We're people helping people take the next step on their spiritual journey
We're on a journey, a spiritual journey. And you're invited to journey with us.
Since we're people on a journey, we haven't yet arrived. But we are "in process"—we're on the move. We're going places!
Some of us are just beginning the journey of faith. Others traveled this way for a long time. Our backgrounds and experiences differ, but we're all the same in one respect. We all want and need more of God. That's why we travel together.
For more than 75 years, Cloquet Gospel Tabernacle has offered Good News to hurting people. Through the years we've offered hope in times of stress and difficulty, peace in during conflicts and wars, and an eternal view when prosperity and growth were the norm.
We've come through several generations—Builders, Baby Boomers, Busters, and Gen-X—and still we care about people. Today the Tab reaches out to those seeking answers about life, about God, about relationships. We want to help people build connections with God and each other. We want to help individuals become part of a vibrant community of faith.
Over the years, we've worked to meet the needs of each generation with the timeless truths of the gospel. We aim to keep on doing this no matter what changes the future may bring. Along the way four buildings have been filled to capacity, and we continue to stretch to meet the needs of an expanding congregation
At the Tab, we aim to...
...encourage those who stumble or fall. We aim to offer positive, practical help for people facing the complex challenges of life in today's world.
...strengthen people crushed by the bitter blows of life. We want to affirm those struggling with personal doubts and fears.
...free those locked in ritual religion or meaningless, empty tradition. We want them to know that Jesus, the Truth, can set them free.
...assist those searching for answers to life's questions. We want to help all, whether they are skeptics, believers, or seekers.
...welcome everyone regardless of race, age, economic standing, or marital status. We're all on a level playing field when it comes to needing God!
...connect with families, single parents, and retired couples. We can't all be connected to everyone, but we want to provide a means for you to connect to someone.
...validate each individual. Even if you don't think you're worth much or doing much, God sees you as incredibly significant. So do we.
...celebrate each step you take on your spiritual journey. We're happy to see spiritual growth—no matter how little or where.
...affirm anyone who is seeking Jesus. We want to help people along—not judge them for how far they have to go on their spiritual journey.
...help people mature in their faith. We encourage each other to become more like Christ in our daily lives. We all need help with that!
We Value...
We will shape our ministries and programs ministry by the following values:
1. We value God’s Word. We base our lives on the core truths of the Bible. Our methods may change, but our message must never change. All we do as a church should fall within the parameters of Scripture.
2. We value the reality of God’s presence. We desire to know God by personal experience—not just by hearing about him. We expect God to show up in extraordinary, even supernatural ways, in our worship and spiritual gifts.
3. We value faith and prayer. We determine to be a church of effective and fervent prayer, trusting God to perform his will in our lives and through our ministry. People gain hope by believing God’s promises and by relying on the power of the Spirit. Spirit-inspired dreams need God-sized resources to accomplish what we cannot do on our own.
4. We value relevant messages. We want to connect the timeless principles of the Bible to the current issues and hot topics of our day—using language, music, technology, and resources that relate to people in the twenty-first century.
5. We value excellence. We give God our best effort in serving him. Mediocre methods or lackadaisical attitudes are inappropriate responses for the highest calling in our lives—the call of God. We will rely on God’s power—not our own strength—to grow in ministry and to strive to do our best in all we do.
6. We value process. We want people to feel comfortable about making informed, thoughtful decisions as they take new steps on their spiritual journey. Process allows people to make stronger decisions with each step they take. We will provide a safe place where newcomers can freely investigate the claims of Christ at their own pace without intimidation. We offer opportunities for people to evaluate their spiritual progress and move further in their walk with the Lord.
7. We value authenticity. We commit ourselves to being real—doing away with religious pretension and false spirituality. We want people to feel at ease expressing their struggles over personal difficulties or pain without the risk of condemnation. We strive to be honest with one another and avoid the masks of religious words.
8. We value community. We believe ministry occurs best within the context of affirming and trusting relationships. So we pledge to nurture and support one another through prayer, small groups, and personal friendships. We seek to build healthy families (including blended and single-parent homes) by building healthy relationships to counteract the effects of today’s increasingly fragmented society.
9. We value love and compassion. We want the love of Jesus to be our motivation for serving others in ministry and in all we do. We don’t want our programs or accomplishments to be fueled by pride or selfishness, so we seek to grow in the fruit and characteristics of the Holy Spirit.
Want more information about our core values? Click here to listen to a Doorways class (January 18, 2012).
Want more information about our programs and ministries? Click here to listen to a Doorways class on the subject (January 25, 2012).