No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

1 John 4:12

<span style="color: var(--primary-color-text);">Every institution is driven by something. The local church is no exception. In a world driven by fear, power, and wealth, Jesus-followers are called to live from a different source of motivation – love. It is through this love that God is revealed to the world around us.</span>

Every institution is driven by something. The local church is no exception. In a world driven by fear, power, and wealth, Jesus-followers are called to live from a different source of motivation – love. It is through this love that God is revealed to the world around us.

As we near the end of 2025, we have an opportunity to put our love on display through our generosity: one massive expression of love for the sake of others.

Together, we are giving for the love of three things: 

our neighbors, 

the Church, 

and the next generation. 

For the Love of Our Neighbors


Jesus invites us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Our neighbors today are facing needs of every kind. As we look around our community, we desire to invest in the great work being done by our community partners to meet these needs. 

Family Pathways Christmas Meals

Family Pathways Christmas Meals

$9,000

We believe every family in our community should be able to celebrate Christmas with a great meal. For over a decade, The Co has partnered with Family Pathways to provide Christmas meals to families unable to afford one on their own. This year, 150 families in need have been identified. 

Rangers Supporting Rangers

Rangers Supporting Rangers

$3,000

This incredible organization works closely with Forest Lake Area Schools to battle food insecurity among the student population. Many students rely on school breakfast and lunch when school is in session, leaving them vulnerable on weekends and breaks. Rangers Supporting Rangers fills those critical gaps by sending students home with the food they need. 

156 Club

156 Club

$3,000

The 156 Club provides a safe space where 12-step meetings take place every day of the week, supporting those in recovery from alcoholism and other addictions. Maintaining this house for meetings requires regular upkeep costs. We want to love our neighbors by resourcing an excellent, ongoing space where life-changing conversations can comfortably continue. 

For the Love of the Church


It’s been said that the local church is the hope of the world! 

We want to invest in Jesus’ mission to reach all people through the movement he began 2,000 years ago. Together, we’ll further the church here, near, and far.

HERE: Strengthen Ministry Fund

HERE: Strengthen Ministry Fund

$65,000

Our ministry fund fuels our mission of inspiring curiosity in the way of Jesus. It enables our weekly gatherings and next generation environments, all of which pave the way for people to discover faith. We don’t invest in our local church for the sake of ourselves but instead for the sake of those not yet with us. A significant portion our ministry fund is provided for annually through year-end giving. We want to finish 2025 in a way that enables us to begin 2026 from a position of strength. 

NEAR: Converge Church Planting

NEAR: Converge Church Planting

$8,000 

Church planting is a part of our legacy but not our recent history. In the first 5 years of our church’s existence, we invested in three new churches – two in Minnesota and one in Ukraine. Yet it’s been decades since we’ve multiplied further. We believe it’s time to re-engage. Converge North Central provides us opportunities to be part of Jesus’ multiplying church throughout our region. 

FAR: Big Family Church, Ukraine

FAR: Big Family Church, Ukraine

$6,000

In 2008, Big Family Church was planted in Ukraine through The Co. Their operations changed significantly in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last year, we equipped them with generators to store power and continue operating on an unreliable power grid. This year, we want to provide solar panels, giving them a completely independent source of electricity. This will allow them to continue serving their community through unstable conditions. 

For the Love of the Next Generation


The future of the church lies in the hands of the next generation.

God is doing incredible things through CoKids and Community Youth! We want to fuel that fire heading into 2026. 

Upgraded Youth Space

Upgraded Youth Space

$4,000

Community Youth (grades 6-12) meets weekly at the Forest Lake Senior Community Center. We’re so grateful for the space. But we also acknowledge that its design is tailored more to senior citizens than senior and junior high students. We believe the future of our church deserves a space that feels like home. There are steps we can take with additional resources to create a more welcoming and engaging environment within this rented venue.

Mega Sports Camp Scholarships

Mega Sports Camp Scholarships

$2,000

Mega Sports Camp continues to be one of our greatest opportunities to reach new kids and introduce them to faith. We know that over half of the families who attend Mega for the first time eventually attend The Co. Last year, we gave out twice as many scholarships as we had planned. Let’s increase the scholarship fund and open the doors even wider to the world around us! 

Our Goals


Family Goal:
100% Participation

We can do so much more together than we can alone! In fact, the earliest Christians often took significant steps of generosity collectively and communally, not individually. With that in mind, we want to see 100% of people who call The Co their “home” partner together in taking a step of sacrificial generosity motivated by love!

Financial Goal:
$100,000

To show love in so many ways requires a significant amount of resources. It feels like a stretch. But we believe it's possible. God has called us to be stewards, not owners, of every resource and asset he has placed in our hands. We're excited to see the impact we can make together as we steward well with loving generosity!

*If total giving is above or below the goal, the Board of Directors will determine the priority of projects accordingly.

Preparing Our Hearts to Give


The For the Love initiative opens for giving on Sunday, November 23rd. Between now and then, we’re asking each person who calls The Community Church their “home” to be in prayer, asking God to show you how He is leading you to take a step of sacrificial generosity for the sake of the world around us.

Consider these resources as you pray and prepare: 

Watch Teaching

Watch Teaching

Stay current with our For the Love teaching series as we discover more about what real love looks like throughout November. 

Watch Messages
Study Scripture

Study Scripture

The book of 1 John has become foundational to the For the Love initiative. Take time to read how John encouraged the first Christians - and encourages us today - to be a people known for our love.

Read 1 John