New Location: Waconia
BRANCH CHURCH WACONIA
We are thrilled to announce that our brand-new location is officially launching at Waconia Middle School on Sunday, October 11th at 9:00 AM! Come experience dynamic worship, inspiring biblical teaching, and a welcoming, family-friendly environment as we celebrate this exciting new chapter together. Click the link below to discover more details or sign up to join our launch team and serve at Branch Waconia!
LOCATION: WACONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
WACONIA FAQs
-
Many of our existing regular attenders live in the western suburbs and towns near Waconia. We believe God is calling us to meet a need for community in this region and beyond. The Waconia Middle School has a 400 seat auditorium and ample space for kids, connection, and community.
-
No! Derek Swanson will be the location pastor which means he is also the primary teaching pastor at this location. However, the message content and themes will follow the Minnewashta location so each site has consistency throughout the year.
-
Yes! We will have consistency across our locations in many areas of ministry - including music. We believe style matters and we will aim to replicate what we’ve come to know and love at Branch Church while still allowing the gifts of the Holy Spirit to shine through each individual musician.
-
Yes! Branch Kids will be offered for ages 1-5yo. We believe teaching older kids to be part of the regular Sunday worship experience is a big part of what makes us “Branchy.”
-
We are excited to see how God brings a uniqueness to the next location! There will be some physical differences for sure, but “church” is a group of people. It’s not a location. Our hope is to help the Waconia location grow in the commitment of being a church like family - like the branches of a family tree - abiding in Jesus and bearing fruit to bless the world around us.
-
Sunday, October 11, at 9am at Waconia Middle School!
Questions or conversations?
Please contact Pastor Derek Swanson. He’d love to hear from you!
“Why go west?" - letter from Pastor Brian:
The vision for church planting was seeded in our hearts in 2021 when Branch Church initially began. Our Vision from the beginning is: to see communities rooted in Christ that glorify God and bless the world. What started as a small launch team of 40 has quickly grown to over 900 people being connected to Jesus and each other through the Truth of God’s word. As we have thoroughly enjoyed 5 years of God's faithfulness in growing physically and spiritually, He has prepared us for a new chapter. It's time to take action on this vision by starting a second location of Branch Church.
The first step in seeing the vision of church planting come to life is to find the right person. As I look back on those who have joined our team - God has always given us the right people at the right time. This chapter is no exception. In order to move forward with a new location, we need another leader. Someone who can take the vision and implement it. Branch is also a highly relational church. We love being together and we love getting to know each other!
Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce that someone known by our church family is stepping into the calling of leading the next location. Starting on April 20, Derek Swanson has been hired to fill this role! Derek has worked in ministry for both large and small churches. He has been both on staff and a highly engaged volunteer who has done everything from leading youth to adult small groups, helping with the creative process, and leading at the level of deacon. He’s also an entrepreneur who knows what it takes to implement a really big vision. He has experience transforming physical buildings and setting up large scale experiential gatherings. He’s worked in the worship music and video production space. Above all, he is DEEPLY relational and committed to discipleship, including most recently serving as a sports chaplain for a Christian high school. He’s a wonderful shepherd. Those of you who have been in a community and Branch Home under Derek’s leadership can attest. He cares so much about seeing people be drawn closer to the Truth of who Jesus is. He’s a wonderful dad and husband and we just couldn’t be more thrilled to have him say YES to this tremendous calling to lead another location of Branch Church. Please join me in welcoming Derek and congratulating he and Michelle (and their daughters) in this new role!
