We're a community of faith where people BELONG to each other and God, GROW to be like Jesus, SERVE to make a difference in the name of Jesus and GO, taking the gospel to the world.

Our first "worship service" was in May of 1951. In January of the following year 14 people committed to organizing as First Baptist Church to be a light for Christ in the area, together. Many years have come and gone since this small, faithful band of Christ followers set out on the journey we continue today. Through it all, struggle and growth, God has been with us as we continue to complete the task He has given us. May He find us faithful to the task in the years to come. 

We’re about leading people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Period.

At Cornerstone, everything we do is motivated by our heart for loving God in life and loving people where they are.

Our focus is on reaching rural communities with the gospel of Christ by ensuring the presence of a thriving church in every county in the Upper Midwest in the next 25 years. We will accomplish this by:

Multiplying Sites: Launch 87 sites in rural counties. This reflects the number of counties in Minnesota. We will start with but will not be limited to Minnesota counties.

Multiplying Wisdom: Resource rural churches through Coaching, Cohort leadership groups and the Cornerstone Collaborative – a global network of churches in rural communities.

Multiplying Leaders: Mobilize, train and send out fully prepared staff to serve in rural churches.

People often visit churches based on their preferences (similar taste in music or style of teaching), but they remain part of a church because its missional principles. This is what’s important to us in spirit. The spirit in which we do stuff. This is our culture. We value…

JESUS FIRST | Matthew 6:33

We are relational and we are members of the Body of Christ first...co-laborers second. It’s about knowing Jesus (and following Him together).

RELENTLESS GROWTH | Matthew 16:18

If we’re not growing, we’re dead...as individuals and as a church. We long for constant growth. We plan for and position ourselves for growth. And we realize that we don’t change lives . . . Jesus does. Only God can bring radical transformation.

CHRIST - FOCUSED LIVING | Philippians 3

We are focused on what's most important. The Bible and God, as opposed to being scattered and distracted. We live simple & balanced lives.

INTENTIONAL RISK | Hebrews 11

It’s about the call, not our comfort. We trust the compass (God’s Word) and get out of the boat with a risk taking faith. We’ll go anywhere and everywhere on the planet God leads us.

SURPRISING HOSPITALITY | Romans 12

We welcome all people with the love of Jesus. Without reservation.

LAVISH GENEROSITY | 2 Corinthians 9

We lose our lives that we may gain Christ. (Mark 8:34-36). We love to give!...and selflessly. It’s not about me. No one is indispensable.

GRACIOUS EXCELLENCE | Colossians 3

We give each other grace while encouraging excellence in everything…big and small.

SHARED SUCCESS | 1 Corinthians 12

We help each other succeed. We win together. We are being built up by God as the body of Christ.

CONTAGIOUS JOY | Philippians 4

We have joy in Jesus and it shows. We take God and his task for us very seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.

The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Psalm 19:7-9 / Mark 13:31 / 2 Peter 1:20-21 / 2. Timothy 3:16-17 / Matthew 4:4

The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. Deuteronomy 6:4 / Matthew 28:18-20 / John 1:1,18 / Acts 5:3-4 / 2 Corinthians 13:14

God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:9 / Psalm 90:4 / John 4:24 / Isaiah 6:3 / Exodus 20:5-6 / Isaiah 12:2

Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. John 3:16 / Matthew 1:18 / Isaiah 7:14 / Hebrews 7:26 / John 10:25 / 2 Corinthians 5:21 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 / Acts 1:9-11

The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. John 16:7-13 / John 14:15-17 / John 3:5-8 / Acts 1:8

Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Romans 3:23 / Romans 5:12-19 / John 3:3-6 / Titus 3:5 / Acts 3:19

The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Matthew 16:18 / Ephesians 2:19-22 / Acts 2:42-47 / Acts 2:38 / Mark 16:15

Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. 1 Peter 2:9-10 / Ephesians 2:11 / Ephesians 4:11-13 / Galatians 5:22,23 / 1 Peter 3:15-16

The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 3:15 / Matthew 28:18-20 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. 1 Peter 2:9-10 / Acts 5:29 / Hebrews 12:1-2

Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether it is the Conference or a district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis. Romans 15:15 / 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 / Ephesians 4:3 / Philippians 2:1-2

The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. Matthew 24:30 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 / Revelation 20:11-15 / Revelation 21:1-4 / Matthew 25:34,41 / Psalm 23:6

Adopted by the Baptist General Conference in 1951, reaffirmed in 1990 and amended in 1998. (revised May 2007)