Church Planting

Sending Disciples to Make Disciples

At Hillside, we are committed to making disciples who multiply, planting churches that carry the DNA of discipleship into every community.

Our Current Church Plant: <span style="font-weight: normal;">South of the River</span>

Our Current Church Plant: South of the River

Join us in prayer & support as we step out in faith to plant a new church!

We're excited to announce our first church plant, Redeemer City Church, launching in Shakopee, MN,  January 2027,  led by Pastor Gabe Zepeda and his family. Gabe and Rebekah bring a heart for gospel-centered discipleship and community transformation, and we are thrilled to have them join Hillside Church.

Meet the Zepedas
Meet the Zepedas

Learn more about Gabe, Rebekah, and their family.

Read Their Bio
Follow the Journey
Follow the Journey

Stay updated on the church plant's progress.

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Get Involved!
Get Involved!

Considering involvement with the church plant? Let us know!

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Give to the Church Plant
Give to the Church Plant

Contribute financially to the needs of the church plant.

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Church Plant Updates

Our 6-Phase Church Plant Process

Prayer & Vision

Clarifying vision, confirming location, and building a prayer team.

Strategic Planning & Support Raising

Laying the foundation with proposals, funding, and core team recruitment.

Discipleship & Core Team-Building

Training leaders and cultivating a gospel-centered culture

About Church Planting

Church planting is at the heart of living on mission. It's about sending disciples to form communities where the gospel hasn'tyet been proclaimed and making disciples who will make disciples.
As J.D. Payne explains:

"Biblical church planting follows the way modeled by Jesus and imitated by the Apostolic Church for global disciple-making. It is a methodology and strategy for bringing in the harvest, raising up leaders from the harvest and sending leaders to work in the harvest fields."

From Jesus' promise to build his church (Matthew 16:18) to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), the New Testament consistently emphasizes multiplying disciples and churches. Throughout history, from Antioch to Rome and beyond, the Church has thrived when disciples are equipped, sent, and multiplied.

  • It allows more people to encounter the Gospel.
  • It provides opportunities for leadership development.
  • It brings renewal and transformation to neighborhoods and cities through Gospel-centered engagement.

  • It's a response to our urgent moment: as secular ideologies and religious pluralism grows, healthy, gospel-centered, disciple-making churches are needed to make disciples and raise up leaders.

We plant churches to spread God's glory, proclaim Christ's supremacy, and rely on the Spirit's power. Our ultimate desire is to join God as he makes all things new (Habakkuk 2:14, Ephesians 2:19-22).

Hillside Senior Pastor Brian Gingerich believes that church planting is central to our mission, rooted in the Biblical vision of discipleship. The New Testament consistently shows how disciple-making naturally leads to church multiplication (Acts 2, 2 Timothy 2, 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8).

A conversation in Ghana with Brian's friend Solomon brought this vision to life. He likened the church to a factory rather than a warehouse—equipping disciples who are then sent out on mission, reproducing leaders and communities. 

At Hillside, we are committed to making disciples who multiply, planting churches that carry the DNA of discipleship into every community.

Hillside Church:

Joining God in Making All Things New

Our Vision

To join God in making all things new for His glory and our good.

Our Mission

To make disciples of Jesus here, near, and far.

Our Values

At Hillside Church, we're passionate about seeing lives transformed through Jesus. Our values guide everything we do.

Be with God

Grow in personal relationship with God through the Word and prayer.

Grow in Community

Participate in corporate worship and small groups.

Serve the Church

Use your time, talents, and treasures to build up the body of Christ.

Live on Mission

Share Jesus through word and deed, locally and globally.