Alyssa Warren
Fifteen years ago, my now-husband and I walked into a CPC service nearly thirty minutes late. Despite missing half of the service, we walked out knowing we had found our church home. Since that day, God has used CPC to call me closer to Him in ways I couldn’t have imagined. One of the first things I got involved in at CPC was leading a High School Ministry group. While the lessons were created for the students, many of them spoke directly to me and impacted my faith in meaningful ways.
When we had our first daughter, I joined Mom’s Morning and was immediately surrounded by an amazing group of faith-filled women. It gave me a weekly opportunity to refresh my soul each Wednesday morning. I led Mom’s Morning in 2021 and was blessed with a front-row seat to how God uses this ministry to care for the moms He so deeply loves. More recently, I’ve had the joy of teaching in the 3-year-old classroom on Sunday mornings and adore seeing many of my Mom’s Morning friends’ kids there.
It’s hard to put into words how important CPC has been in my life. It's where my husband and I were married, where we baptized our three children, and where I’ve made Christ-centered friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I’m honored to serve our church as an Elder and look forward to seeing what God has in store for us at CPC.
Brent Johnson
I was very fortunate to grow up in a family that made Jesus and church involvement an important part of our lives. I’ve had great friends and mentors who have been instruments of the Holy Spirit and were bold in talking to me about my faith and how God could use me in a variety of ways throughout my life. I served as a full-time student ministries director for five years before starting my business, and youth and student ministries have always been my passion and primary areas of service.
My wife and I found CPC in 2012 when we were looking for a place to worship closer to our new home in Edina after living in North Minneapolis for many years. This congregation, its staff, and its people have changed our lives in incredible ways. Our sons, Matt and Peter, were ministered to by the incredible youth staff, and Matt served as an intern here for a summer. The Dad’s group and the Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible study that I’ve been a part of have helped me through some difficult times and have helped me become a better dad and husband. I have also been involved in Wednesday night youth programming in various roles. My wife, Anne, previously served on Session and was blessed and grateful for the opportunity to serve the church in that capacity. We have also been part of various Sunday communities and small groups.
I’m so honored to even be considered to be an Elder at CPC, and I know that God can use even me to help this congregation do the work He has planned for us all.
Esther Connor
My husband Sean, our baby boy Theo, and I came to CPC after moving to Edina in 2015. I grew up in Minneapolis, left for medical training in Boston, met my husband there, and returned to train as a gastroenterologist. During that time, we visited CPC and remember the warm welcome we received.
We have come to love the CPC community, along with its many ministries and outreach programs. Some of my favorite experiences have been participating in small groups and studies such as Mom’s Morning, Sunday Community, and Faith&Work. Serving in various ways, including working with Arrive Ministries alongside other CPCers, has been rewarding.
Over the years, our family has grown, and we now have three boys: Theo, Sean Jr., and Bennett. They attend Normandale Elementary School, and through them, we’ve been blessed to meet more families, some of whom we’re excited to now see at CPC!
We are grateful for the love and care we've experienced here. I am honored and excited to serve as an Elder and look forward to seeing how the Gospel moves at CPC in this season.
Tim Gallagher
It is hard to imagine where I would be in my spiritual journey if I had not discovered CPC about thirty years ago. Shortly after my wife and I were married, we began searching for a church that represented a middle ground between the two churches we had grown up in. Some friends invited us to CPC, and on that very first Sunday, John Crosby informed the church of a difficult situation. I was blown away by the openness and honesty that day, and we have continued to experience that same authenticity over the past thirty years.
I have participated in Homebuilders and still connect with couples from that community, a Father's group, and Men’s Breakfast. I have served as an Usher for the past twenty years, and our family has taken part in four mission trips, the most recent to Egypt in 2024. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the community as an Elder in the church, even though I know I can only give back a small portion of what I have received at CPC.
