Nested within the forests and lakes of Minnesota's Great Northwoods, the Longville Community Church continues a unique ministry that began over 75 years ago. There are quite a few United Methodists within the congregation, but it's not known as the Longville Methodist Church. Its current and past three pastors have been Presbyterian, but it's not known as the Longville Presbyterian Church. For a few years, the church was affiliated with the United Church of Christ, but even at that time was never known as the Longville Congregational Church.

No, LCC prominently displays the name Community in its title because it truly is community, rather than denominationally, oriented. It seeks to worship and spread the Good News of a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than a system of belief and church government. It seeks to bring together what people have in common, rather than what separates them. Its members live in the community, serve the community and try to embody Christ in the community.

Our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds: economically, politically, socially, theologically, and denominationally. We presently have 14 denominations of which people have held their church memberships. Yet LCC is unique in that we try to share our personal beliefs with others within the congregation without converting them. We believe we can become closer to Christ by shared experiences and be better stewards of all God has given us.

The Longville Lakes area is a place where people come to escape the breakneck pace of life. It's a place where ones patio is as important as ones portfolio; it's a place where people find more pleasure climbing the ladder to put up a bird feeder than they do climbing the ladder of success; it's a place where the nearest Wal-Mart is 50 miles away and the nearest neighbor is whomever you happen to be standing next to at the bait shop.

Most importantly, the Longville area is a place people come to connect and reconnect their relationships: with nature, with family, with themselves and with God. For this reason, you won't find a beehive of activity and programs at LCC. It's not that we don't have any of that. As a matter of fact, we have an active Women's Fellowship, Men's Fellowship, church suppers as often as we can find excuses to hold them, and a well-rehearsed choir that many in the area say is the finest choral group this side of Salt Lake City.

No, we prefer to be defined by our relationships rather than our activity, by the time we can spend with a friend fishing for walleye rather than a sheet of weekly activities, and by the exchange of stories rather than of business cards.

If you are looking for a church that offers exercises classes, there are others in town that do a wonderful job at that. But if you are looking for a place that will help you exercise your mind and heart, you may want to stop by. We'll be here for all seasons of your life.