Messiah Lutheran Church has anchored a stretch of Highview Avenue in Lakeville, Minnesota for four decades. In that time the congregation has grown from a small group of founding members into a multi-generational community with three weekend worship services, a food shelf serving thousands each year, Bible studies that fill nearly every morning and evening of the week, and a podcast that walks listeners through the entire storyline of Scripture. The motto written across the church's identity is simple: "Connecting all people to a life of hope, rooted in Christ." That sentence - or, as the staff often calls it, the mission - shows up on signs, in bulletins, and at the top of every program description. It is also the lens through which everything else at Messiah is organized.
Forty Years on Highview Avenue
Messiah celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025, gathering founding members and longtime families to share the stories that have shaped the church. The anniversary featured a worship service led by current and former pastors, a Bible study, a photo slideshow, and short video reflections from people whose lives have been changed by the congregation over the years. Those testimonies - from founding members, current staff, and families who have been part of Messiah for decades - are a reminder that the church is not defined by its building alone but by the people who have walked through its doors.
Worship on Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning
Three identical services are offered each weekend: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. The 10:30 a.m. service is live streamed on YouTube, so worshipers who are traveling, sick, or simply unable to leave home can still join. According to the church, every service follows the same liturgy, so visitors can pick the time that works best for their week without missing any part of the experience.
The worship itself is a deliberate blend of old and new. Messiah describes its services as "Christ-centered worship" with Scripture readings at every gathering. The liturgy draws on patterns that Israelites would have recognized in the wilderness, alongside prayers and confessions written in recent years. The music is similarly wide-ranging, spanning hymns from the 400s to compositions from the last year, led by a praise team. The result is a service that feels anchored in the historic Lutheran tradition without being locked to a single era.
On the question of what to wear, the staff puts it plainly: "Come as you are." Suits and ties are welcome, as are jeans and T-shirts. Messiah's goal is that visitors feel comfortable, not conspicuous.
What Messiah Believes
Messiah is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and accepts the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the 16th-century Reformation. The church's statement of faith begins with the doctrine of the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and affirms the Bible as the inspired, true Word of God. It teaches that God created all things from nothing, that humanity was created perfect but fell into sin, and that every person now bears the infection of that sin.
The heart of the confession is the work of Jesus Christ. The statement of faith teaches that God sent His Son to live a sinless life, to suffer the punishment for sin by dying on the cross, and to rise again three days later. It looks forward to the return of Christ to judge the living and the dead, and to the resurrection of believers to renewed, eternal life.
Two sacraments shape the congregation's life. In Holy Baptism, the church teaches, the Holy Spirit creates saving faith through water and the Word. In the Lord's Supper, the congregation receives Christ's body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. Both are practiced regularly as central means of grace.
"We believe that we have a God who loved us so much that He became man, took our sins upon Himself, died on the cross, and rose again to forgive our sins," the church writes. "Because of His amazing sacrifice, if we believe in Him, we have hope that life on this earth isn't all there is for us."
Gather, Grow, Go: How the Church Thinks About Itself
The congregation's everyday life is organized around three verbs: Gather, Grow, and Go.
Gather is the call to come together. That includes Sunday worship, weekday Bible studies, small groups, and any other place where members form relationships. Messiah's teaching is that Christian faith is not meant to be lived alone, so the church builds multiple touchpoints for people to connect.
Grow is the call to be shaped. Through worship, study, and conversation, members are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God so they are equipped to live out their faith in daily life.
Go is the call to take that faith outward. Members travel on mission trips within the United States and abroad, support community organizations through a rotating Mission Focus, volunteer at the food shelf, give blood at quarterly Red Cross drives, and serve in the wider Lakeville area.
Five values anchor the congregation's life: Worship, Learning, Relationships, Service, and Healing. Each is paired with a practical question members are encouraged to ask themselves. Worship prompts the question of how someone is intentionally meeting with God each day. Learning asks how Scripture is being studied. Relationships invite reflection on who is walking the journey. Service focuses on what is being given away. Healing acknowledges brokenness in body, mind, and spirit, and points to Christ as the one who restores hope.
Faith Stepping Stones: From Baptism to Graduation
One of the most distinctive things about Messiah's ministry to families is a program called Faith Stepping Stones, a family ministry that walks parents and children through seven critical stages of faith development from baptism to high school graduation.
The first stone is Baptism, where parents and sponsors make a commitment to raise the child in faith surrounded by a community of believers. The second marks the start of Sunday School around age two, when parents renew that commitment and attend a special class with their child for six months. The third is the presentation of a first Bible, after a course that shows families how the story of salvation is woven through Scripture.
The fourth stone is Confirmation, a five-year journey from fifth through ninth grade. The fifth is First Communion, when children in fifth grade learn about the Lord's Supper during Lent and may take their first communion on Maundy Thursday. The sixth stone is the public confession of faith that follows Confirmation, when the student stands before the congregation and is blessed by parents, sponsors, and pastor. The seventh and final stone happens in the senior year of high school, when a six-week class prepares graduates to live out their faith wherever they go, ending with a special blessing during worship and a breakfast in their honor.
Faith Stepping Stones is not a stand-alone program; it is the thread that ties Baptism, Sunday School, Confirmation, communion, and graduation together into one continuous story.
Children: Sunday School and Word on Wednesday
Sunday School at Messiah is offered for children from age three through fourth grade. Each Sunday begins with a combined large-group opening - songs, a Bible story overview, memory work, and prayer - followed by time in a classroom where teachers help children apply the lesson to daily life. Parents are actively encouraged to volunteer, and the church teaches that children learn best when they see their own adults invested in faith.
On Wednesday evenings, the children's ministry continues with a program called Word on Wednesday, or WOW! WOW! runs from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. for preschool through fourth grade, designed for families who are already at the church for Confirmation or Senior High Youth. Before WOW! begins, families can grab pizza and pop from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. in the Family Life Center.
When children reach fifth grade, they move into Confirmation.
Confirmation and Senior High Youth
Confirmation at Messiah runs from fifth grade through the fall of a student's ninth-grade year. Lessons and activities are designed to deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, help students reflect on why their faith matters in daily life, and empower them to share that faith with others. The teaching team uses Luther's Small Catechism, Scripture readings, and small-group discussion to walk students through the core doctrines of the Christian faith.
Confirmation meets on Wednesday evenings during the school year from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., and small groups are led by adult volunteers who build relationships with students over multiple years. Pizza and pop is available beforehand, which makes the evening easier for parents juggling work and other activities.
After Confirmation, students in grades 9-12 are invited into Senior High Youth. This ministry meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. in the youth room and includes prayer, praise, Bible study, game nights, engaging worship, and small groups. Students also gather on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. during the education hour to dig into Scripture together. Special events throughout the year - retreats, lock-ins, service trips, and an annual trip to Grand Marais - give students opportunities to build friendships beyond the church walls.
Adult Bible Studies Throughout the Week
Messiah's tagline for adult ministry is simple: "At Messiah, no one travels alone." The congregation offers a range of Bible studies designed to fit different schedules, seasons of life, and interests.
On Sunday mornings during the education hour, an all-adult Bible study called The Plan follows the same Scripture readings featured in the church's daily podcast. (The Plan is on hold for the summer and resumes in September.) On Monday mornings, a men's group meets at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room, and a women's group meets at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room, with a five-part series on the meaning of home through Scripture. On Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m., an all-adult LifeLight study walks through Jesus' Parables, with a $15 workbook. On Thursday evenings, a men's group called Men's Connect gathers at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month for discussion, prayer, and Scripture. On Saturday mornings, a men's group meets at 7:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room for a verse-by-verse walk through Romans 8.
For people who cannot attend in person, Messiah has partnered with RightNow Media, an online video library of more than 15,000 Bible studies drawn from over 250 Christian publishers and ministries. A free account is available to anyone affiliated with the church.
The Plan: A Daily Journey Through God's Word
One of Messiah's signature ministries is The Plan, a daily Bible reading schedule and podcast that walks through the entire story of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, beginning with creation and following God's unfolding plan of salvation through Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and on to Christ.
Each weekday, a daily devotion is released alongside a Scripture reading, with the podcast read by members of the congregation. Episodes are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and run through a structured plan that includes New Testament tie-ins to show how each Old Testament passage points ahead to Jesus. Recent series have covered David and Solomon, the divided kingdom, Joshua and the Judges, Ruth, the Exodus, and the early chapters of Genesis.
The Plan also has a printed booklet available at the church, and every reading is linked to Bible Gateway for those who want to follow along online. A daily email and a six-week rhythm make the plan easy to pick up even for busy readers.
Caring for Hard Seasons: GriefShare, DivorceCare, and the Life Team
Messiah takes seriously the part of its mission that says no one travels alone. Three ministries are dedicated to walking with people through some of life's most difficult transitions.
GriefShare is a 13-week, Christ-centered support group for adults who have lost a loved one. Each session includes a video seminar from a leading grief recovery expert, small-group discussion, and a personal workbook ($20). The program is designed so that participants can join at any point in the cycle without falling behind.
DivorceCare follows a similar 13-week format for people who are separated or going through a divorce. Sessions are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and include a video, small-group time, and a workbook. Like GriefShare, it is designed to be self-contained, so newcomers can join in any week.
The Life Team is a group of congregants who are passionate about being Gospel-motivated voices for all stages of life. The team meets about once a month in the evening, partners with Lutherans For Life, and participates in events like the local March for Life in January. Anyone in the church or the surrounding community is welcome to attend.
Prime-Timers and LWML: Ministry Across Generations
Two long-standing groups round out Messiah's intergenerational ministry.
Prime-Timers is the congregation's ministry for adults 65 and older, focused on building relationships through learning, socializing, and faith-building opportunities. The group meets about once a month for educational events with special guest speakers (past topics have included scams, cyber security, medications, and downsizing), and periodically adds social events like Bingo and a Christmas party to the calendar.
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) focuses on affirming each woman's relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women in active mission ministries, and supporting missions at home and abroad. Messiah's LWML society meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6:29 p.m. in the Fireside Room, with a speaker and time to connect. For women who cannot make evening meetings, Lydia Circle gathers on the third Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the same room. The group holds a bake sale twice a year, collects mite box offerings throughout the year, serves during worship in October, and hosts Advent by Candlelight, a December evening for women ages 13 and older that includes tea, desserts, and a special worship service to prepare hearts for Christmas.
Messiah Community Food Shelf
Alongside the church on Highview Avenue is one of Messiah's largest outreaches: the Messiah Community Food Shelf. Operated in partnership with 360 Communities, the food shelf provides healthy food - fresh produce, whole grains, and items low in fat, sodium, and sugar - to about 4,000 people a year. In 2024 alone, the food shelf served 10,076 individuals and distributed 495,033 pounds of food.
Hours are Monday from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Families in need of food can call 952-236-0950 to schedule an appointment, then enter through Door 2 in the back parking lot, marked by a Food Shelf flag. Donations are accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and weekly deliveries from Aldi, Cub Foods, KFC, Kwik Trip, Lunds & Byerlys, Target, Walmart, and many individual donors keep the shelves stocked. Monetary gifts can be dropped off at the church office or the food shelf, or made online.
The food shelf is also a USDA Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS) distribution site, providing a monthly 35-pound box of low-sodium, low-sugar food to qualified seniors in the community. Volunteers are always welcome and can be paired with the work that fits them best - stocking shelves, food rescue, or assisting clients.
Mission Focus: A New Partner Every Two Months
Messiah's commitment to the Go part of its mission is organized through a rotating Mission Focus. Every two months the congregation highlights a different organization, learning about its work, taking a special offering, and finding ways to serve.
Recent partners have included Amnion Women's Center, which provides abortion alternative services and was supported through the church's annual Bottles of Life Campaign and a donation drive for new parents; Camp Omega, a year-round camp dedicated to spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual growth; Campus Faith Clubs, which equips students to share the hope of Jesus in schools; Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a volunteer-led nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to children sleeping on the floor; Project Video, which trains ethnic media teams throughout Southeast Asia and has been supported by the church since 2021; and Highland Chapel, a church plant near the University of Minnesota, Mankato campus.
The Mission Focus is one of the main ways Messiah teaches its members that "when we say all people, we mean all people" - a phrase that the church uses to describe the breadth of its outreach, from the local food shelf to mission trips abroad.
Other Ways to Serve
Beyond the food shelf and the Mission Focus, Messiah offers a long list of volunteer opportunities for adults, youth, and children. In worship, the church needs musicians for the praise team, ushers, sound and PowerPoint techs, Scripture readers, and live stream camera operators. In children's and youth ministry, Sunday School teachers, substitutes, and small-group leaders serve every week, with periodic special events like Rally Sunday, Trunk or Treat, Vacation Bible School, the Christmas Kids Service, a Confirmation Winter Retreat, a middle school lock-in, and an annual high school trip to Grand Marais.
Other serving roles include small group leaders, Bible study teachers, Elders and Congregational Council members, Welcome Center greeters, coffee servers, Care Team visitors, Altar Guild members, LWML volunteers, the Photography Team, the Church Maintenance and Grounds team, and office help. There is even an "I Don't Know" option - the church pledges to help anyone who wants to serve find a place that fits their gifts.
The Team Behind Messiah
Messiah's ministry is led by a pastoral team and a small group of directors. Rev. Kurt Klaus is the senior pastor, overseeing all aspects of the congregation's ministry and providing the spiritual leadership that shapes its vision. Rev. Cody MacMillin serves as associate pastor with a focus on outreach, helping welcome visitors and growing participation in the life of the church. Rev. David Milz is the visitation pastor, providing pastoral care to members who are homebound or hospitalized and helping them stay connected to the congregation through seasons of illness and transition.
Andy Frerich, the Director of Christian Education, develops and coordinates adult ministry programs, oversees the welcoming of guests and visitors, and helps members get connected. Kate Barnes is the Director of Children's and Youth Ministries, shaping the Sunday School, WOW!, Confirmation, and Senior High Youth programs. Brandon Wroge, the Director of Music and Worship Arts, plans and coordinates worship alongside the pastors and leads the music ministry that ties the congregation together in song.
Supporting the team are a Parish Administrator, a Finance Director, and a Communications Coordinator who handles design, branding, social media, Realm, and the church's online presence.
Joining in Prayer and Worship
Anyone can request prayer through the church's online prayer form, with three levels of sharing available: Pastor Only, Prayer Chain, or sharing with the congregation during worship (including those watching the live stream). The form also includes a separate option to email the request to the broader congregation hub.
Worship is the front door of life at Messiah. The Saturday 5:30 p.m. service and the two Sunday services (8:00 and 10:30 a.m.) are all identical in content. Visitors can also connect through a simple online Connect Card, which puts them in touch with the staff for follow-up. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and can be reached at 952-431-5959 or info@messiahonline.org.
Rooted in Christ, Open to Lakeville
After four decades on Highview Avenue, Messiah Lutheran Church continues to describe itself in the same words it began with: a community where no one travels alone. From Saturday evening worshippers and Wednesday night families to food shelf volunteers and Romans 8 study groups, the life of the church is built around the conviction that hope is best found - and best shared - together.