Our History

The church began in 1983 with eight families -- a total of 25 people -- gathering under the leadership of Pastor Ted Mickelson at the home of Willis and Ruth Gray in rural Bruno, Minnesota. A year later, the church moved into a former grocery store building in town, under the name of "Bruno Bible Fellowship". After briefly co-pastoring, Pastor Gordon Nelson took over full pastoral duties in 1986. 

In 1989, the church received a gift of land from church members, Marvin and Gladys Johnson, on Highway 23 (Memorial Drive) near Askov. A new church building was built and occupied by the spring of 1990. The church name was changed to "Memorial Drive Bible Fellowship" at that time.

In 1999 the building was expanded to add a fellowship hall/gym, new kitchen, and additional Sunday school rooms. Another expansion was added more recently.

After over 20 years of service at MDBF, Pastor Gordon retired in the spring of 2004. His son, Pastor Gary Nelson, stepped in as interim pastor and was later hired as full-time pastor. After serving for 16 years, Pastor Gary retired in 2020. A lengthy and thorough pastoral search was conducted throughout the uncertainty of a pandemic. Finally, an applicant was found who met the criteria the search committee had set forth. Pastor Andrew Kling, who had been working with the youth in our church and community since 2009 and leading worship at MDBF, was installed as pastor in November of 2021.