Who we are
Getting to know us
Begin your visit with Bible classes at 9:00 am, and stay for our worship service at 10:00 am. Our weekly bulletins have announcements and events, and we provide study sheets to help guide you through the sermons. You can find those on the "youth" table near the foyer as you enter the building, just past the coat racks. Pastor Marlin also has a free gift for you: pick up a copy of his book, "Along the Way," for you or a friend or family member.
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We have Sunday School classes at 9:00 AM. Classes are offered for adults and children. Children's classes in the summer are slightly different than during the school year, but you will still find great lessons and caring teachers.
We are a family-friendly church, so your children are welcome in our worship service. Families with children ages 3 and under may use the nursery. We also have a room for nursing mothers.
There is an information packet near the foyer on the tall round table that contains a card you can fill out and leave on the table. We would love to get to know you!
Please join us each Sunday for a time to worship our Lord in song and sound Biblical teaching.
Our Leadership
Our local church body is led by a senior pastor and a group of elders.
marlin bjornrud
pastor & ELDER
Marlin was called to the Evangelical Free Church of Embarrass only nine months after it was incorporated in 1979, which means that he has served here for over forty years. He graduated from Oak Hills Bible College and served at White Oak Baptist Church in Akeley, Minnesota, for six years prior to moving to Embarrass. In his ministry, Pastor Marlin is committed to the expository preaching of God’s Word as one of the primary means of equipping the body of Christ for the work of service. Pastor Marlin and his wife, Jeannine, have six grown children (four married) and ten grandchildren.
BRUCE SWENEY
ELDER
Bruce and his wife, Wendy, live in Embarrass. Bruce is retired from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
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JOHN FILANDER
ELDER
John and his wife, Debbie, live near Biwabik. John is retired from serving as Director of Winter Activities at Giants Ridge Ski Resort.
ANTHONY BERMEL
ELDER
Anthony and his wife, Hannah, and their three girls live in Ely. Anthony is a Conservation Officer for the Minnesota DNR.
GREG ANDREWS
ELDER
Greg and his wife, Nancy, live in Virginia. Greg is an account manager for Baldwin Supply Company.
LAWRENCE KLINGSHEIM
IN LOVING MEMORY
Pastor Lawrence was our Associate Pastor. We will miss him on this earth until we see him again.
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​Lawrence Anthony Klingsheim died peacefully on the evening of Friday, June 21st. His final days were spent surrounded by family at his home in Babbitt, Minnesota.
Lawrence was born November 29, 1990 in Mora, Minnesota. At the age of 10, Lawrence came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and in that growing faith, he later dedicated his life to the ministry of the gospel. In pursuit of that calling, he attended Oak Hills Christian College (2013)—where he met his wife of 12 years, Ashley—and then attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2015).
He was a gifted preacher, a caring counselor, a talented musician, and a fervent student of theology. Together, Ashley and Lawrence used their gifts to richly bless and faithfully minister to all those in their care. In his years of ministry, Lawrence served at Westgate Church (Youth Pastor), Two Harbors Evangelical Free Church (Pastor), Northern Bible Church (Pastor), and Embarrass Evangelical Free Church (Associate Pastor).
Lawrence found purpose and fulfillment in his God-given role as a faithful husband and loving father. His inquisitive mind and curiosity drove much of his interests and hobbies, but he found greater joy and satisfaction in sharing moments of learning and exploration with his family. He passed on that spirit of curiosity to his children and leaves with them a legacy of steadfast faith, loving care, and courageous leadership.
Lawrence is survived by his loving wife, Ashley, and their five children, Ellie (10), Emma (8), Nora (6), Owen (4), and Maggie (2). As a husband, father, son, brother, and uncle, he loved and was dearly loved by all those whom he called family.
OUR
MISSION
FIELD
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations ...
It is our great pleasure and privilege to partner with these missionaries, who are the hands and feet of the Gospel locally and across the world:
Steve and Kristin Baty – InterVarsity, Southern MN
Eric and Jennifer Bervig – Intercession Haiti
Jonathon and Bianca Fowler – Word of Life Ministry, Panama
Steve and Bonnie Hanson – Timber Bay Ministry, Bemidji
Habitat For Humanity – Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota
Mesabi Range Youth For Christ
Pastor St. Luc and Anita Noel – Zoe Christian Center, Haiti
Psalm FM – Christian Radio, International Falls
Adam and Jenny Roub – CRU, Duluth area campuses
