus also restores communities, he restores families, he restores entire cities to be flipped around, to be known for the opposite thing that they are right now,” he said.
That’s an adventure, Jesse Moeckly said, but they are delighted to see what the Lord has.
“What could the Lord possibly do in the city that we could be part of?” he said.
A walk that unites worshipers
Most people around Loring Park walk, bike or make a very short car ride for life. The Moecklys drive under the city’s skyline for about 10 minutes to reach Miracle City Church.
Rachel Moran, too, was on foot when she saw a historic movie theater-turned-church several years ago. That’s how God drew her into his work among her neighbors.
She’s gone from a newcomer to a church member who regularly provides food, clothing and school supplies for students and teachers.
“We have a positive presence in the sense of giving of ourselves for others who are around us,” she said.
That love of God in action has created more Christian presence in the neighborhood, she said, because people with no ties and little in common have united in Christ’s worship and mission.
“It’s important to have people who know and love and reflect Christ in the neighborhood,” she said.
Converge's 10 districts have committed to deploying 312 church planters before 2026. Read more inspiring church planting stories and learn about the goal to send out 312 church planters in five years.
