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 | The Pastor of Resurrection Free Lutheran Church is Pastor Joel Kangas. He started at RFLC on August 31, 2014 as an Interim Pastor and signed the letter of call for full time Pastor October 8, 2015. He is excited to serve the congregation.
He and his wife, Lisa, live in Erskine. They have four children, Aaron and his wife just finished serving in a church in the Minneapolis area and are waiting on the Lord for their next endeavor, Nicole, recently married to Bobby, is working in Bemidji, Megan is employed at Essentia in Fargo, and Jadon is home busy with highschool and youth group activities.
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Although circumstances have caused Pastor Dale to have to resign from Resurrection Free due to illness, he has remained as a member giving wise counsel and support.
Rev. Dale Finstrom,
Dale Elroy Finstrom, son of the late Melvin and Lorraine (Knudsvig) Finstrom, was born on November 19, 1954 at Fargo, North Dakota. He was baptized by Pastor Alfred Knutson and confirmed in June 1968 by Pastor Hans Tollefson at Ny Stavanger Lutheran Church, Buxton, North Dakota.
Dale went to grade school in Buxton and Reynolds, North Dakota; sixth grade through High School at Central Valley Public School, Buxton, North Dakota, graduating in1972. He graduated from the Association Free Lutheran Bible School, Plymouth, Minnesota in 1974. In the winter of 1975 he attended Mayville State College for one quarter.
On August 9, 1975, Dale married Crystal Ann Carlson at Riverside Lutheran Church, Wannaska, Minnesota. They made their home and farmed 5miles west of Buxton, ND. Dale farmed with his father and brother Gene until 1988.
In the fall of 1975, Dale became a member of the Gideon’s International, making numerous presentations in churches as well as Bible distributions. In 1980 Dale sensed the call to enter the ministry full time and in the fall of 1981 he attended Mayville State College and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. At that time the farming conditions had worsened and Dale was not able to quit and go to seminary. In November of 1986, Zoar Free Lutheran Church and the Tri-County Nursing Home of Hatton, North Dakota asked if Dale would serve on a temporary basis while they would call a full-time pastor. Three months later the congregation extended Dale a call to serve them full-time. He accepted the call and later met with the AFLC Coordinating Committee and became approved as a Licensed Lay-Pastor. He continued to serve the congregation and the nursing home until July of 1990. In July of 1990, Dale accepted the call to serve Maranatha Free Lutheran Church, Glyndon, Minnesota. From January 1995 until June 1997 Dale also served the Grong Free Lutheran Church, Rollog, Minnesota. In 2005-06 the congregation at Glyndon helped start the congregation at Ulen, MN known as Maranatha Free Lutheran Church of Ulen. Dale served from 1996-2002 on the East European Mission Network Board. Dale has been attending the Summer Institute of Theology each year at the Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary, Plymouth, Minnesota. In the fall of 2004, Maranatha Free Lutheran Church granted Dale a 4-month Sabbatical so he could take one semester of seminary training at the Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary. In May of 2005, Dale graduated with a Certificate of Pastoral Studies from the Seminary. Pastor Dale was ordained on August 7, 2006 at Maranatha Free Lutheran Church, Glyndon, MN. He served Maranatha Free Lutheran Church until June 30, 2007. Pastor Dale accepted the call to serve Resurrection Free Lutheran Church and began ministry there on July 17, 2007.
Dale and Cris have three children, Matthew (Amy) Finstrom, Laura Lee Finstrom, and David (Tiffanie) Finstrom. They have three granddaughters, McKenzie Finstrom, McKayla Finstrom, and Isobel Finstrom; and a grandson, Elijah Finstrom.
Dale and Cris look forward to the adventure of faith that lies before them. To God be the glory great things He hath done.
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