Rev. Curtis D. Emerson began serving Zion Free and Bethany Free Lutheran Churches on December 1, 2014. Pastor Emerson and his wife Jane, moved here from Columbus, Ohio where he has served the Free Lutheran Church for 9 years. He has served churches in North Dakota, California, Wisconsin, Ohio and now in Minnesota.
Pastor Emerson attended the Lutheran Bible Institute, Golden Valley Lutheran College in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He also attended Valley City State College, Valley City, North Dakota and St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. He graduated with a Graduate Degree in 1973 from the Independent Lutheran Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Fellowship that same year. He joined the AFLC in 1979 and continued his education by taking one year of studies in the Association of Free Lutheran Theological Seminary.
He was baptized at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Hopkins, Minnesota and at 14 felt the need to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Answering the invitation at a Soul's Harbor meeting in Minneapolis, he consciously made a commitment of his life to Jesus Christ. At 21 years old, was called into ministry by the Lord and at 22 entered seminary. Graduated from seminary in 1973, was ordained and dedicated his life to working for the Lord Jesus Christ in the parish ministry. He has been in the parish ministry since 1973 and continues to serve the Lord in preaching and teaching and sharing the wonderful good news of Jesus Christ so that souls can come into a right relationship with Jesus.
"God has blessed me with a gift of preaching and teaching the Word of God in a simple, understandable and usable way so that those who hear can respond and assimilate the message into their lives. My ability to give practical application to Biblical principles is a tool that is valuable to the local congregation in the training of leaders. This is a gift given by God's Spirit for the purpose of helping Christians grow and mature in their most Holy faith and to lead seeking souls into a personal commitment of their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my calling to equip the saints for the work of the ministry in their local church (Ephesians 4:11-13)".
My wife, Jane has led numerous Women’s Bible Studies and one of her Bible studies was published by the AFLC’s WMF entitled “Imaging Christ”. She is also a gospel musician and has traveled in the past and recorded two albums, “Moments Together” and “Walk in His Light.” She continues to use her musical gifts in the local church through playing the piano, singing, and working with many musical groups. She has taught private voice lessons in our home and has ministered to me and with me in so many ways all through the years. I am so thankful for her and our lives that we have dedicated to serving the Lord. We celebrated our 46th Wedding Anniversary in October, 2014. We have been blessed with three children; Luke (Kelly), daughter Rebekah Rowan (John) and another son, Joshua (Lisa) Emerson. They each made it possible that we could be grandparents to eight grandchildren: Dylan, Logan, Cole, Alex, Sarah, Naomi, Avery, and Gabriella.
My Life Verse is: Psalm 40:1-3; I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.
My Ministry Verse is: Acts 20:27; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Pastor Emerson attended the Lutheran Bible Institute, Golden Valley Lutheran College in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He also attended Valley City State College, Valley City, North Dakota and St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. He graduated with a Graduate Degree in 1973 from the Independent Lutheran Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Fellowship that same year. He joined the AFLC in 1979 and continued his education by taking one year of studies in the Association of Free Lutheran Theological Seminary.
He was baptized at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Hopkins, Minnesota and at 14 felt the need to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Answering the invitation at a Soul's Harbor meeting in Minneapolis, he consciously made a commitment of his life to Jesus Christ. At 21 years old, was called into ministry by the Lord and at 22 entered seminary. Graduated from seminary in 1973, was ordained and dedicated his life to working for the Lord Jesus Christ in the parish ministry. He has been in the parish ministry since 1973 and continues to serve the Lord in preaching and teaching and sharing the wonderful good news of Jesus Christ so that souls can come into a right relationship with Jesus.
"God has blessed me with a gift of preaching and teaching the Word of God in a simple, understandable and usable way so that those who hear can respond and assimilate the message into their lives. My ability to give practical application to Biblical principles is a tool that is valuable to the local congregation in the training of leaders. This is a gift given by God's Spirit for the purpose of helping Christians grow and mature in their most Holy faith and to lead seeking souls into a personal commitment of their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my calling to equip the saints for the work of the ministry in their local church (Ephesians 4:11-13)".
My wife, Jane has led numerous Women’s Bible Studies and one of her Bible studies was published by the AFLC’s WMF entitled “Imaging Christ”. She is also a gospel musician and has traveled in the past and recorded two albums, “Moments Together” and “Walk in His Light.” She continues to use her musical gifts in the local church through playing the piano, singing, and working with many musical groups. She has taught private voice lessons in our home and has ministered to me and with me in so many ways all through the years. I am so thankful for her and our lives that we have dedicated to serving the Lord. We celebrated our 46th Wedding Anniversary in October, 2014. We have been blessed with three children; Luke (Kelly), daughter Rebekah Rowan (John) and another son, Joshua (Lisa) Emerson. They each made it possible that we could be grandparents to eight grandchildren: Dylan, Logan, Cole, Alex, Sarah, Naomi, Avery, and Gabriella.
My Life Verse is: Psalm 40:1-3; I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.
My Ministry Verse is: Acts 20:27; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.