History

   On December 14, 1967, individuals interested in forming a new Scripture-based congregation in Fergus Falls gathered for an informational meeting in the Community Room of the Security State Bank.  After meeting with Rev. John Strand, President of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations on January 11, 1968, the group decided to affiliate with the AFLC.

    On Sunday, January 28, 1968, the first Sunday School and Worship Service was held at the National Guard Armory with Forrest Swenson serving as pastor.  On March 4, 1968, the name CALVARY FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH was chosen on a congregational vote.  The AFLC Constitution was also adopted at this time.   Services continued to be held at the Armory until the former Evangelical United Brethren Church located on North Union Avenue became available for rent.  The first service was held there Easter Sunday 1968.

    In December of 1968 Rev. Julius Hermunslie, who had retired as pastor and moved to Fergus Falls, willingly accepted the call to serve Calvary.  The Sunday School, Luther League, and Ladies Aid were all organized in 1968.

    Property at the junction of county roads 1 and 111 was purchased for the new location for the congregation in the spring of 1971.  Ground-breaking for the new facility took place on September 30, 1973.

    In April, 1974, upon the retirement of Pastor Hermunslie, Rev. Ronald Hoehne came to serve the congregation.  The new church building was nearly completed, and the first service was held in the present building on Sunday, July 7, 1974.  Dedication Services were held three months later on Sunday, October 20, 1974.

    Rev. Hoehne served Calvary Free Lutheran until early 1977, at which time retired pastors in the congregation helped out until Rev. Forrest Swenson was once again called to serve the congregations which he had served while a student.

    On March 28, 1977, Calvary Free Lutheran and Stiklestad Free Lutheran Churches joined to form a two-point parish.  With the leaving of Pastor Swenson in 1981, the congregation called upon Rev. Donald Brue to serve as interim pastor until lay-pastor Roger Krueger accepted the call in 1982.

    During 1985 Rodger Olson replaced David Rinden and became the pastor of Calvary Free Lutheran Church. Soon the need for a larger facility became evident.  The ground-breaking for Calvary's new sanctuary took place Sunday, August 15, 1993.

    During 1998, the need for additional offices, classrooms, and a youth room encouraged the church to add another section to the back of the new sanctuary.  Included in this addition, is a youth room, two storage facilities, a library, three offices, a lounge, an additional classroom and a restroom.

    In mid 1999 Pastor Jason Holt, Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministry, began serving Calvary Free Lutheran.  His duties include the instruction of the Confirmation class, the Youth Group leader, and the leader of small group Bible studies.

    In the summer of 2000, Calvary Church granted Pastor Olson a leave of absence for three months to serve Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Camarillo, California through AFLC Home Missions. He later accepted a call from that church and ended his ministry at Calvary on December 31, 2000. Pastor Willmore Gundersen accepted the call to serve as Interim Pastor from January - July 2001.

    On August 1, 2001 Pastor James R. Johnson began his ministry as the Senior Pastor at Calvary Free Lutheran Church.

   The end of July 2007, Pastor Jason Holt resigned from Calvary to accept the call to become the AFLC National Youth Director.  Todd Waldie served as interim Youth Director for a year.

  In June of 2008, Pastor Eric Rasmussen started serving as the new Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries.