Planting Partners

Planting Partners is an emerging group of ConvergeUSA church planters in Central and Northern Minnesota along with the North Central LEAD Team. Together, we are committed to launch new, reproducing, conference churches in our region.

Mark Bjorlo is the planting pastor of The Journey North Community Church in Brainerd, MN and the director of Planting Partners.

Jeff Gauss is the new planting pastor of Epiphany Station, a new church in Thief River Falls, MN.   Prior to moving to the “end of the world,” he founded and led an urban church plant in St. Paul, MN called Loungedivine and served as the Lead Pastor in Cushing Baptist. Jeff is learning how to be “all things to all people” while remaining true to One Person.

Bob Evans is the pastor of Temple Baptist Church. The church is about to celebrate its 125th anniversary. He got his D.Min with an emphasis in Theological Reflection. As a strong proponent of church planting he has served as an ad hoc advisor to Mark Bjorlo. Trained by the BGC as a planting coach, he brings practical wisdom and insight to the table.

Joel Nelson provides direction to the church planting ministries of the Minnesota Baptist Conference in St. Paul, MN. To that end he networks, resources, and supports the church planters who are a part of Team Minnesota. He also works with ConvergeUSA, the national church planting arm of the Converge Worldwide. Prior to this current gig, he served as an interim pastor and before that he planted a church in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. He has a D.Min from Fuller Seminary and gets to visit and speak in churches throughout Minnesota. Joel lives in Lino Lakes, MN with his wife and three boys who keep him very busy.