Calvary Free Lutheran Church was organized in 1987 in Arlington, SD by concerned Christians in the area. The driving principle in the minds and hearts of the founders was the desire for a Lutheran Church that upheld the inerrancy and authority of God’s Word without compromise. When first organized, the congregation met in the basement of a local grocery store. Through the help of the AFLC Home Missions, Pastor Brian Pearson was called as our first full-time minister in 1989. With rapid initial growth a church was soon built and finished in 1990 on a donated parcel of land. Pastor Mark Olson served from 1994 to 2000. Pastor Steve Mundfrom served from 2000 to 2008. In the fall of 2002 a new 200-seat sanctuary was completed and dedicated. Our congregation was also privileged to assist in the forming of a new congregation, Good Shepherd Free Lutheran in Madison, SD. In 2009, Pastor Brian Ricke (2009-2014) served our congregation. Pastor Aaron Olson served our congregation from June 2016 to January 2023. We are currently blessed with Pastor Seth Moan as our pastor. He was called to CFLC October 2023.
As we look back and see how faithful God has been to us, we know that he who is faithful holds the future as well. May the Lord bless you!
1. We believe...the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God. It is the only source and rule of faith, doctrine, and life. The Bible is God's Word, written by human authors, yet inspired by the Holy Spirit, as we read in 2 Timothy 3:16.
2. We believe...in the Triune God; one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).
3. We believe...in the doctrine of original sin. Scripture reveals that all are born into sin. Sin separates humanity from the presence of God and without God, there is no salvation (Romans 3:23).
4. We believe...in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ, both fully God and fully man, lived the perfect life that we could not. We believe he took our place on the cross and died for our sins, and that he rose from the dead in order that we too can rise in faith. (Ephesians 2:4-5).
5. We believe...the Bible reveals to the church two primary Sacraments:
-Baptism
-The Lord’s Supper
6. We believe....and hold to the historic confessions of the Lutheran Church (the three ancient ecumenical creeds, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Small Catechism), and accept them as faithful explanations of the Word of God.
If you would like to know more about why we believe these Biblical truths, we would love to tell you. If you would give us that privilege, please contact us!