History

What's in a name?

A cornerstone is something that is solid, a whole foundation for a house.  We want to represent something solid that will stay in the community and be part of its foundation. 

Why was Cornerstone started?

Planting churches has been how Christianity has grown through out the ages. It is rooted in the New Testament (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Acts 13-20). Unfortunately in the U.S. there are two churches closing for every new church planted and only 30% of Americans under 40 go to church consistently. To reach these people we need new, contemporary, relevant churches. Churches that have an "outward" focus instead of an "inward" focus. Respected author Lyle Schaller says that numerous studies have shown that new churches reach more people who were not actively involved in the life of any church than do older more traditional churches.

Cornerstone estimates about 35% of our 80 families come from an "unchurched" background. The national average for churches is estimated to be under 10%.

Why in Blaine?

Unfortunately Blaine is one of the least "churched" cities in all of Minnesota. Many communities have one church for every 500 people. Blaine has one church for every 2,000 people! Blaine is also projected to grow 76% in the next 25 to 30 years.

The History of Starting Cornerstone Church of Blaine:

• Spring 2002: Ron and Lola Sykes are given high marks to be church planters by the Evangelical Free Church of America.
• Summer 2002: Ron and Lola leave Campus Crusade for Christ and raise the needed financial support.
• Summer/Fall 2002: Constance E-Free and Coon Rapids E-Free agree to be .sister. churches by letting Ron recruit a few families to start the church plant.
• Winter 2003: A .church core. of 20 adults is raised up that begins meeting to plan and pray for the new church. They decide on the core values, structure, and ministries of the new church. They also decide to meet at Roosevelt Middle School and name the church .Cornerstone Church of Blaine..
• April 6, 2003: First worship service of Cornerstone Church of Blaine! We have 55 adults and children committed to the church.
• June 2003: Youth group is started.
• September 2003: Small groups, men's & women's groups are started.
• January 2004: Partnership with Kinship (a mentoring program for kids) is started.
• April 2004: We have 100 people committed to Cornerstone Church of Blaine.
• January 2005: Partnership with Living Hope (an inner city kids program) started.
• June 2005: We have 140 people committed to Cornerstone.
• June 2005: First worship service at Blaine High School Auditorium.
• September 2006: Partnership with the Alexandria House (home for battered women) started.
• September 2007:  Sent Steve Flippin & Family to be Church Planters in Northern Saskatchewan.
• Winter 2007/2008:  Started Cornerstone's Small Group commitment of two Community Outreach Activities a year each.
• December 2007: Cornerstone hires Frank Benson as the Youth Director.

Presently: We have 220 people that make Cornerstone their home church with an average attendance around 160.