We are here because of the good news of Jesus Christ.
We are a church family of regular people who are committed to following Jesus with increasing devotion and committed to helping each other grow in our walk with Him. In everything we do, we aim to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.
If you are searching for a home church or just beginning to consider the claims of Christ, we invite you to join us for a service!
WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
"Glorifying God By Making Disciples"
John 13-17
Our Core Values
The purpose and mission of Prior Lake Baptist Church is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ (John 13-17). Everything we do as a church falls under this mandate received from the risen Son of God to the church.
Discipleship means to follow Jesus ourselves and then to help others follow Him by declaring the Word, by depending on the Spirit, and by conforming to Christ. With this in mind, we are intentional to worship together, study the Bible together, build community together, and go out to make more disciples together.
Declare the Word
We stand firm on the sufficiency of God’s Word and on the power of the gospel to transform lives. Therefore, we are committed to expository preaching, Word-based discipleship, and relational evangelism. The good news of Jesus is found in the Bible, so the Bible is central in all of life. It is essential that we teach one another comprehensive obedience to Jesus, both through instruction and through modeling.
Depend on the Spirit
No matter our good intentions or desires, there is no power in ourselves to be conformed to Christ or to change the hearts of others to do the same. The Spirit did the work of opening our eyes to Jesus as the only way to salvation, and the Spirit is the one who continues the work of transforming us into the image of Jesus day by day. Through prayerful submission and purposeful dependence on the Holy Spirit, we find truth-based empowerment to live for the glory of God.
Conform to Christ
As Christians, we have a personal relationship with the living God, the Creator of the universe. Our purpose in life is to be conformed into the image of Christ and to live for Him every single day. Therefore, our priority is growing in that relationship with Jesus. This happens as we hear from Him in the Scriptures, as we speak to Him in prayer, and as we flesh out the “one another” passages of Scripture in Him together. By doing so, we increasingly find that growing to love Jesus supremely yields ultimate joy found in Christ alone.
WHAT TO EXPECT
In everything we do, we aim to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ through the proclamation and application of the Word of God. Read more to learn what to expect when you come. Visit our Welcome Desk for more information and further assistance on Sunday mornings.
Sunday Services
There are many elements that make up our corporate worship time, and the Bible is the heart and foundation of it all. Services are 60-75 minutes in length. Our pastors typically preach through whole books of the Bible, section by section, with the aim of examining the original meaning of the text and offering application to our lives today. The themes flowing from that text help direct our songs, prayers, and Scripture readings. Singing Biblical truths together as a church family is an essential part of our worship. By using a mix of old and new music, we aim to make sure that each song is full of Biblical truth, orients us toward God, and lifts high the name of Jesus Christ.
Bible classes for all ages are offered after our morning service, from 11:00-11:45 am.
Wednesday Evenings
Join us from 6:00-7:15 PM each Wednesday evening during the school year. We take great care to offer intentional ministries for all ages that will aid in spiritual growth. Children up through 6th grade take part in an exciting, Scripture-based program called Kid’s Connection; teens, young adults, and adults meet in various groups for Bible study; and the babies are well-cared for in our nursery.
Childcare & Children's Ministries
Come right in with your little ones and know that we desire the children to participate in corporate worship at an early age. We also have a clean, well-staffed nursery available. The nursery is open for babies ages 0-1 before the service begins. All other children join their parents for the first part of our service, and just before the sermon begins, they are dismissed to Children’s Church with their leaders*. There, they will watch a portion of the sermon on a live-stream feed, and then have a discussion about what they’ve heard. This fosters cohesiveness in the family unit by hearing the same message and trains the children to listen with care and intention.
There are separate classes for children ages 2-3 and for children ages 4-5.
*These children must be accompanied by an adult to their classroom and be signed in at the door. Please pick up your child from class after the service.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Each of our church staff, pastors, and deacons work alongside the church body and provide spiritual leadership, teaching, and equipping to the congregation. They appreciate and depend on one another’s gifting in the pursuit of our mission to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.
SAMUEL CHOI
Lead Pastor
Sam Choi came to PLBC as our lead Pastor in the summer of 2014. He was born in Seoul, South Korea and was raised in the Vancouver area, Canada. He attended Northland International University where he received his B.A. in Bible in 2001 and his M.A.B.S. in 2003. He is currently continuing his graduate studies through Faith Baptist Theological Seminary. Sam met his wife, Sarah, at Northland and they were married in 1999. They have five children.
Sam’s philosophy of life and ministry flows from Galatians 6:14 and 2 Timothy 2:1, which say respectively, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14) and, "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1). One book that Sam recommends is Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell.
STEPHEN CHOI
Associate Pastor
Stephen Choi joined the PLBC team in 2014 as assistant pastor. He oversees the administration and new members ministries. Stephen graduated from Northland International University with his B.A. in History Education and is currently studying for his Biblical Studies degree at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary. Stephen and his wife, Shannon, were married in 2010 and have four children. One book Stephen recommends is Married for God by Christopher Ash.
ANDREW ROGERS
Associate Pastor
Andy Rogers was born and raised in the Willmar, Minnesota area. He joined our staff in June 2017 as assistant pastor and oversees administration at Prior Lake Christian Academy as well as youth ministries. He and his wife, Abby, were married in 2007. Andy graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College with his B.A. in Youth Ministries. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing sports. One of Andy’s favorite books is The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung.
BRANDON FRITZ
Associate Pastor
Brandon Fritz joined the team in 2021. Born and raised in Iowa, he graduated with a Science Education degree from the University of Iowa in 2000. He earned a Masters Degree in education from O.N.U. (Illinois) in 2005 along with a Master of Science in Science Education from Montana State University in 2011. Brandon also earned a Master of Arts in Religion from Faith Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. He serves as an assistant pastor, overseeing young family and kid's ministries, and teaches at PLCA. He married his wife, Natalie, in 2000 and they have eight children together. He loves the outdoors, exercise, and “doing life” with his family and friends. One of his favorite books includes “The Saving Work of Jesus Christ,” by Major Ian Thomas.
JOSIAH CHOI
Pastoral Assistant
Josiah Choi joined the PLBC staff in 2021 as music director and pastoral assistant. He graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in 2020 with a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Greek and completed his M.Div. from Faith Baptist Theological Seminary in 2023. He married Kierstan in 2023. Along with music, Josiah enjoys trying new foods, spending time with family, and reading. One book that Josiah recommends is The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis.
JACOB KIRKWOOD
Pastoral Assistant
Jacob Kirkwood joined the PLBC team in 2023. He graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in 2019 with a B.A. in Pastoral Studies and Greek and is currently working on completing an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Faith Baptist Theological Seminary. Jacob serves as an assistant to the pastors and as a teacher at Prior Lake Christian Academy. He married Sydni in the summer of 2021. Jacob enjoys lifting weights, camping, and martial arts. One book that Jacob recommends is "Watchfulness: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline" by Brian Hedges.
What We Believe
Statement of Faith
These basic doctrines within our Statement of Faith represent what we believe to be core elements of biblical teaching. Please contact us if you'd like more information about our beliefs and theological distinctives.
The Word of God
We believe that the 66 books of the Bible are 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 final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
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.
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in the divine attributes.
The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Creation
We believe that the early chapters of Genesis are literal and accurate history, teaching that God created the world from nothing and rules all things at all times in all places.
Man
We believe that all people are created by God in His image, for His pleasure and His glory. Therefore, they possess intrinsic dignity and worth.
Salvation
We believe that man is utterly helpless in his sinful state and that salvation is through Jesus alone. We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected to bear the condemnation of all people and that nothing prevents anyone's salvation except his rejection of Jesus Christ as his sin-bearer. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the church: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living, spiritual body composed of all regenerated believers, having Christ as the head.
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 WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT!
5690 Credit River Rd. SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372