This FLBCS report was included in the 2026 AFLC Annual Conference booklet, and presented in summary by President Wade Mobley on June 12.
Chairman Board of Trustees
Mr. Phil Johnson
Greetings to the 64th Annual Conference of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations from the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary (FLBCS) Board of Trustees.
As we gather under the theme Sure Hope, we consider the source of that Sure Hope, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” This verse tells us that our Sure Hope has a foundation only in Jesus, grows only in Him, and comes to ultimate consummation only in Him. Because our Sure Hope is revealed to us through the means of God’s inerrant Word, the founders of the AFLC established the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary to assist in building up the congregations of the AFLC through those trained at FLBCS. As students are built up through their study of the eternal and inerrant Word of God they are equipped for a life of faith in Jesus Christ and faithful service in His Kingdom, the church.
Philippians 1:5, the verse before our conference theme verse, talks about our “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” FLBCS enjoys partnering with congregations and individuals in the AFLC to help fulfill our mission of equipping students and building them up in His Word. We see that partnership happen not only as people and congregations give financially and pray for the work of the school but also as they encourage students to go to the Bible College and men to go to Seminary. That is the primary “recruiting” tool for FLBCS, so thank you, keep your students coming! If you are reading this report, I realize I’m speaking to the choir when I say almost every student in your churches should attend FLBC to have their faith grounded in Christ through study of His Word.
Our board is rightly named the Board of Trustees as we are entrusted to steward the mission that has been handed down to us from those who had the foresight to found FLBCS. Our focus continues to be for our Seminary and Bible College to be a place that trains pastors and Christian workers for our congregations.
The work of the board is primarily oversight and management of the school. Our focus is primarily developing and implementing policies and managing the financial health of FLBCS. This involves three broad areas: Academics, Operations, and External Engagement. Wade Mobley as President oversees all these areas and reports to the board. James Molstre as Chief Academic Officer oversees the Academics area which can be divided into the Academic Programs and Student Life and Discipleship. Dr. Molstre directly leads the Seminary Academic Program and Dr. Andrew Kneeland leads the Bible College Academic Program as interim director. Jeremy Larson leads the Student Life and Discipleship Program for the Bible College. The Operations area is led by Larry Myhrer as Chief Financial Officer. The area Mr. Myhrer oversees involves human resources, financial areas, and property management. Besides his role as President, Dr. Mobley oversees the External Engagement functions such as communications, recruiting, admissions, fundraising, athletics, and events. Each of these key leaders provides ongoing reporting to the board on the areas under their responsibility. They are all very capable leaders and work diligently to keep FLBCS on track in fulfilling its mission. You will find more information on work they are accomplishing in their respective reports.
One area that I would like to highlight because it is bearing fruit in students’ lives is Jeremy Larson’s work as Director of Discipleship. It’s not new that we are focused on discipleship, but the expectations and structure have been strengthened. This has been driven partly out of need as today’s young people require more counsel than in past years. A key part of this ministry has been small discipleship groups connecting mentors with the students on a regular basis in a structured way. The students are reminded that the model they are being discipled under is meant for them to take with them, for them to be discipling others throughout their Christian life. The approach has been more integrated with the academic side, in outreach, and to encourage more engagement in local congregations.
The first goal of our strategic plan involves funding our mission. There is always tension between focusing our fundraising and budgeting on building our cash reserve, reducing debt, raising money for current operations, scholarships, or endowments. We spend a lot of time discussing how to balance current needs with long term needs like capital expenses, endowments, and scholarship funding. This ends up being complicated by designated giving where the gifts go to the area they are designated toward. We welcome all gifts and want to honor the giver’s desires to send the money where their heart is directed. Our annual campaign, raising money for the current year’s operations, is always ongoing and helps students by paying for annual costs of running FLBCS. We are contemplating launching a capital campaign to help reduce debt and pay for some buildout of spaces in our current dorms and remodeling such as new windows, doors, and upgraded ventilation. We covet your prayers as we make decisions about funding the mission. Thank you for giving and praying! This work cannot be effective without the prayers of God’s saints.
We are thankful for the godly and very capable staff, faculty, and administration of our school; we are truly blessed to have them leading this work. We express a special thank you to Adam Osier who served as Dean of the Bible College for six and a half years. Students were strengthened in their faith through his time serving as Dean both through his teaching and in his relationships with them.
We have wonderful board members who have a love and passion for our Bible College and Seminary. Please thank them for their service, especially Alan Arneson and Gary Erickson as they complete their terms on the board. Please remember us in your prayers.
The current members of the Board of Trustees are:
- Chairman – Mr. Phil Johnson (Esko, MN)
- Vice-Chairman – Rev. Alan Arneson (Amery, WI) (Completed a 4-1/2 year term and a full 5-year term. Would be eligible for reelection but has declined)
- Treasurer – Mr. Nathan Dalager (Moorhead, MN)
- Secretary – Rev. Stephen Snipstead (Kalispell, MT)
- Mr. Gary Erickson (Fergus Falls, MN) (Completed two full terms, not eligible for reelection)
- Mr. Earl Langness (Ishpeming, MI)
- Rev. Rodney Johnson (Buffalo, MN)
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Phil Johnson, Chairman
Free Lutheran Bible College & Seminary President
Dr. Wade Mobley
To the 64th Annual Conference of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, assembled in Moorhead, MN, June 10-13, under the theme “Sure Hope.” Grace to you, and peace, in the name of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom our souls find sure and steadfast anchor.
Thank you for reading all these ministry reports. We put our hearts into these, and while being long, they are designed for those who would benefit from far more than a verbal report or written snippet. The reports in these pages provide context for a mission that many of you have benefited from and many of you love: Establishing students in the eternal and inerrant Word of God for a life of faith in Jesus Christ and faithful service in His kingdom.
Why we exist
That mission is our “why,” and it predates my time as President. Informally, that mission is what most of us observed when we attended FLBCS, even if it was not stated that way. Students come to us from a variety of places, but they all want this mission to influence some area of their lives. Our goal is to get them to the place where they want the finished work of Christ to inform all of life.
The Free Lutheran Seminary was the first part of our institution to exist, being designed to train servant pastors for free and living Lutheran congregations in a brand-new church body. The Free Lutheran Bible College soon followed, with course offerings and discipleship opportunities designed to prepare students for lifelong, distinctively Christian investment in their families, congregations, and communities. That training still serves as a foundation for any Christ follower today; we say, “Start here, go anywhere, grounded in God’s Word.”
What we do
I have always thought of FLBCS as a small institution. Several years ago, a visitor from the Alliance Defending Freedom gave me some context: “You’re not small; you’re narrow.” She meant that in a good way, as in, “focused.” Other college presidents can’t believe that we have as many students as we do, considering the narrowness of our program and this era when Bible Colleges or small private colleges in general are struggling to survive. I explain that we are able to maintain or grow our student enrollment largely BECAUSE we are so mission focused. Our undergraduate program of about 112 students would be just a very large Bible/ministry program at a broader college, and our graduate program would be a typically sized graduate program. We are not small; we are focused.
We have chosen to stay focused on Bible and ministry. Our courses are about one-third exegetical (verse by verse), about one-third systematic (doctrine by doctrine), and about one-third a combination of educational foundations (learning how to think, write, speak, read, and listen) and practical application (music, or how to carry out various kinds of ministry). That narrows our pool of prospective students, but we think almost anyone would benefit from this kind of training before they finish their degree or enter the work force.
Another differentiator is that our students are 100% in person and almost 100% on campus. Over the past decade higher education has moved away from this model, though campuses are trending back toward in-person learning now. Our residential program is not just a place to live but a lab setting for discipleship. We have well-trained, mature faculty and staff who invest in our students in the classroom and beyond. This is what we do. It’s not that doing something else is wrong, or that other institutions err in broader deployment of educational resources. It’s just that this is what we think God has called us to, and the results in the lives of our students speak for themselves.
All this student benefit comes from a distinctive philosophy of education. Our philosophy of education fights against the cultural presupposition that the primary purpose of education is certification for the purpose of getting a job and making money, with making money being the primary goal of life. This is a shallow, empty view of education that we will not accept.
We have a different philosophy of education than most, though ours is certainly not unique. I wrote a bit recently about our philosophy of education. You can find that article at https://flbc.edu/value
Our philosophy of education contains elements of:
- Christian spiritual maturity
- Cultivation of virtue
- Preparation for varied vocations (family, congregation, society)
- Preparation for pastoral ministry
- Intellectual habits
- Academic rigor
- Institutional sustainability and stewardship
How we do it
FLBCS, and the AFLC in general, are spiritual movements. We rely on the hunger of souls to be nurtured in the Word of God for life in Jesus Christ. Short of God’s continued work in moving people toward this nurture, FLBCS will lack for students, funding, and purpose. Pray, please, as this is all God’s work.
There is a lot of hard work that goes into FLBCS, too. Some of that relates to employees (more below), but a lot of that hard work is undertaken on the part of students themselves. Students get out of FLBCS what they put in, so the hard work that they do makes the hard work of staff effective.
Students at the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary receive great value from a priceless mission. That mission is not free, however, and generous individuals and congregations make it possible for students to complete their studies with no student debt or financial involvement from state or federal sources.
While a certain amount of financial pressure is part of learning in the college/seminary time of life, our students experience such pressure at a rate far lower than other institutions of higher education. Support for seminary students never defaces to astound, and tuition, room, board, and fees at FLBCS is among the most affordable higher education options in the nation. When people hear what it costs to attend, many assume it is for just one semester.
This does not happen without the sacrificial investment of friends like you. A successful Annual Fund is essential to the financial health of FLBCS, as it covers about one-third of all student costs. Friends of FLBCS are most generous:
- 2024-25 yielded 109% of a $1.3M goal
- 2025-26 has yielded 88% of a $1.5M goal (As of this writing with four months to go)
At the time of this writing (late March) the FLBCS Board of Trustees is also exploring the feasibility of a capital campaign. If or when this develops, friends of FLBCS will hear a lot more. This campaign would be outside of the Annual Fund and would advance the mission of establishing students in the Word of God for life in Jesus Christ by covering:
- Potential facility improvements
- Principal reduction in advance of refinancing long-term debt
- Some other items that will have more context soon
At the time of this writing, though such a campaign has not even started, we have received $300,000 in cash and another $450,000 in pledges.
FLBCS celebrates God’s abundant provision, and He has been most abundant this year. In addition to a strong year for the Annual Fund and the start to a capital campaign mentioned above, we have received almost $800,000 of special gifts during this fiscal year. Our fiscal responsibility composite score (an objective metric prepared through auditing) is already at the maximum of 3.0 (a minimum being -1.0), and that is before taking into consideration the financial strength of our current fiscal year. Praise be to the Living God and thank you to generous partners who exercise such stewardship.
Strategic themes
At the time of this writing, we are in the midst of refreshing our strategic plan, something that we do every year. We operate on a three-year rolling strategic plan; thus, we are always current. We update that plan with various kinds of input. This year we were delayed in the process due to a couple of large projects tied to our current strategic plan.
This approach to strategic planning has yielded great benefit, including some things that we take for granted: Succession planning, structural/staffing optimization, more focused marketing/recruiting, and financial matters (cash reserves, our annual fund, and the aforementioned capital campaign).
Our strategic themes will be more developed in 2026-2027 than they are in 2025-2026, but they will largely remain the same:
- Funding the mission (net positive operation, cash reserves, increased endowment, reduced debt)— significant progress this year
- Recruiting (recruiting those students we already know while exploring additional “pipelines” for potential students)— strong enrollment, including three strong, newer sources of potential students in the past two years
- Campus Capacity (increasing ability/flexibility to accommodate undergraduate and graduate students)— studying how best to use, improve, or modify our existing square footage
- Excellence in Bible and Ministry (continued success of AA and MDiv programs, with ongoing development of the BA and emphases in worship, youth/family, and cross-cultural ministry)— significant maturity and improvement in the past few months while anticipating more in the coming year
We believe that pursuit of these strategic themes will lead to a future that many of us long for and pray for:
Through steadfast, Christ-centered ministry of the Word, in the years ahead we will see:
- Thriving AFLC congregations led by servant-hearted pastors and lay leaders shaped at FLBCS.
- Christ-honoring marriages and homes where children and grandchildren rise up and call Jesus Lord because their parents were transformed here.
- Communities marked by compassion, integrity, and hope because our graduates live with Scripture as their compass.
- Generation after generation returning to this campus, hungry for the same life-giving truth.
- And everywhere we look—God’s Word, sent out from this place, still accomplishing what He desires, never returning empty.
Who does it
The legal ownership of FLBCS is “The Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation,” which is what we mean when we refer to “The Schools Corp” on the Annual Conference floor. This group of fifty men and women appoint/elect new members with the suggestion of the Annual Conference. You can find a listing of all AFLC Corporation members elsewhere in this conference booklet.
The Corporation also elects members to the Board of Trustees, the seven-person body that oversees the President and (ultimately) the whole institution, exercising fiduciary responsibility and general oversight. A solid, responsive Board of Trustees, willing to be trained and do hard things to steward the mission of FLBCS, is essential for the quality and future of FLBCS. I am thankful for the Board of Trustees we have now, and especially so for the service of Mr. Gary Erickson and Rev. Alan Arneson, both of whom have completed their terms.
What makes FLBCS tick, though, is the faithful, committed, sacrificial service of men and women willing to serve students while we exercise stewardship over our mission. I have included a list of employees at the end of this report, along with some areas of responsibility and staffing level. Nobody on this list is more important than anybody else.
During the 2025-2026 school year FLBCS had several staffing changes after a remarkably long time with few of them. For the purpose of operational efficiency, the positions of Facilities Director and Event/Facilities Coordinator were combined into other areas of our organizational chart, saving the equivalent of over $1,000 per undergraduate student. It is emotionally difficult to implement such decisions, since these are not just positions but also people we love dearly. As a result of that restructuring, Carter Kneeland concluded his service around the first of the year and Eric Christenson ended his six plus years of employment at the end of March. We thank them both for their years of service and great attitudes.
After years of our encouragement, Josh Johnson began a pastoral internship in February, ending his exceptional service as Director of Recruiting and Admissions, resulting in a complete restructuring of the department that brings you publications, produces content, recruits students, and processes financial aid. We are thankful to all who have stepped up to handle greater responsibility as they steward this area of ministry. Josh will be a great pastor, and if internship and interviews go well will be available for call around the first of the year.
Finally, Rev. Adam Osier concluded his service as FLBC Dean mid-year, having served in that role for six and one-half years. We thank him for his service, along with his wife Courtney, who worked part-time in student accounts, as well. At the time of this writing (late March), the workload of this position has been distributed across FLBCS as administration and the Board of Trustees determines best stewardship of resources.
At the end of this report, you will find a table including the name of every employee on campus, their broad area of service (primary, as many serve in multiple ways), and their employment status— and now I am terrified that we have omitted some valued soul. Seventy-six individuals are named, and we value the contributions of every one of them. If that seems like a big number to support 112 undergraduate and 24 graduate students, some context is in order. This includes the name of every employee for all the time covered by this report, including several people who no longer work for us or multiple people in the same role. Everyone is listed, full time, part time, student worker, or volunteer. We value them all. Many of our employees work for us as a second job or an augmentation of other income. They believe in our mission but can’t rely solely on what we can pay. If you add it all up, we have a focused, lean, efficient staff and structure. We ask a lot from our employees, and they earn every dollar. If you know any of these people, please thank them.
Outlook
Higher education is still in a state of crisis in the United States. Higher ed inflation went into runaway mode for about 30 years, driven by government funding and relatively low interest student loans (neither of which have we ever participated in). Some of the degrees offered were not of much use, either, and a college education was deemed so important that everyone should get one— regardless of actual learning. Combine that with several states’ versions of “college in high school,” which generally is more like high school than college, and the presumption that such things should be free— and we have an educational mess on our hands. I just saw an ad for a “three-year, 90 credit, B.A.” and there are countless programs that allow students to earn a B.A. and M.Div. in five years total, all online, from the safety of your own home.
If you think I’m exaggerating check the papers. People in droves have decided that higher education isn’t worth it. The current Department of Education agrees and has begun to evaluate program effectiveness by one single metric: Financial return on investment. The Christian Liberal Arts world, which is not us but as close as you can come to a category for us, has been teaching students for years that life is not about mere income generation. That means our programs are failing and are soon not to be eligible for federal financial aid.
That does not directly affect us, since we do not participate in federal financial aid. But the view of our government right now cements in the minds of our populace a faulty philosophy of education. Many of the problems in higher education have nothing to do with the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary, but we suffer from guilt by association.
One organization that has been helpful to us is also fighting such common misconceptions in Biblical higher education. The Association for Biblical Higher Education is one of two distinctively Christian accrediting agencies (TRACS, our accreditor, is the other one). ABHE has been most helpful to us in training and development of our staff and programs. We are currently pursuing accreditation with ABHE, as it offers much more support for our undergraduate program, which is our largest. Accreditation provides training, encouragement, and external accountability that helps FLBCS keep our promises to our students, parents, donors, and congregations. I have found the accreditation process uniformly positive, helping us to steward better the mission of FLBCS. Both ABHE and TRACS find our institution to be exemplary.
FLBCS will continue to pursue excellence in academics and discipleship. Excellence is not a business principle; it is a stewardship principle. We want our students to do their best with the gifts God has given them. Our programs are rigorous, but they are accessible; they challenge all and are available to most. We want our students to know the Bible and what to do with it. We want them to be wise, winsome leaders of men, women, families, congregations, and communities. We want them to be able to think, write, speak, read, and listen as they engage the Biblical text and bring that text to the world.
Institutions of Higher Education that thrive in our current environment will be those that focus on their mission, along with their distinctive philosophy of education, and focus on their value proposition. That is to say, what do students receive for investing a length of time and an amount of money in the foundational exercise of higher education?
To answer that question for FLBCS, I point to our students and graduates. I have been writing this report on a tour bus during choir tour. If you were along for the ride, you would buy our value proposition. Our students and graduates are living letters to be read by all. Generally speaking, and at a far higher rate than any conceivable control group, our students and graduates are wise, loving, biblically driven citizens of both the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth. They have started at FLBCS and gone anywhere and everywhere, grounded in God’s Word.
I have two 16-year-olds, somehow. I’m starting to think about college for my kids. They will likely attend FLBC for two years. Ballpark, they will pay $45,000 for two years of tuition, room, board, and fees. They would have paid $25,000 more for that without donor help. And there are more scholarships available after that. I think they can make $10,000 per year easily with very part time work. That leaves about $25,000 for them to come up with between congregational help, parental help, and savings. I think they can do it with high school jobs. Some have less support than others, and a lot of people give to make it possible for them to go to FLBC.
And not going to FLBC isn’t free either. If my kids don’t go to college, they will have to pay room and board someplace, because even the Mobley’s will start charging rent at some point. We are working with them about how to make all of this work, but it starts with a value proposition. Two years, a sum of money that isn’t free but isn’t insurmountable, with a legion of supporters cheering them on, all so they can receive a foundation that will last them until the Lord returns or calls them home. It’s not a tough sell.
Thank you for the privilege of serving this priceless mission. In my twelfth year now, I have never been more convinced that what we do matters, and that what we do we could not do without you.
In Christ’s Love,
Dr. Wade Mobley President
Board of Trustee Members 2025-2026
- Mr. Philip Johnson – Term 2027 (Chair)
- Rev. Alan Arneson – Term 2026 (Vicechair)
- Rev. Stephen Snipstead – Term 2028 (Secretary)
- Mr. Nathan Dalager – Term 2028 (Treasurer)
- Mr. Gary Erickson – Term 2026
- Mr. Erling Langness – Term 2029
- Rev. Rodney Johnson – Term 2030
Our Valued Team
(* = no longer employed as of May 31, 2026)
| First Name | Last Name | Department | Employment Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebekah | Baerbock | Operations | Student Worker |
| Abigail | Baerbock | Operations | Student Worker |
| Cindy | Beck | Academics | Part-Time |
| *Gracia | Berg | External Engagement | Student Worker |
| Josh | Bostrom | Operations | Full-Time |
| *Eric | Christenson | Operations | Full-Time |
| Macy | Christenson | Operations | Student Worker |
| Breanna | Chvojicek | Academics | Full-Time |
| *Monica | Coyle | External Engagement | Part-Time |
| Reise | Dryburgh | Academics | Part-Time |
| Luke | Dryburgh | External Engagement | Part-Time |
| Sarah | Duffy | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| Brett | Erickson | Operations | Part-Time |
| Jean | Erickson | External Engagement | Part-Time |
| Janay | Gray | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Kylee | Greene | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| Wendy | Greven | External Engagement | Part-Time |
| Josh | Greven | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| Jason | Gudim | Academics | Faculty |
| Ruth | Gunderson | External Engagement | Part-Time |
| Andrew | Hanson | Academics | Faculty |
| *Phil | Haugen | Academics | Adjunct Faculty |
| Katie | High | Operations | Full-Time |
| *Haley | Hornisch | Operations | Student Worker |
| Jarrod | Hylden | Academics | Faculty |
| Quincy | Jensen | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| *Josh | Johnson | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Dalton | Jordahl | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Ella | Kleve | Academics | Student Worker |
| Andrew | Kneeland | Academics | Faculty |
| Annah | Kneeland | Operations | Full-Time |
| *Carter | Kneeland | Operations | Full-Time |
| Katie | Kneopke | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| Jeremy | Larson | Discipleship | Full-Time |
| Johanna | Lindley | Operations | Student Worker |
| Beau | Loewen | Operations | Student Worker |
| Brian | Lunn | Academics | Adjunct Faculty |
| Wade | Mobley | President | Full-Time |
| James | Molstre | Academics | Full-Time |
| Rachel | Molstre | Academics | Full-Time |
| Sherry | Mork | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Glenn | Mork | External Engagement | Part-Time |
| Steve | Mundfrom | Academics | Faculty |
| Larry | Myhrer | Operations | Full-Time |
| Jon | Nelson | Academics | Adjunct Faculty |
| Jonah | Norby | Operations | Student Worker |
| Brent | Olson | Academics | Faculty |
| Nathan | Olson | Academics | Faculty |
| Michelle | Olson | Discipleship | Part-Time |
| Kelvin | Olson | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| *Isak | Olson | Operations | Part-Time |
| *Courtney | Osier | Operations | Part-Time |
| *Adam | Osier | Academics | Full-Time |
| Olivia | Pavlish | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Tristan | Pavlish | Operations | Part-Time |
| Matt | Peschl | Operations | Full-Time |
| Luke | Quanbeck | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Esther | Rabenberg | Academics | Part-Time |
| Katelin | Rice | Operations | Student Worker |
| Gracia | Rolf | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| Jeremy | Romero | Operations | Student Worker |
| Zach | Simonson | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| *Jonathan | Strand | Academics | Adjunct Faculty |
| Logan | Strand | External Engagement | Full-Time |
| Autum | Sucher | Discipleship | Dorm Assistant |
| Charles | Tichy | Operations | Part-Time |
| Madison | Trost | Academics | Full-Time |
| Nathan | Turner | Operations | Full-Time |
| Kim | Strand | Athletics | Volunteer |
| Duane | Strand | Athletics | Volunteer |
| John | Greven | Athletics | Volunteer |
| Michele | Mobley | Seminary Wives | Volunteer |
| Kristin | Molstre | Seminary Wives | Volunteer |
| Grace | Nystuen | Athletics | Volunteer |
| Shelby | Greven | Athletics | Volunteer |
| Sharon | Caswell | Other | Beyond Limits |
| Katie | Lane | Other | Beyond Limits |
Free Lutheran Seminary Dean
Dr. James Molstre
To the 64th Annual Conference of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, assembled in Moorhead, MN.
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6
I thank God for the privilege of serving the AFLC as Seminary Dean. As I begin my tenth year in this role, I continue to be both challenged and encouraged by the opportunity to help train men for the ministry of the Word. Pastoral ministry is both a divine calling and a profound blessing, and our AFLC is blessed with men who are eager to serve Christ in congregational ministry.
At present, we have eight men serving in internship: Daniel Aichele (Grafton, ND), Aaron Arneson (Brainerd, MN), David Hein (Beulah, ND), Sam Jagt (Thief River Falls, MN), Josh Johnson (Glyndon, MN), Isak Olson (Arlington, WA), Michael Rokenbrodt (Williston, ND), and Hans Tanner (San Antonio, TX). I am deeply grateful for the supervising pastors and congregations who are investing in these men during this formative year of ministry training.
In addition, we currently have three seniors, seven middlers, and four accepted juniors. The Lord has graciously provided these students, and we trust He will use them to bless our congregations in the years ahead.
It is also encouraging that several of our newer seminarians have progressed through our Bachelor of Arts program, completing prerequisite Greek courses before transitioning seamlessly into seminary studies. This integrated pathway continues to strengthen our training process.
We are thankful to offer on-campus housing and significantly reduced tuition for our seminarians, made possible through the generosity of our donors. Tuition covers approximately 15% of the actual cost of education, enabling us to provide residential training with full-time faculty—a model that is increasingly rare, yet vital for forming servant leaders for the church.
This past year, we introduced a two-credit course in Missiology, designed to equip men for outward-focused ministry both domestically and internationally. Our goal is to cultivate pastors who are not only faithful shepherds but also mission-minded servants of Christ.
The seminary also continues to publish its academic journal, Sola Scriptura. This annual publication includes contributions from both faculty and students and is intended to serve pastors, congregations, and friends of the AFLC by applying the unchanging truths of God’s Word to various aspects of faith and life. In addition, we offer the Summer Institute of Theology in August and the Seminary Symposium in January. We encourage pastors to take advantage of these opportunities for continued growth in Gospel ministry.
In my role as Chief Academic Officer, I also oversee the faculty and academic programs of the Bible College and Seminary. We are blessed with an excellent full-time faculty: Jarrod Hylden, Jason Gudim, Brent Olson, Nathan Olson, Steve Mundfrom, and Andrew Hanson. Professor Andrew Hanson, our music professor and choir director, took a sabbatical this fall. His longtime assistant, Cindy Beck, along with Esther Rabenberg, served well in his absence, and we are deeply grateful for their faithful work. Along with the above full time faculty, we are blessed with excellent adjunct professors: Pastor Brian Lunn who teaches Hebrew, Pastor Phil Haugen who teaches Greek, Luke Quanbeck – Video ministry, Michele Olson – Youth ministries, and Jon Nelson who teaches cross cultural ministry.
I had the opportunity to travel with the choir for one week this spring and witnessed firsthand the excellence of their ministry. Under Mr. Hanson’s leadership, the Bible College Choir continues to represent our schools with humility, and godliness.
Please keep the following in your prayers:
- Our recent graduates: Adam Erickson, Alexander Grimes, Caleb Korhonen, Adam McCarlson, Micah Moan, and Alex Monseth
- Our interns: Daniel Aichele, Aaron Arneson, David Hein, Samuel Jagt, Josh Johnson, Isak Olson, Michael Rokenbrodt, and Hans Tanner
- Our seniors: Luke Dryburgh, Jeremy Larson, and Benjamin Nordvik
- Our middlers: Matthew Baerbock, Josiah Charon, Brett Erickson, Kyle Erickson, Kyle Gorman, Mark Rustad, and Levi Steffen
- Our incoming juniors beginning this fall
Pray that the Lord would prepare and sustain these men as they study for the sacred work of ministry.
As the prophet Isaiah declares:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.'” — Isaiah 52:7
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. James Molstre Chief Academic Officer / Seminary Dean
Free Lutheran Bible College
Mr. Jeremy Larson
To the 64th Annual Conference of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, grace and peace to you from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is a joy to continue working toward our mission at Free Lutheran Bible College. The student body theme this year was “Anchored,” taken from Hebrews 6:19. Scripture is the only sure foundation in uncertain times, and we build everything we do at the Bible College toward establishing students in the eternal and inerrant Word of God for a life of faith in Jesus Christ and faithful service in His Kingdom. We had 114 students at the beginning of the academic year and enjoyed every opportunity to invest in each of them.
Academic Life
As an institution of higher learning we take pride in our academic programs and the chance to dive deep into God’s Word and apply it to every aspect of our lives. Time spent in Scripture is never wasted so Scripture remains the focus of our entire curriculum. Forty percent of required classes involve line-by-line study of the Word of God, and every other class is devoted to organizing, applying, and articulating its rich truths. “Bible and Ministry” is all we do at FLBC, and we believe it’s eternally valuable.
It is because of our conviction in Scripture’s authority and value that we push our students to deeply and seriously engage in the classroom. Every course in our undergraduate programs is designed to increase Biblical knowledge, cultivate spiritual maturity, and develop tools to communicate truth and lovingly engage our neighbors and communities.
This past year, many of our professors have intentionally adopted a technology-free classroom policy. By requiring students to set aside laptops and phones during class we are creating an environment for undistracted engagement with God’s Word. Students are nearly unanimous in their support of this much needed reprieve from the persistent pressures and pull of the digital world. This commitment to focused time in Scripture is the heartbeat of our academic objectives.
The program outcomes of our undergraduate programs are worth repeating here. By the grace of God, students who successfully complete our academic programs will:
- Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Scripture and a commitment to historical-grammatical interpretation and application.
- Communicate the biblical and historical basis of their faith in Jesus Christ and understand the Lutheran perspective of the Means of Grace.
- Develop and implement the tools for learning and applying biblical truth, including the ability to think, read, write, and speak.
- Articulate biblical truth in interactions with neighbors, families, society, and congregations.
That is what we want for our students! We pray for a future where homes and congregations across our association and beyond are filled with men and women who are characterized by these outcomes.
Thank you for entrusting your students to us, and for continuing to keep the students and mission of FLBC in your prayers.
-Dr. Andrew Kneeland, Interim FLBC Program Director
Student Life
In my role as Director of Discipleship, I have the privilege of observing how our students are pursuing growth in their spiritual life in areas beyond the classroom. Each year, the student body has high engagement in a wide range of ministry and discipleship opportunities. These activities serve to complement what they are learning in the classroom. Their knowledge is applied in practical ways that help cement it for the long term.
Students participate actively in gospel teams, vespers services, discipleship groups, Student Missionary Fellowship, summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) teams, and dorm ministry. In these opportunities, they can practice what they are learning while serving their neighbor in love. Sometimes, our students are participating in so many things that they end up double booked. These provide good learning opportunities for practical life skills such as prioritization and time management.
We also encourage students to remain connected to the local church, and it is encouraging to see many serving faithfully in nearby congregations. Students regularly assist with youth ministries, children’s programs, worship teams, and other areas of congregational life.
We see patterns that indicate a desire to both study the Scriptures and then live it out in the world around them. Our goal in discipleship is to nurture an environment where spiritual growth, accountability, and service naturally flow from the classroom experience. Through this intentional combination of education and community life, our campus continues to develop a student body where formation, fellowship, and ministry go hand in hand.
-Pastor Jeremy Larson, Director of Discipleship
Free Lutheran Bible College & Seminary Vice President of Operations
Mr. Larry Myhrer
To the Sixth-Fourth Annual Conference of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations gathered in Fargo, ND. 2 Corinthians 9:8: states “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” We are so thankful to the congregations, individuals, parents, and students who generously contribute to the Free Lutheran Bible College & Seminary (FLBCS). We could not exist without all the prayers and support we receive every day.
The proposed FLBCS budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year is $4,922,012. Based on this projected budget, the Board of Trustees request the Annual Conference to approve a subsidy for the 2026 calendar year of $360,908 for the Seminary, and $588,850 for the Bible College. Both subsidy requests reflect the average of the last three years’ actuals plus a 5% increase. This request is within the guidelines provided by the BAC.
As of December 31, 2025, the FLBCS has approximately $2.3 million in scholarship and endowment funds that are used to provide financial assistance to Seminary and Bible College students. During the ’25-’26 school year, $187,845 was disbursed for FLS Scholarships and $171,476 was disbursed for FLBC Scholarships.
We continue to enjoy opportunities to use our Campus to provide great student experiences and welcome visitors to FLBCS. In November of last year, we had the privilege of hosting Andrew Peterson for a couple of incredible nights of praise and music at Hauge Chapel. This event brought hundreds of people to Campus, many who had never been here before. For the second year in a row, we facilitated the regional tournament for the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA). This organization seeks to train young people in becoming great communicators of the Christian worldview. We also continue to play host to the 2026 Annual NIAC Basketball Tournaments (FLBC Basketball Conference) and several Alumni basketball/volleyball tournaments.
FLBCS remains in a solid financial position with a good balance sheet and increases in financial resources. We look forward to seeing how God will provide during the upcoming year. As always, FLBCS is dedicated to using all our resources to train Christ-like servant leaders, increase enrollment at both Schools, and pursue academic excellence. Additional information about the FLBCS financials is available in the 2026 Annual Report and by request. More information on the FLBCS Annual Campaign and our endowments are available online and at our Conference booth.
Respectfully Submitted,
Larry S. Myhrer Vice President of Operations – FLBCS
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