Meet Peter

I love to laugh. I love nerdy scientific research that makes me say, “Wow. Really?” And I love spiritually encouraging topics. So, if you’re interested in a sarcastic yet uplifting blend of all three of these ingredients, then follow me at @peterhaas1 (on Twitter or Insta). But you’ve GOT to have a sense of humor! I also publish documentary film style Bible teachings on Youtube. But, if you want to visit one of our campuses in Minneapolis or Monterrey, Mexico (or virtually), be sure to visit: www.SubstanceChurch.com.

MY STORY:  Believe it or not, I used to work as an electronic dance music dj. I became a follower of Christ while working in a nightclub – after experiencing a miraculous answer to prayer – a story I describe in detail in my best-selling humor book, “Pharisectomy: How to Remove Your Inner Pharisee and Other Religiously Transmitted Diseases.”

And I STILL do Electronic Dance Music! I write, produce and tour as a turntablist for Substance Variant. And for my worship music outlet, I write for Substance I/O (our churches' official worship brand).

MY MINISTRY:  Against all odds, I eventually got sucked into full-time ministry. In 2004, my wife and I relocated to the heart of Minneapolis / Saint Paul to plant an arts-oriented church called Substance. To my amazement, our community caught on and became one of the faster growing multi-site churches in the United States. Over 65% of the thousands who participate in our community each week are under 30 years old. And over 41% of our community didn’t “attend church” or “have a relationship with God” even two years ago. So, I would venture to say that we're one of the more youthful mega-churches in the country.

Substance Church - Downtown Minneapolis Campus

A lot of people ask me about the miracle story of my daughters infamous vision (that resulted in our acquisition of a History building in Downtown Minneapolis. So, if you're looking to be inspired, I tell the history of Substance at our church website [here.]

MY LEADERSHIP:  My wife and I spend a huge amount of time mentoring innovative pastors all over the globe by serving on the Lead Team of an international church planting organization called the ARC (the Association of Related Churches – See www.arcchurches.com). I love getting nerdy with pastors about how to build a fun, holy, and life-giving church. Thus, there’s also a strong leadership theme that bleeds through my books and blogs.

MY BOOKS:  I aim to write books that can be re-read a half dozen times before they become boring. So, make sure you check out Pharisectomy, and Broken Escalators! People always tell me that they "laughed out loud" and "highlighted dozens of thoughts" in every chapter -- which makes me feel really warm and fuzzy. After Pharisectomy hit Amazon’s best seller list, I hunkered down for several years to make sure that my follow-up book, Broken Escalators, was even better. And you won’t be disappointed. Broken Escalators is PACKED with absurd humor and “Aha” moments. Click here for more on the book.

MY PERSONALITY TYPE: Beyond this, I’m an INTJ (according to MBTI); On Enneagram, I'm a 5 with a 4 wing. On strengths finder, I'm Strategic, Futurist, Achiever, Learner, Agitator (I made that last one up).

I currently reside in Minneapolis with my wife Carolyn and my three hilarious kids. I’m obsessed with film and music. I play just about every instrument, from cello to electric guitar. I spend most of my free time in my recording studio, writing music of all kinds. : ) Feel free to contact me on social media! Or, email contact@substancechurch.com for booking info. To sample a few of my popular blogs, here are a few links: Humor Blogs:

Weird Research for Everyday Life Blogs:

Leadership Blogs: