Our Core Values

Connect

Fellowship With Other Believers

Serve

Serving Just Like Jesus Did

Grow

Growing Our Relationship With God

Our Story & Mission

North Point started, as most things do, with an idea. Imagine a church where people could be themselves...no pious pretenders, no false humility, no fake sincerity...just authentic people committed to sharing Christ through sincere relationships, engaging worship, and community involvement.


In 2004, that idea became a reality as North Point began its quest to be that kind of a church. Our two founding pastors, Matt Branum and Ryan Charest, along with a handful of families in the area (and the help of our mothering church, First Christian Church in Rapid City) began the work of realizing the dream of North Point.


Since that time, North Point has been involved in helping plant other churches with a similar goal in Laramie ('07), Bismarck ('12), and Sheridan ('15).


But the real story of North Point is the people that make up our church. It can be seen in the lives changed by Jesus Christ and lived out in a very real relationship with Him.

...and there is room in that story for You!


At North Point our mission is to CONNECT people to God and GROW disciples of Jesus Christ who SERVE to make disciples.


Jesus, when asked what was the greatest commandment in all of scripture, responded "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...and the second is like it: Love your neighbor."


At North Point, we strive to love God first and foremost. From that love, flows a love for our neighbors.


At North Point, we want to see all our friends and neighbors CONNECT with God. You see, Christianity isn't meant to be a bunch of rules, regulations, and traditions...It is about a real, active relationship with God. It's about walking through everyday life with Jesus. And it's about being connected to others who are trying to do the same.


Relationships are living things...as with all living things if it isn't growing, it's dying. North Point wants to help you GROW in your relationship with God .This happens when we connect with one another, teaching, encouraging, and serving alongside one another. Our mission is to help develop fully committed followers of Jesus. 


And when you discover God's plan and the depth of his love for you, you will want to share that Good News with others. We share that message as we SERVE those around us. North Point offers many opportunities to serve...and not just on Sunday mornings. Together we can serve through our D-Groups, through events like our Back 2 School Bash, Thanksgiving Basket Outreach, and Mission trips. But we also want to encourage and equip one another for acts of service within our workplace, neighborhoods, and homes. We want you to discover the joy of serving and the increase in faith that comes from stepping out and allowing God to work through you.

Our Leadership Team

North Point's staff is committed to our core vision of sharing Christ and building believers. By Connecting with God, Serving Him with their lives, and Growing their families as followers of Christ, the North Point staff shepherds the flock God has entrusted to them (1 Peter 5:2).

  • Matt Branum  - Lead Pastor

    As Pastor of North Point, my job is to share vision and strategize how to make God’s purpose

    for this church a reality. I love seeing people grow in their relationship with Christ and helping

    them achieve their full potential within God’s Kingdom mission. Whether it is at Sunday

    Celebrations, being a part of a discipleship group, or having coffee at the Blackbird, I thoroughly

    enjoy authentic conversation and building relationships.


    Becky and I moved to Spearfish to plant North Point in 2004 from Cincinnati, where I was on

    staff at a Christian university, and she was a Registered Nurse at Children’s Hospital. For her it

    was like coming home (she grew up in Rapid City), for me it was a small adjustment (having

    grown up north of the Twin Cities). We have grown to love the northern hills community and

    North Point. It is here, that we have raised our two kids, Reagan and Jack.

  • Tristan Bridges - Associate Pastor

    Growing up I always had a passion for ministry, I knew that God had laid this on my heart and it was and is my purpose. I tried to dabble in other jobs and see if I would fit in anywhere else but I quickly found that the only place that I felt complete was in a ministry setting. One day I finally realized that our goal in life is to bring people to know Christ. Once knowing this I pursued ministry and attended college at Summit Christian College where I found my true passion while also meeting my beautiful wife McKenna. We then graduated and after many trials and prayers we ended up here at North Point in August of 2019. We welcomed our first child Braxton in April of 2021.


    I always enjoy a good cup of coffee and a good conversation. I love seeing God move through people and watching people grow. In life there will always be ups and downs but during these times we find the importance of the Church. We are here for one another meant to build and encourage one another. The greatest commandments are to first love God and second love people. We love the ministry going on at North Point and we love the community of Spearfish and the Northern Hills. 

  • Lauren Whaley - Kids Ministry Director

    God's love captivated me at a young age. I was incredibly blessed to be constantly surrounded by my godly family, friends, and leaders in Gering, Nebraska that walked with me spiritually; challenging and encouraging me as I continued my walk with the Lord. After high school, I attended Summit Christian College where I received my Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies. The Lord, in all of His goodness, opened this door for me in April of 2023. He is teaching me that Kingdom work is to be over every other desire. When we live with a kingdom mindset, it doesn't matter what we are walking through, we can rejoice because the kingdom of God is advancing. In addition to being the Children's Ministry Director, I work part time at Kid's Point daycare! I have been working in daycares since 2016, and absolutely love what I do. I'm so grateful that the Lord is allowing me to get to do both vocational ministry and daycare. I cheer VERY loudly for the Nebraska Cornhuskers (regardless of how good we aren't!) I also enjoy four-wheeling, thrift shopping, and meeting with people for coffee at Green Bean.

  • Sarah Albertson - Office Administrator

    I grew up in Iowa, Go Hawkeyes! In 2008 I got married and moved to South Dakota. We have two beautiful children. We spent 8 years in Custer, then in 2016 we moved to Spearfish. We LOVE Spearfish! Small town feeling WITH amenities! We get involved in our community wherever we are. We enjoy playing coed softball and volleyball (as long as we don't play next to each other! Ha!) I currently serve on the Spearfish adult softball board. 

    I've been a stay at home mom since our first child was born, but prior to being "Mom," I worked in insurance. We had a hard time deciding if I should continue working or stay home. I was told over and over "if you can stay home, do it! You won't regret it!" and they were right! Biggest joy ever! 

    Staying home with our children has been my favorite job of all time, but when the church office administrator position opened up I knew in my heart that it was the right time to start working my brain again! I am thoroughly enjoying the position!

    We started attending North Point in 2019 and we fell in love with church even more with the drive in services in 2020. We were drawn to North Point as our home church because of the inclusiveness. We were warmly greeted and quickly asked to become involved. We are thrilled to be part of this church family! 

Our Beliefs

GOD

We believe in God. He is, He was, and He always will be. He created the Heavens and the Earth, and everything in them. He is known as Father, came as the Son, and lives in believers as the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 3:16-17, John 1:1-2, Acts 2:32-33)


JESUS

Jesus, God the Son, came to Earth and was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and rose from the dead. He's still alive and changing lives today! (Colossians 2:9, Luke 1:30-35, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21)


HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is a comforter and a guide for every born-again believer. He actually lives inside us, His temple, and does more for us than we can imagine. (John 16:8, Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:13-14)


BIBLE

The Bible is the book God wrote for us. It is true, it is accurate, it is authentic, and it is absolutely applicable to our lives today. Get it, read it, live it! (2 Timothy 3:16-17)


PEOPLE

We're not perfect. We have sinned, all of us. We need help. We need Him. We need each other, and that's what Church is all about. (Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Acts 4:12)


SALVATION

Our relationship with God has been broken by sin. Jesus' death pays the price our sin and offers each of us salvation (the gift of God's grace) to those who will accept Him as Lord and Savior. He calls us to repent (change our mind about who's in charge of our life) confess Him as Lord and Savior (verbal declaration)  be baptized (water immersion), and faithfully walk with Him (until death).  When we make Him Lord, we enter into a new life and we follow Jesus all the way to Heaven. (Acts 3:19, Romans 10:9,10, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:1-4, Galatians 3:26-27, Colossians 2:6)


HEAVEN AND HELL

They're real. That's why we are doing everything we can to share the good news about Jesus. God doesn't want

anybody to choose Hell, but He wants everybody with Him in Heaven. That's why we do what we do. (Acts 1:10-11, John 5:28-29, Daniel 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:14)