Pastor Kristen Larsen-Schmidt Biography
December 2010

Greetings dear friends, neighbors, and prospective members! Thank you for your support of Calvary’s ministry and interest in its pastors!

I am the newest member of the pastoral staff, having only arrived in February of 2009. My husband Brian and I are delighted to call Calvary our “home church.”  It is an exciting, dynamic, grace-centered place to be. God is doing wonderful things here!  

I am a native North Dakota, born in Bismarck, spending the first 3 years of my life in small town McClusky and the next nine in Beach. When I was entering Jr. High, my dad (a pastor) took a call to rural Fergus Falls, MN. I attended Luther College in Decorah, IA in 1995, and then spent a year serving in Lutheran Volunteer Corp in Chicago, IL. That’s where I met my husband Brian, also an LVC volunteer. We were married in 1997.

After spending a couple of years working for Barnes and Noble in Milwaukee, Brian and I moved to St. Paul so I could attend Luther Seminary and he could get his masters in teaching. I graduated from Luther Seminary in 2002, and we moved  to Mahomen, MN, where I served as a solo pastor for First Lutheran in Mahnomen, MN for 6 ½ years. During that time Brian and I were blessed with two lively kids, our daughter Gracia is now 6 and our son Micah is four.

I love being a pastor at Calvary. It is a unique place—a large congregation that is truly congregationally owned, healthy and vibrant. I am privileged to serve with outstanding colleagues who work well as a team. The people of the congregation are generous, supportive and open to growing in faith. The size of the church allows me to try new things and grow as a leader. Serving ¾ time allows me to be more available to my family. I am blessed to be here and excited to see how God will use our church in the future.

On a personal level--I enjoy gardening, biking, hiking, reading, art, music and theater. Brian is a Twins and Vikings fan. What do you like? What dreams has God given you about our ministry? Stop by my office and visit! I’d love to get to know you more.