At Eagle Brook, Minnesota's largest church, a focus away from politics

"People often say, 'Who is your senior pastor?' They can't tell, and that's exactly what we want," said John Alexander, the church's executive director of creative arts. "We resist as much as possible the potential for celebrity."

Tim Fischer and Amy Hall chatted with Mark Hennessy after attending an Eagle Brook Church service in Baxter on Sept. 8. (Richard Tsong-Taatariii/The Minnesota Star Tribune) 'There for a reason' The Lino Lakes lobby began to fill a half-hour before services. Parents checked in kids: Kid-O-Deo for kindergarteners and younger, Elevate for elementary-aged kids, replete with popcorn machines, a climbing wall and Minecraft on PlayStation 4s. When the kids' service began, about 60 elementary-aged kids watched an Eagle Brook-produced skit on talking to God when you're afraid. They scribbled down their fears then tore up the papers and gave them to God.

A two-hour drive north, the new Baxter location also filled with young families. Dawn Wicklund, the female pastor, stood unassuming in a flannel shirt, skinny jeans and Nikes. Her Eagle Brook story is like many other congregants. Thirteen years ago, Wicklund was at rock bottom. She'd married her high school sweetheart at 19 when she was five months pregnant. On her first Mother's Day as a mom, Wicklund's 17-year-old brother — her closest friend — was killed by a drunk driver. At 25, an overwhelmed mother of three, her dad died of cancer.

That Easter, someone invited her to Eagle Brook Church. She went hesitantly. She'd grown up Christian, but life's tumult made her angry at God. She wept through the service.

"It just wrecked me," she said. "... From the moment I sat down, it was just like I knew that Jesus was there, present, and had me there for a reason."

Congregants have similar stories. Brian Horn lives a two-hour drive from the Lino Lakes campus, on a cattle ranch near Pillager, but he wakes up at 4 a.m. Sundays to drive here for church. He started coming six years ago in search of a new, exciting church experience.