A heart for ministry 

The Rev. Dave Mergens has a heart for ministry. 

Since July, he has been lead pastor at Avon Community Church in Avon, after ministering at churches in Alexandria and Brooklyn Park and, in-between, doing discipleship for a nonprofit men’s ministry.  

“I was feeling God calling me to the next thing,” he said Dec. 2, sitting in his office. “I had never been in a lead role; all the rest were in support roles in the church, and I felt a need to utilize the gifts and experiences in a church and community. … God said, ‘You’ve been trained, and now, it’s time to step up and do something different.’” 

It was also a calling from God that led him to become a pastor, attending the University of Northwestern and Bethel Seminary in St. Paul after growing up in Woodbury.

“(After) almost losing my life on a high school mission trip … and a few other God moments, I felt a real call to do full-time ministry,” he said. “A series of things happened to me, through people either affirming me or seeing that my heart was toward ministry.”    

He moved to Avon with his family — wife Rawney and their three daughters.

Mergens’ role in Avon, while different, is similar to previous positions, he said. 

“I have more responsibility for the entire church, where in my previous roles, I did the functions of a pastor — teaching, preaching, weddings, funerals — but now, I’m the one to cast the vision for the church,” he said. “Part of that is getting to know the community, the needs of the church, the surrounding communities and what are the unique places that ministry could happen.” 

Avon Community Church is non-denominational, he said.  

“This is a congregationally-run church with members voting in elders,” Mergens said. “Christ is the leader, and the Bible is where we get our authority from.”

As pastor, Mergens leads the vision and direction of the church, and he is accountable to fellow elders, the congregation and “ultimately to God,” he said. 

“This church … is biblically grounded, with the Bible as the base,” he said. “A big part is teaching biblical literacy and critical thinking. I’d rather teach people how to think rather than tell them what to think, and then let the Bible shape their lives.” 

He has enjoyed getting to know what he calls the “DNA of the church,” people who gather at the church with their gifts and abilities.

Currently, they average close to 240 people per service. 

“We have quickly outgrown our building and are running out of space for programs,” he said.

He was recently given a book with the history of Avon Community Church, which was started in 1987 after being planted by Community Country Church in Holdingford. 

Church planting is the process of starting a new congregation in a new location, with a goal of expanding the Christian faith and establishing a church that can eventually operate independently. 

“We make our own decisions, but we have a connection to other churches that are like-minded, Bible-based and congregationally-led; the three hallmarks make us unique,” Mergens said.  

Avon Community Church has a diverse congregation with long-time members and young families and individuals, Mergens said. 

“Young people are coming back to the church; that is the trend,” he said.

He said across the board, people are looking for a healthy church community. 

“People and purpose are big reasons why, and what age doesn’t look for that?” he said.

Mergens is excited about the many volunteers who take ownership of the building and worship services. 

That was evident on his second day at Avon Community Church, when he and other church elders visited with a young woman who was dying, and a few days later, Mergens presided over her funeral service, with close to 1,500 people filling the worship space.  

“The people at this church do ministry at a high level,” he said. 

Mergens has gotten to know community members outside of the church family. 

“I love our chamber, I love our business, I love our other churches,” he said.  

Their facility is utilized for community events, like a homeschooling group and Red Cross blood drive. 

“Being outdoors, hunting, fishing, being on my tractor, cutting wood” was his answer when asked what he does in his free time. 

“If I’m going to work all day with my mind, I want to work (in my free time) with my hands,” Mergens said. “Three hours on my lawn mower is reprieve for my soul.” 

He said during the deer hunting season, he spent 50 hours in the deer stand. 

He and his wife like attending high school sporting events, and they frequent the bike trails. 

“It’s what our community does,” he said. “The community is such a good fit for my family.”  

While Mergens admits to loving the fall season in the church because of the energy and routine, he is looking forward to his first Christmas at Avon Community Church, where the gospel message will be about people having hope in Jesus.

“That will be the hallmark of what we talk about on Christmas: our hope in Christ,” he said. 

This year, they will have two Christmas Eve services at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. 

“It’s a gift to the community to come and worship with us,” he said. “We want to be a light to the community.” 

To Mergens, that is what ministry is about.