NORTHBRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH
NEWSLETTER
Friday, June 19, 2026
Navigation: Current News • Other News • Staff Contacts • Newsletter Archives
Link to additional information for regular attenders (pwd: NCCattender)
This week’s Scripture: James 4:6-12
Weekly Schedule
Worship Service
Saturday - 5:30 pm (no childcare)
Sunday - 9:30 am
Men’s Alliance - Monday, 8:00 pm
Sunshine and Slides - Tuesday, 9:30 am - This week at Stonehedge Estates Park, 2281 Jasper Pl NE
Men’s Breakfast at Novios Cafe - Tuesday, 6:30 am
Men’s Alliance - Saturday, 7:00 am
Other Events
Prayer gathering - 1st Sunday of the month, 6:30 pm. Join us for corporate prayer
Name Tag/Donut Sunday - 4th Sunday of the month, 9 am
CURRENT NEWS
Happy Father’s Day
Quick notes:
Women’s worship night, Tuesday,June 30 at 7 pm - Join the women of NCC at the Pine Haven Pavilion, 43 55th St. NE, for an outdoor evening of live worship, snacks, a campfire, and fellowship. This is a great opportunity to bring a friend, be encouraged, and meet someone new.
There will not be Children’s Church on Sunday, July 5. Everyone is invited to stay after church to help prepare for VBS the following week.
Other News
Administrative Pastor Confirmation Vote
Below you will find the summary - in italics - that was sent a couple of weeks ago announcing a pause in the administrative pastor vote in order to encourage further prayerful reflection and dialogue. After further prayer and connecting with many congregants, the Elders have decided to move forward with a congregational vote of affirmation to call Daren Mehl to join us as an Administrative Pastor. The vote will take place this Saturday (6/20/26) and Sunday (6/21/26) before and after the services, as well as by email if you are out of town. We are setting the threshold of the vote at 80% and will communicate a Pass/Fail upon completion.
Voting Process:
1. Voting is for members only
2. Stop by the table in the foyer before or after the services on Saturday or
Sunday, where an Elder will help you check off your name on the membership list, receive your ballot, and place your completed ballot in the voting box
3. If you will be absent, please email elders@nbchurch.org with a YES or NO vote no later than 11am on Sunday the 21st
4. Votes will be tallied, and an email will be sent by Sunday evening.
We are grateful for your prayer, dialogue, and engagement through this process and have given it a great amount of consideration when making this decision. We are excited to see how the Lord continues to lead Northbridge to transform lives through the power of God’s Word.
By grace, through faith, in Christ alone,
Northbridge Elders
Summary of Elder responses to several common congregational questions:
Affair: Daren was not in church leadership during his affair. He has demonstrated true repentance and has been restored in his marriage and has been serving the Lord in parachurch and local church ministry for the past 13 years with leadership accountability. God has clearly used the affair as a watershed moment to deepen Daren’s faith and mature his doctrine. We would see Peter’s restoration as a scriptural example of how Jesus would expect us to handle these situations.
Accountability: We believe he continues to surround himself with multiple layers of accountability and is willing to submit to Elder authority in all areas of his life.
Pastor title: We believe that elders and pastors have the same qualifications in scripture and are given leadership and oversight of the local church. He has shared a desire to further his education in the future, but we believe he has a shepherd’s heart for people to experience the love of Jesus.
Handling of scripture: We believe Daren has spent consistent time in Scripture and handles the Word with humility and in full submission for his life as he loves God and people. He has a personal relationship with the Lord and understands repentance, forgiveness, and redemption to his core, with an excitement for evangelism.
Corporate skill and pay scale: We do not believe that Daren intended any answers during the Q&A time to be prideful. He was incredibly humble when describing his corporate successes to the elders, and believes he is called to serve the local church, no matter the pay scale. The administrative gifts God has given him were put into practice over his years in the corporate world and will transfer well in church ministry. He understands how to encourage and partner with people to accomplish the vision God has for His church.
NCC affiliation: Daren’s reference to the current affiliation of Northbridge Community Church may have been a bit confusing. Before the merger, Northbridge Church was affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and Berean Community Church was affiliated with the Berean Fellowship. In order to effectuate a seamless affiliation change, the merged church was initially co-affiliated with both the Berean Fellowship and the SBC, but we are in the process of dropping the association with the SBC to be solely affiliated with the Berean Fellowship.
Join Pastor Kevin and Paul Larsen for a memorable trip to Branson, MO, featuring the spectacular production of David at the Sight & Sound Theatre. This inspiring show brings the life of King David to the stage through powerful music, dramatic storytelling, and breathtaking visuals that will encourage and strengthen your faith. You can watch the trailer here.
Registration deadline is this Sunday, June 21.
This experience is designed to be far more than simply a getaway – it will be a meaningful time of fellowship, worship, and renewal. As we travel together by motorcoach, we hope to redeem our time through uplifting conversation, songs of worship, Scripture reflections, and opportunities to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation along the way.
Throughout the trip, we look forward to deepening existing friendships, building new connections, encouraging one another in faith, and creating lasting memories together. There will be opportunities for quiet rest and personal reflection, balanced with moments of joy, laughter, and shared experiences. On Sunday, we will gather for a special time of worship and reflection as we continue to grow together in faith and fellowship.
We would love for you to join us!
NCC at Camp Victory
Next week, June 22-26, is NCC week at Camp Victory. Kids are invited to attend—and bring a friend! Deidre Cullen, Children’s Ministry Director, will be there all week, so your child will have a familiar face while they enjoy a fun and faith-filled experience. There is a $10 discount for NCC kids by signing up at the Camp Victory website (campvictory.org) and using code NCC26.
Children ages 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to join us for VBS this year (July 8-10, 6-8pm). This event is FREE and we are excited to spend 3 fun-filled evenings learning about how Jesus is the light of the world! Registration is open here.
Bring your friends! Handouts are available in the Lobby.
July 5 - Getting ready for VBS
There will not be elementary children’s church during the service on July 5. After the July 5 service there will be a church-wide effort to help get the building ready for VBS. Lunch will be provided.
Men’s Canoe trip
Registration for the canoe trip closes June 30. More here.
Meal Ministry
Gary & Gina Axtell and Janet Bruce are walking through some difficult life circumstances. We would like to try to provide them with two meals a week for a while. Please use this link to sign up to bless them: https://takethemameal.com/KDPE9930
If you or someone you know in our Northbridge Community family could benefit from receiving meals, please contact us at mealministry@nbchurch.org.
SummerFest 2026 - July 11
A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to help with SummerFest! If you would still like to sign up, please do so here: https://tinyurl.com/NCCFest
Now it's time for the next step: inviting people!
Join us on Friday, July 11, from 5:00–7:30 PM for SummerFest! We'll have outdoor games, bounce houses, wagon rides, a complimentary dinner, and live music. This is a free event for all ages and a great opportunity to connect with friends, neighbors, and our community.
Who can you invite? Think about your neighbors, coworkers, friends, relatives, classmates, sports teammates, and the families you've met through school or activities (people of all ages!) A personal invitation is often the reason someone decides to come.
Let's make the most of this opportunity to show hospitality, build relationships, and share the love of Christ with our community.
Invite a friend, bring a neighbor, and join us for a great evening together!
NOTE: Due to SummerFest there will not be a Saturday evening service on July 11.
Worship Leader Update
John Yang served as Worship Leader for Northbridge for 3 years, including during the recent church merger. As Northbridge Community continues to grow and the scope of worship ministry leadership expands this responsibility has grown beyond what is sustainable in a part-time role. In light of that, George Schweitzer will now be serving in a staff role overseeing and leading our worship ministry. We are grateful for the care and faithful leadership John brought to his role, and he will continue to use his gifts as a member of the worship team at NCC. We are thankful for John’s ongoing involvement and for George’s leadership in this next season.
Staff Contacts
Kevin Binkley, Lead Pastor, kevin@nbchurch.org
George Schweitzer, Worship Coordinator, george@nbchurch.org
Kathy Kuhlmann, Office Manager, kathy@nbchurch.org
Faith Bratlien, Communications Specialist, faith@nbchurch.org
Ann Sophie Nyman, Office Assistant, office@nbchurch.org
Deidre Cullen, Children’s Ministry Director, deidre@nbchurch.org
Sara Schmoll, Finance, sara@nbchurch.org
Communications team, comms@nbchurch.org