The Hoiseths served on staff at Faith Baptist for several years before being called to plant this church. Pastor Preston Hoiseth, who is originally from northern Minnesota, moved his family to Bemidji just over one year ago, after a short time on deputation, to plant the Northwoods Baptist Church in Bemidji. Since that time, we have been meeting in the community room at Beltrami Electric Cooperative, 1 mile north of Wal-Mart in Bemidji. In the last year, we have ministered to over a hundred visitors, and have seen several people from the area saved and baptized, and join our growing congregation. ”We are amazed at what the Lord has done in one short year, and we look forward to many more years of ministry among the people of the Bemidji area,” said Pastor Hoiseth.

“I wasn’t sure what kind of attendance to expect on our very first Sunday,” said Pastor Hoiseth. “We advertised heavily leading up to the opening service via newspaper, radio, internet, and even with a billboard. Over the last few weeks, we had over 50 volunteers from other churches come help us pass out 5,000 door hangers throughout the city. Several of those volunteers flew up to Bemidji from our sending church in Wesley Chapel Florida, to be a part of this special day! Our visitors seemed to enjoy the service and several of them said this is the type of church they have been looking for and they will be back.

“Thank you to all the churches around the country that have been supporting us, both in monthly finances and in prayer. The Lord answered many of those prayers at our opening service. Please pray for souls to be saved as we continue to reach out and develop relationships with the people of Bemidji.”

Check out a recent article about our opening service in the Bemidji Pioneer: http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100036944/

First, we are Northwoods.

We have a heart for the land and the people of northern Minnesota. As the regional center of the Minnesota Northwoods, Bemidji continues to grow. As this happens, let’s be sure we grow in the right ways. New businesses and homes may help grow the population, but it takes new, good churches to grow the people.

Second, we are Baptist.

This is for many good reasons, but the main reason we are Baptist is because of our primary emphasis upon the Word of God. We believe the Bible is the ultimate source of all truth, and is our final authority in all matters of faith and life. We strive to preach and teach only what the Bible says, rather than the opinions and teachings of a religious leader or group.

Third, we are a Church.

We are a new church in town, but we believe that even a new church can and should feel timeless.  With the forceful current of constant change sweeping over every part of our lives, we need something that is enduring and firm.  We believe that Jesus Christ founded the church to represent His eternal kingdom and ageless Truth with no need to imitate the culture.  We want you to know that there is still a church that feels like church.  It won’t feel like a rock concert, a comedy club, or a motivational seminar.  It’s not trendy, as in a few years ago.  It’s not old-fashioned, as in 50 years ago.  It’s timeless, as in 2000 years ago.

HOW DOES A PERSON GET TO HEAVEN? (GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION)

THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN KNOW FOR SURE¦

1) THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN.. 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.

2) THAT YOUR LIFE WILL BE CHANGED WHEN YOU GET SAVED 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

3) YOU WILL NEVER LOSE YOUR SALVATION John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

IT ALL REVOLVES AROUND JESUS CHRIST!

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made, JESUS WAS GOD IN FLESH OR GOD THE SON WHO CREATED EVERYTHING.

HE CAME TO EARTH TO SAVE US.. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost, (THE FIRST STEP IN GOING TO HEAVEN IS TO REALIZE WE NEED TO BE SAVED)

HOW DO WE GET TO HEAVEN? John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL BIRTH.. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

WHY DO WE NEED A SPIRITUAL BIRTH?

MAN WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED A THREE PART BEING IN GOD’S IMAGE A TRINITY.. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them
MAN WAS MADE UP OF BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT

GOD PLACED ADAM & EVE IN THE GARDEN AND SAID Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. MAN ATE OF THE FRUIT AND THOUGH HE DIDN’T DIE THAT DAY PHYSICALLY, HE DIED SPIRITUALLY!

WHEN ADAM AND EVE HAD CHILDREN THEY WERE NOW BORN SPIRITUALLY DEAD AS WELL (NO LONGER IN GOD’S 3-PART IMAGE).. Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: THAT IS WHY WE MUST BE RE-BORN SPIRITUALLY

THAT IS ALSO WHY WE HAVE A SIN NATURE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO TEACH A TODDLER TO BE SELFISH, LIE, STEAL THINGS, SASS BACK, FIGHT WITH SIBLINGS, ETC. IT IS ALSO OUR NATURE AS WE GROW UP.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS REVEAL OUR SINFUL CONDITION.

#1 Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me, NO ONE CAN CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NEVER PUT ANYTHING AHEAD OF GOD (MONEY, CAREER, ANOTHER PERSON, OWN GOALS, PLEASURE, SIN & VICE, ETC)

#2 Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, MANY HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF INVENTING A GOD OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATION AND LIKING (A GOD THAT OVER LOOKS SIN AND TAKES EVERYONE TO HEAVEN).

 #3 Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain (READ IT CAREFULLY, ARE YOU GUILTY OF EVER DOING THIS?)

 #4 Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy, HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL IN THIS AREA?

 #5 Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother, WHO CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS HONORED THEIR PARENTS?

 #6 Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill¦WHILE MOST HAVE NEVER COMMITTED MURDER, JESUS CLARIFIES THIS COMMANDMENT WHEN HE TELLS US THAT TO EVEN HATE OR BE BITTER AT SOMEONE IS MURDER OF THE HEART (Mt 5:21-2)

 #7 Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery, WHILE MANY HAVE NEVER COMMITTED ADULTERY, JESUS TELLS US IN THE BIBLE THAT TO EVEN LUST AFTER THE OPPOSITE SEX IS ADULTERY OF THE HEART (Mt 5:27-8)

 #8 Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal WHO COULD CLAIM THAT THEY’VE NEVER TAKEN ANYTHING THAT DOESN’T BELONG TO THEM?

 #9 Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness (ie; lie) NO ONE COULD HONESTLY CLAIM THEY HAVE NEVER TOLD A LIE

 #10 Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet HAVE YOU EVER DESIRED ANYTHING YOU DIDN’T NEED, OR THAT WASN’T YOURS?

MANY PLACES IN THE BIBLE TELL US THAT LIARS, ADULTERERS, IDOLATERS, THIEVES THE COVETEOUS, ETC WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL (REV 21:8, I COR 6:9-10, GAL 5:19-21)

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

SIN HAS A PENALTY, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death (HELL)

WE CANNOT POSSIBLY GET TO HEAVEN BY KEEPING THE LAW (10 COMMANDMENTS).

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS WERE GIVEN BY GOD TO SHOW US HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT IS TO BE SAVED BY DOING GOOD WORKS, Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. THE LAW (10 COMMANDMENTS) SHOWS US THAT WE ARE CONDEMNED AND NEED A SAVIOR.

YOU WILL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN BY DOING GOOD WORKS, Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

YET GETTING TO HEAVEN IS NOT AUTOMATIC JUST BECAUSE JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS! SALVATION IS A GIFT THAT MUST BE RECEIVED, Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; (that means that baptism has nothing to do with being saved) Rom 6:23 the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

HOW DOES A PERSON KNOW WHEN THEY ARE READY TO BE BORN AGAIN?

WHEN THEY MEAN BUSINESS WITH GOD AND ARE READY TO REPENT OF SIN; Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is..not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.. JESUS SAID.. Luke 13:5 except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish; THAT MEANS BEING WILLING TO ALSO TURN FROM FALSE RELIGION OR FALSE TEACHING (anything contrary to the Word of God: the Bible).

TO REPENT MEANS TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT YOUR SIN, AND MAKE CHRIST THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE; ARE YOU WILLING TO TURN FROM YOUR SIN AND TURN TO GOD? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS PAID THE FULL PRICE ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS?

THOUGH GOD HATES SIN, HE LOVES YOU AND SENT JESUS TO DIE FOR YOUR SINS; Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (proved) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

IS GOD CONVICTING YOU OF YOUR NEED OF FORGIVENESS, AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE SAVED (BORN AGAIN)?

THE FINAL STEP IS TO ASK GOD FOR THE GIFT THROUGH A SIMPLE PRAYER; Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved; NOTICE THE PROMISE OF THIS VERSE FROM A GOD WHO CANNOT LIE; (Titus 1:2 God..cannot lie) DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL SAVE YOU SIMPLY BECAUSE HE SAID HE WOULD? CHRIST WILL SAVE YOU IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE HIM THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.

IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE READY, YOU CAN PRAY AND ASK GOD TO SAVE YOU IN YOUR OWN WORDS SUCH AS: DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER; I KNOW THAT I AM A CONDEMNED SINNER UNABLE TO SAVE MYSELF, BUT I AM WILLING TO TURN FROM MY SINS AND MAKE JESUS MY LORD AND MASTER. I NOW TRUST IN HIS SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR MY SINS. PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND SAVE ME. AMEN.

The address is 4111 Technology Drive NW, Bemidji.

We will be serving a free lunch to all our guests. The evening service will be replaced by a special afternoon message following the lunch. All of our services offer nursery for children ages 0-3.

We would love to answer any questions you might have. Please call us at 218-760-6009.