Who we are and what we believe
The History of
The Pursuit Church
Pastor Tom dreamed of planting a church that would be intentional about reaching people that no one else was reaching. With the help of his family and friends, The Pursuit held its first service on October 13, 2013, in an old strip club in downtown Minot. Over 100 people showed up on that first day to hear about the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ.
From the beginning, The Pursuit has focused on sharing the Gospel through simple and clear teaching, creating a welcoming environment for all people, and connecting people relationally to grow spiritually. Since the first service, the church has grown rapidly, quickly moving to multiple services and changing venues to accommodate the growth. What started as a few family and friends dreaming and praying in a living room has turned into 1,000+ people gathering to worship God at our weekly services.
Today, our vision has grown to see the Kingdom of God continue to expand across our state and beyond by opening up more locations and offering a dynamic online worship experience. We invite you to see for yourself what God is doing through The Pursuit and join our passion to see people's lives transformed by the power of the Gospel!
Our Mission
To lead North Dakota into a growing relationship with Jesus.
Our Vision
To create a space where everyone is welcome in hopes that all will come to know Jesus.
Our Values
People Matter
Every person was created by God in His image, and because of that every person has inherent value. You Matter!
Matthew 20:29-34
Bring the Mess
Come as you are! Jesus never required us to get our lives on track before we came to Him. He just says, "Come." Jesus is the one who transforms lives.
John 5:2-6
Do whatever it takes
Throughout scripture we see Christ's followers using whatever means short of sin to reach those far from God. We value doing whatever it takes to make Jesus known!
1 Corinthians 9:12-22 Matthew 16:24-25
Take Ownership
Kingdom work is not just for those in vocational ministry. As followers of Jesus, we are charged with being the church to those we encounter. Everyone has something to contribute.
Ephesians 4:1-15
Take Next Steps
No matter where you are on your faith journey, everyone has a spiritual next step! Come discover yours.
Matthew 28:19-20
Radical Generosity
Christ was the ultimate example of loving people radically. He went above and beyond with His generosity. Let's be radically generous with the time, talents, and treasures He has given us.
Matthew 6:21 Luke 21:1-4
Our Beliefs
The Bible
Is God's story, divinely inspired, and without error. It is the primary authority on faith and living.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 | Hebrews 4:12 | 2 Peter 1:20-21
Salvation
Is a gift from God throughout Jesus' work on the cross. It gives freedom from sin and restores our broken lives, It is for all who choose to put their faith in Christ. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
John 3:16-17, 14:6 | Romans 3:21-26, 5, 6:14 | Galatians 2:20-21 | Ephhesians 2:1-9, | 1 John 1:9
Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ. This allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance, we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
Acts 2:21, 3:19 | 1 John 1:9
The Trinity
Does God exist in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? These three persons exist in eternal relationship with one another.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 | Matthew 3:16-17 | Matthew 28:19-20 | John 14:6-27 | 2 Corinthians 13:14 | Galatians 4:4-6
Jesus Christ
Is the God-man, both fully God and fully man. He was born of the virgin Mary and lived a sinless life on Earth. He became humanity's ultimate sacrifice by being crucified on the cross and paying our penalty for sin. Three days later he was resurrected from the dead and conquered death, opening the door for those who put their faith in Him to experience salvation.
Matthew 1:20-25 | Matthew 16:15-16 | Luke 1:26-35 | John 1:1-8 | Acts 2:22-36 | Romans 8:3,32-34 | Galatians 4:4-5 | Philippians 2:5-11 | Colossians 1:12-22 | Hebrews 1:1-5, 7:22-28, 9:24-28 | 1 John 4:15
The Holy Spirit
Is the ever-present and active presence of God in the world. It is the spirit that regenerates those who repent and believe. It is the spirit that empowers followers of Jesus. It is the spirit that guides people into truth, and it is the spirit that convicts us of our sins.
John 14:15-18, 16:7-15 | Acts 15:8-9 | Romans 8:1-27 | 2 Thessalonians 2:13 | 1 John 3:24
Gift of The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters.
Romans 1:11, 12:4-8 | 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40 | Ephesians 4 :16 | 1 Timothy 4:14 | 2 Timothy 1:6-7 | Hebrews 2:4 | 1 Peter 4:10
Sanctification
A Christ-follower becomes sanctified through the ongoing process of yielding to God's Word and His spirit in order to complete the development of Christ's character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
Romans 8:29, 12:1-2 | 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18 | 1 Thessalonians 4:3 | 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 | Hebrews 2:11
The Church
Has the mission of continuing the redemptive work of Christ in all places, at all times, and in all cultures. It is not a building. It has no walls and knows no boundaries, It is men, women, and children who follow Jesus and share in His mission. It is a community committed to the cause of Christ.
Jeremiah 29 :4-7 | Matthew 22:34-40 | Matthew 28: 16-20 | Acts 2:42-47 | Romans 12:3-8 | 1 Corinthians 4: 12-14 | 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to Earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the scriptures
Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64 | Acts 1:9-11 | 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 | 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 | Revelation 1:7
Heaven
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:3, 5:12, 5:20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34 | John 17:24 | 2 Corinthians 5:1 | Hebrews 11:16 | 1 Peter 1:4
Hell
After living one's life on Earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the devil and the fallen angels.
Matthew 25:41 | Mark 9:43-48 | Hebrews 9:27 | Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15
Sacraments
Water Baptism
Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new believer is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 | Mark 16:16 | Acts 2:38, 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48
The Lord's Supper
A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Matthew 26:26-29 | 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25
Marriage
We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God.
Genesis 2:24 | Matthew 19:4-6
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the times and locations of church services?
Minot Campus
515 20th Ave SE, Suite 1 Minot, ND, 58701
Every Sunday at 8:30am; 10am; 11:30am
Stanley Campus
103 1st Street SW, Stanley, ND 58784
Every Sunday at 9:30am
Online Campus
Live at 10am on Youtube, Facebook, and our website.
What can I expect on a Sunday morning?
Sunday services typically last 60-65 minutes and include live worship and an applicable message. We provide a safe and secure area for your kids during every service where they can connect with Jesus on their level. To create space for everyone, at our 8:30 service, anyone can grab a free drink as thank you for attending that service.
What denomination is The Pursuit Church?
The Pursuit Church is non-denominational, meaning we have people who attend with different backgrounds that find common ground in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Is there a place for my kids to go?
On Sunday mornings, we have you covered. Whether you have a newborn, toddler, kindergartener, or fifth grader, we have multiple rooms with adequate supervision and lesson plans. On Wednesday evenings, we have a youth ministry called Momentum, which caters to our 6th–12th grade students. They engage in worship, enjoyable activities, and a message. We encourage our teens to attend Sunday services with their parents.
Do you offer baby baptisms?
The Pursuit Church does not practice baby baptism because we view it as an external sign of self-dedication to Christ. Instead, we perform a "dedication" ceremony where parents pledge to raise their children in faith and ask the church for support. We celebrate the parents' intentions in the hopes that the child grows up to claim Christ for themselves.
Is there a dress code?
There is not a dress code here at The Pursuit. Come in whatever feels right for you! We are a church that welcomes all. We will meet you exactly where you are; therefore, we do not ask people to present a certain image.
Do I have to be a Christian to attend The Pursuit Church?
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, The Pursuit is a welcoming place where you can learn more about God and how to follow Him through a connection with Jesus. We are passionate about leading North Dakota into a growing relationship with Jesus, and we want to meet people right where they are.
How can I get baptized?
If you are a follower of Jesus and have yet to enter the waters of baptism, we encourage you to take that step. Invite us into your story for an opportunity to talk through the new identity, new family, and new mission that you now have
in Jesus. You can express your desire to be baptized at any time with baptisms taking place usually every month.
How can I get involved in the church/community?
There are many ways to get involved at The Pursuit; we recognize it is overwhelming to discover meaningful connections in a big church, but joining a group is a fantastic first step toward finding community at The Pursuit! If you
visit our Connect Center, they will be delighted to point you to our ministries and ways you can find community and involvement.
What are the demographics of The Pursuit Church?
Over the last decade, the Pursuit Church has grown large. We have young families, middle-aged adults, and some elderly members, predominantly white, with various educational and income backgrounds. Because Minot is such a large military community, we see more diversity, with people coming from all over the world.