About Us

We believe God’s Word changes lives. True life, freedom, and joy is found in Christ alone and His Word gives us new life.

We believe that:

  • Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, God grants eternal life to any and all who place their faith in Him as a good and gracious gift.

  • We need forgiveness for sin, and salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.

  • The Bible is God's Word, inspired and without error

Our Pastor

Our Beliefs

Living Word views God's Word as more than just a rulebook for life: it is also the source of life. We plainly state our fundamental beliefs in the interest of Christian unity for the work of His Kingdom: winning souls for Jesus Christ.

    1. We stand on the Living Word of God. We believe God speaks and acts through His inerrant life-giving Word. We believe the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, true, authoritative, and sufficient. (Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

    2. We believe in the one true God. There is only one God, the Creator of the world: the Yahweh of the Bible. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5)

    3. We believe in the Trinity. There are not three Gods but One Triune God. (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:14-6)

    4. We recognize the reality of sin and death. Every human being is by nature and action a sinner. As a result of the fall of mankind into sin, the penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual. (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:19; 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 2:12-16; 3:23; 5:8; 5:12; 6:23; 7:18; 12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:14-15)

    1. We believe Jesus was both God and man. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin and is both fully God and fully human. (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3)

    2. We look to Christ’s death as necessary for salvation. Jesus Christ died as my substitute to pay the penalty for my sin. (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18)

    3. We believe in the resurrection and return of Christ. Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead to conquer death on my behalf. Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven and will one day physically return. (Matthew 28:1-20: Mark 16:1-8: Luke 24:1-53: John 1:20-21; 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7)

    4. We anticipate eternity with Christ. When Christ returns there will be a physical resurrection of the dead. Those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal reward. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15 )

    1. We see salvation as Christ’s work, not ours. It is only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, that are we reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins. (John 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

    2. We emphasize personally confessing our faith in Christ. The Good News of salvation through means of God’s Word must be met with a response of faith. (Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9; John 6:28-29)

    3. We emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Those in Christ Jesus are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit who calls, convicts, guides, comforts, and equips them for service. (John 16:7-9; Romans 8:9-15; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1:14; 3:16-17; John 14:6-7)

    4. We seek personal renewal and holiness. Those in Christ Jesus are at peace with God and are called to live holy and blameless lives, being set apart from the world. (Philippians 4:7; Romans 6 and 12; James 1:22-27We see salvation as Christ’s work, not ours. It is only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, that are we reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins. (John 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

    5. We emphasize personally confessing our faith in Christ. The Good News of salvation through means of God’s Word must be met with a response of faith. (Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9; John 6:28-29)

    6. We emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Those in Christ Jesus are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit who calls, convicts, guides, comforts, and equips them for service. (John 16:7-9; Romans 8:9-15; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1:14; 3:16-17; John 14:6-7)

    7. We seek personal renewal and holiness. Those in Christ Jesus are at peace with God and are called to live holy and blameless lives, being set apart from the world. (Philippians 4:7; Romans 6 and 12; James 1:22-27)

    1. We value the local church as the right form for God’s work. We believe the local congregation is the form God has chosen for His people to walk, grow, and serve as a church.(Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:12-14; Romans 12:4-5; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 2:9)

    2. We engage in Gospel mission and witness. Those in Christ Jesus are called and empowered to bear witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins to all the world. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

    3. We believe that there are We remember our Lord’s sacrifice for our redemption as stated in the Word of God, and the Lord’s Supper. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:18; 6:1-11; Acts 2:37-41; 1 Corinthians 11:1-34)

    4. We value faithful and honest articulations of the Christian faith. We believe the three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian), Augsburg Confession, and Luther’s Small Catechism are accurate summaries and right articulations of the doctrines taught within Scripture.

Our Values

As a free and living congregation, our direction for life and ministry comes from the Word of God alone.

  • Studying the living Word of God and proclaiming its transformative power into everyday life.

    • Keep Christ and Scripture at the heart of our worship content

    • Study the Bible in community with other believers

    • Cultivate individual Bible reading and devotional life

    Isaiah 55:6-11, 1 Peter 1:22-25

  • Practicing a corporate and personal prayer life that is motivated by hearts of compassion for the needs and hurts of others.

    • Pray for specific concerns within the corporate worship service

    • Teach and model prayer in Christian worship

    • Gather for intentional times of prayer with others

    • Intercede for the needs of others whenever possible

    Ephesians 6:16-20, Philippians 4:4-9


    • Equip parents to build and defend the faith of their families.

    • Affirm the biblical model of the family and parent discipleship

    Romans 12:9-21, 1 John 4:7-21

  • Proclaiming the finished work of Christ through service and discipleship in our neighborhoods and through supporting the work of our missionaries in the global neighborhood.

    Matthew 28:18-19, Matthew 5:13-16

  • Equipping every member of the congregation to engage in God-called ministry, to grow unto spiritual maturity, and to serve with excellence for the glory of God.

    Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Our History

  • On Sunday, August 17, 1986, the “Mankato Free Lutheran Mission” held its first worship service at the YWCA Cray Mansion with Pastor Eugene Enderlein sharing from the Word of God. A request was made to the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations to begin a Free Lutheran Congregation in Mankato, Through informational meetings at the library, God provided all that was needed including several families to form a core congregation including pastoral leadership in Pastor Francis Monseth and Seminarian Steve Snipstead.

    It was a busy exciting year as a name was chosen, “Word of Life Lutheran” based on John 1:1. Pastor Peter Franz was called as the first pastor and began serving on September 27, 1987. On January 1, 1992, Pastor Marlyn Kruse began serving the congregation.

    In time, expansion was necessary so the building was erected at the present church site on Stoltzman Road. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was held November 21, 1993.

    Living Word Free Lutheran Church

  • Always important to the new congregation was the authority of the inerrant Scriptures and freedom of the congregation. God's sovereign power and abundance were experienced in fullest measure. After Pastor Marlyn Kruse, the church was served by several pastors.

  • The name was changed to “Living Word Mankato” on September 8th, 2019.

    This is Living Word, thy will be done O Lord!