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Substance Church is a 
In 2010, '' Outreach Magazine'' ranked the church as the 21st fastest growing congregation in the United States (8th in terms of growth percentages). Because the church has integrated ultra-contemporary worship,
They have since launched multiple campuses internationally, such as their Monterrey Mexico location. And in 2025, Substance acquired the property of former 
As a former 
nondenominational
A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination.
The term has been used in the context of various faiths, including Jainism, Baháʼí Faith, Zoro ...
, Evangelical Christian
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
, megachurch
A megachurch is a church with a very large membership that also offers a variety of educational and social activities. Most megachurches are Evangelical, although the term denotes a type of organization, not a denomination. A megachurch draws 2 ...
in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi, Minnesota River, Minnesota, and St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota), ...
, Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
, United States. In 2010, '' Outreach Magazine'' ranked the church as the 21st fastest growing congregation in the United States (8th in terms of growth percentages). Because the church has integrated ultra-contemporary worship, cell church
A cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, ...
, and cafe church
A cafe church is a Christian church centered in cafés. These edifices are associated with alternative worship and the emerging church movements, and seek to find new forms and approaches to existing as a church in the 21st century. These church ...
methods into a singular megachurch setting, Substance is often cited as being "trend-setting"."7 Trendsetting Churches" – Adrienne S. Gaines - Charisma Magazine – April 2010
History
The church was founded in 2004 by Pastor Peter Haas in partnership with theAssociation of Related Churches
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is an Non-denominational Christianity, non-denominational Evangelicalism, evangelical association and church planting organization in the United States. In 2000, Greg Surratt, founding pastor of Seacoast ...
. In May 2005, the church began holding Sunday services in the University of Minnesota on the Saint Paul campus. In 2015 and 2016, after numerous re-locations, Substance acquired permanent facilities in Spring Lake Park and the Historic Wesley building in downtown Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
. They have since launched multiple campuses internationally, such as their Monterrey Mexico location. And in 2025, Substance acquired the property of former Bethany Global University
Bethany Global University (formally Bethany College of Missions) is a private Evangelical Christian university in Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. It is located on the north bank of t ...
the original location of Bethany House Publishing, which was bought out by Baker
A baker is a tradesperson who baking, bakes and sometimes Sales, sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery.
History
Ancient histo ...
publishing group. They are master planning the property for their college and school of media arts, along with their South Twin Cities campus.
Distinctives
Numerous publications have called it one of the most youthful megachurches in the country with over 70% of its members under 30 years old."Growing Churches Blend the Old and the New" -- HERÓN MÁRQUEZ ESTRADA – Star Tribune, November 27, 2010 Substance is known for its ultra-contemporary approaches to worship utilizing turn-tables, rap, and other forms of media. They have produced dozens of music videos and album projects for their two nationally known worship bands, Substance Input-Output and their EDM DJ band, Substance Variant."Rock of Younger Ages" Jeff Strickler -- Star Tribune, October 4, 2008 Their progressive approach to church methodology applies not only to their music but their use of videography in theirmulti-site church
A multi-site church is a specific church congregation which holds services at multiple geographical locations, either within a specific metropolitan area or, increasingly, several such areas.
Characteristic
A multisite church is a local church tha ...
format and online social networking.
As a former progressive house
Progressive house is a subgenre of house music that emerged in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. It is characterized by its evolving, melodic Musical form, structures, subtle Transition (music), transitions, and layered sound design.Gerard, ...
DJ, its founding pastor, Peter Haas, is often cited in numerous books and publications for his conversion to Christianity in a nightclub."Act Normal" - Scott Olson - Cross Section and Influence Resources, 2010 www.actnormal.org Pastor Peter's Amazon Best Selling humor books, Pharisectomy: How to Remove your Inner Pharisee and other Religiously Transmitted Diseases, and Broken Escalators, were originally published on the Assemblies of God
The World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), commonly known as the Assemblies of God (AG), is a global cooperative body or communion of over 170 Pentecostal denominations that was established on August 15, 1989. The WAGF was created to provi ...
imprints, Influence and Salubris. Publications also often note Substance for its approaches towards A.I. technology, governance, Cell Church
A cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, ...
methodology and regular emphasis on church planting
Church planting is a term referring to the process (mostly in Protestant frameworks) that results in a new local Christian congregation being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, worship center or ...
.Substance also serves on the leadership team of the international church planting organizations, ARC Canada, ARC Europe, and ARC Southern Africa.
Beliefs
Substance Church adheres to classicEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
with some Neocharismatic
The neo-charismatic (also known as third-wave charismatic or hypercharismatic) movement is a movement within evangelical Protestant Christianity that is composed of a diverse range of independent churches and organizations that emphasize the curre ...
overtones. Although Substance does not officially classify itself as an emerging church
The emerging church, sometimes wrongly equated with the "emergent movement" or "emergent conversation", is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century. Emerging churches can be found around the globe, predominantly in North Ameri ...
, many articles find similarities, perhaps due to its youthful attendance. But despite their independent polity, Substance has assisted in the planting of numerous denominational and non-denominational churches ranging from Baptist
Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
to the Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) is an evangelical denomination with Pietism, Pietist Lutheran roots. The Christian denomination, denomination has 129,015 members in 878 congregations and an average worship attendance of 219,000 people in th ...
to Assemblies of God
The World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), commonly known as the Assemblies of God (AG), is a global cooperative body or communion of over 170 Pentecostal denominations that was established on August 15, 1989. The WAGF was created to provi ...
.
See also
*Multi-site church
A multi-site church is a specific church congregation which holds services at multiple geographical locations, either within a specific metropolitan area or, increasingly, several such areas.
Characteristic
A multisite church is a local church tha ...
* Cell Church
A cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, ...
* Emerging Church
The emerging church, sometimes wrongly equated with the "emergent movement" or "emergent conversation", is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century. Emerging churches can be found around the globe, predominantly in North Ameri ...
* Church Planting
Church planting is a term referring to the process (mostly in Protestant frameworks) that results in a new local Christian congregation being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, worship center or ...
References
External links
* Substance Church Home - http://substancechurch.com * Substance Magazine - http://beingsubstance.com * Star Tribune "Rock of Younger Ages" Jeff Strickler - http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/30269639.html * Star Tribune "Growing Churches Blend the Old and the New"—HERÓN MÁRQUEZ ESTRADA http://www.startribune.com/local/south/110453469.html * www.peterhaas.org * Association of Related Churches - http://www.arcchurches.com/ {{Coord, 45, 7, 6, N, 93, 14, 11, W, display=title Evangelical megachurches in the United States Evangelical churches in Minnesota Association of Related Churches