Our Vision: To make whole followers of Jesus Christ by teaching through the whole Bible
We believe this is God’s vision for His church. We want to be people who are devoted to worshiping Jesus, people who love each other deeply, and people who help others grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus. We desire to equip you by our example and by simply teaching through the Bible, simply from Genesis to Revelation. “I entrust you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance…” Acts 20:32
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The Mission & Our Purpose
Jesus said to His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
We want to be obedient to Jesus and help you tell others about the good news of forgiveness of sins through Jesus, help others grow closer to Jesus, and be equipped in the community. We do that by:
1. Win – Share the gospel and love people to Jesus
2. Disciple – Live and teach the Bible to those saved in Jesus
3. Send – Equip followers of Jesus to go and minister to others for Jesus
It’s all about Jesus! Not about religion, but a personal relationship with God and life in His Kingdom. We simply love God and love people!
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The Model & Our Culture
The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42, 47
We want to continue in the blessings the Lord has given to His church, and we don’t come as consumers, but as servants. We do this by:
1. Doctrine: We love to learn from the Bible, because all of God’s Word is living and powerful. We carve out time to be alone for Bible reading and make time to join with others to study His Word. The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for us. The Word of God is the foundation of what we believe, and it equips us (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Acts 20:27).
“Simply teaching the Bible Simply”. You can’t know how to apply the Bible to life, unless you understand what the Bible really says, and this is why we teach through the Bible in an expository fashion, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book and always in context (Neh. 8:8; Acts 20:27; Heb. 4:12).
2. Fellowship (koinōnia): We love spending time together and seek a bond that surpasses that of our natural families, which is only possible because of our common fellowship with Jesus (Matt. 12:46, Luke 14:26). As a spiritual family, we care for each other, do life together, and encourage one another because we are united in the grace of God (Heb. 10:24-25, 1 Cor. 12:12-27, 1 Peter 4:10).
3. Breaking of Bread: We love getting to know each other better over a meal and regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:46, 1 Cor. 11:23-26). We can’t stop thanking God for His mercy and partake in communion together, which is not an obligation we try to squeeze in, but the proclamation of the sacrifice of Jesus’ on the cross for our sins and the celebration of His resurrection.
4. Prayer: We make time to be alone in prayer, and make time to join with others to pray. We love to pray to God, and as we do, it changes us to trust Him even more. We pray for each other as well, because it is the ultimate weapon we have for the spiritual warfare that we face daily (Eph. 6:10-20, 1 Thes. 5:16-18).
This is the pattern that allows for us to be a group devoted to God, and a fellowship that desires to please God.
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Our Beliefs & Philosophy
Calvary Chapel of Fergus Falls has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know God and be more like Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their over-emphasis of doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the body of Christ. We believe that the only true basis of Christian fellowship is His (Agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.
We are a non-denominational, Bible-believing church established to worship, glorify, and share the good news of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We encourage you to review our Statement of Faith & Philosophy of Ministry, read the Calvary Chapel Distinctives, and learn more about the history of the Calvary Chapel movement, watch “A Venture of Faith” documentary or “Calvary Distinctives” overview, and check out the movie “Jesus Revolution” which shares the start of Calvary Chapel.
We are affiliated with the Calvary Chapel Association (CCA), and agree with the Defending Inerrancy initiative and affirm the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (CSBI). (The role of CCA is simply to affiliate churches, provide guidance and encouragement, and offer opportunities for fellowship.)
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Our Leadership & Spiritual Family
The Bible says that Jesus is the “head” of the church. So we think Jesus should be in charge (Colossians 1:17-18; Ephesians 5:22-25; 1 Peter 5:3-5; Matthew 16:18). We have a Church Leadership Team of humble men who get together with our Pastor regularly to pray and seek the Lord together. This spiritual board of elders help care for the spiritual and counseling needs of the body, and they are men of integrity who wait until the Lord gives clear direction and with a consensus, move forward as God leads. Our Leadership Team contains men who are appointed by Pastor Tim who assist and are accountable to one another. We encourage you to review our Leadership Values.
There are those who consider Calvary Chapel as ‘their church family’ and it’s such a joy to fellowship together. Ephesians 4:12 tells us that the ministry of the church leaders is to equip of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. We each have a place in the body of Christ, and we invite you to join us as we study God’s Word together, honor God together through worship, find accountability, find support in trials, gain opportunities for service, and make disciples.
Calvary Chapel in general does not have a formalized system of church membership. Calling a Calvary Chapel one’s church usually means regularly attending church gatherings and becoming involved in fellowship with other “members” of the church. We are not against formal membership yet view those actively serving and fellowshipping a current member of our local church. This allows us to walk through church discipline from Scripture and help people get back on track in their relationship with God.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Church Leadership Team: Pastor Tim Molter, Elder Steven Ness, Elder Jesse Tomford, Elder Carey Carpenter, and Fred Hanson
Children’s Ministry Director: Anna Molter
Worship Ministry Director: Teresa Carpenter
Men’s Ministry Leader: Tim Molter
Women’s Ministry Director: Lisa Fred
Media Ministry Leader: Steven Ness
Our Sr. Pastor & Bible Teacher
Anna Molter: E-mail
Timothy “Tim” Molter is the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel of Fergus Falls and his Bible studies and teaching messages reflect his dedication to, and love of the Word of God. His every effort is directed to glorifying our Lord and leading all who would hear to the Mercy and Grace of God.
Tim and his wife Anna have three sons, and are also foster parents. He also enjoys hiking and camping with family, reading books, running, and is excited to see God transforming lives. To God be all the glory!
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24
Pastor Molter has studied at the Blue Letter Bible Institute, the Harold John Ockenga Institute with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and at Calvary Chapel Chico under the tutelage of Pastor Sam Allen, where he served for many years in various ministries. After gaining experience there, he heard God call him to move back to his birthplace of Fergus Falls to shepherd the church the Lord is establishing.
Pastor Molter also served with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as a Church Coordinator and as an online counselor and discipleship coach, helping others find peace with God and grow in the love and knowledge of Christ. He is an Eagle Scout and Troop Chairman for Trail Life USA, was a Board Member with School of Choice a Christian Homeschool Co-op, a Volunteer Coach at the YMCA, and has served with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) at M-State Fergus Falls.
Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls: A History of Faith and Growth
Humble Beginnings (2013)
In the summer of 2013, Tim, Anna, and their two-year-old son left their home in California to embark on a new journey: planting a church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. After arriving in Minnesota on August 2nd, the Molter family quickly got to work, attending community events and visiting neighbors.
Their initial outreach efforts included hosting a Harvest America event with Greg Laurie and a My Hope event with Billy Graham, which helped to establish connections within the community. As they shared their vision for a home fellowship, the seeds of Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls were sown.
Early Years (2013-2014)
On September 8th, 2013, Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls began, with studies starting in the Gospel of John. As the home fellowship grew, they completed the book of John and moved on to the book of Acts. It soon became clear that they would need a larger space to accommodate their expanding congregation.
Expansion and Growth (2014-2021)
On June 3rd, 2014, Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls began holding services at the YMCA community room, picking up where they left off in Acts 4. This new location allowed them to reach more people and continue their in-depth Bible studies. Over the next several years, they completed studies book-by-book from Romans to Revelation, then through Daniel, and then started from Genesis onward.
New Beginnings (2021-Present)
On July 18th, 2021, after renovations the church fellowship relocated to 120 1/2 W Cavour Ave, marking a significant milestone in their growth. Picking up in Exodus 27, they continued their verse-by-verse studies, eventually completing the book of Joshua. To accommodate new attendees, they also conducted a study of the Gospel of Matthew, ensuring a solid understanding of Jesus’ life and ministry.
In 2024, Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls moved again, this time to 1500 S Cascade St. In God’s providence they were not looking to move but another church was closing their doors and let Calvary Chapel have the first opportunity to buy. After renovations their first service was on March 3rd and picked up in Matthew 11. Once they completed their study of Matthew, they resumed their study in the Old Testament with the book of Judges.
Today, Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls continues to thrive, driven by a passion for sharing God’s Word and building a community of believers.
A Bit of History on Calvary Chapel:
Calvary Chapel is an association of evangelical churches, and has a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. The fellowship of Calvary Chapel churches began in 1965 in Southern California under Chuck Smith at his church in Costa Mesa. Today, there are approximately 2000 Calvary Chapels worldwide. Calvary Chapel influenced the Bible verses put on the bottom of the In-N-Out food wrappers and trays, and started the modern Contemporary Christian Music with Maranatha Music in 1971, and influenced many Musicians/Worship Bands such as Jeremy Camp, P.O.D., Switchfoot, Phil Wickham and more. Check out the movie called Jesus Revolution which shares the start of Calvary Chapel.