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The History of Cornerstone Ministries
Duane C. Arneson is a dynamic,
disciplined, and electrifying man of God. He is called and anointed by
God to fulfill the office of a pastor and he ministers under an
apostolic anointing.
He is creative, energetic, and refreshing as he teaches the Word with
faith and power, signs and wonders, healings, and miracles. Frequently,
Duane and his wife, Mary, minister together. Their ministry has
flourished for more than 25 years. They have experienced a great move of
God through those years with the Lord confirming the Word they teach
with signs following (Mark 16:20).
Duane loves ministering to people but his heart is for pastors, church
leaders, and those in leadership positions. His desire is to help them
rise to the place God wants them to be. He teaches, “You will only rise
to the level of your Belief, Faith, and Confession. As you Believe, so
shall you Receive.”
Duane brings a clear and practical step by step message to inspire and
guide leadership in proven ways of applying Biblical principles in
establishing a successful ministry. The joy of the Lord is evident in
Duane’s life. Words of knowledge, wisdom, and healing are manifested
under the anointing of the Lord.
Duane has a tender heart for pastors, who desire to be loving
under-shepherds, pastoring their flocks. A truly unique man of God,
Duane is an ordinary man who received a strong and distinct Call of God
and moved forward in faith to obey and follow his Master. His message of
faith, vision, belief in your own dreams, and trust in the Word of God
will inspire all who come to hear him teach. By example, he is a living
witness that the flow of the Holy Spirit’s power can endow anyone who
has a teachable heart.
Cornerstone Ministries, Inc. was incorporated as an independent full
gospel church in the state of South Dakota in 1980. CMI is the legal
umbrella for all Cornerstone activities.
Cornerstone Church began the first Sunday in March, 1982 in the old Odd
Fellows
building on Dakota Avenue between 10th and 11th streets. We were there
for three years.
Beginning May 1985, we leased our current building at 900 East 41st
Street and purchased it on April 1, 1987.
We have about 150 members with 40% of them living outside the Sioux
Falls city limits-- as far away as Wessington Springs.
Pastor asked the Lord in September 1978 for a name for this church that
He was directing him to start. God told him “Cornerstone Ministries.”
In addition to Cornerstone Church and all the activities associated with
a church such as the praise and worship team, children’s church, youth,
Pastor’s Prayer Partners, etc. we reach out in many other ways. We have
had one of the larger prison ministries in South Dakota that reached to
Springfield and Yankton several times each week. The results of this
ministry are what happens when an inmate is released. We have seen many
beautiful breakthroughs and victories.
We also minister in church and leadership conferences throughout the
United States and the world. Part of the vision of Cornerstone is to
strengthen church leaders all over the world and to help them with their
churches and ministries. God has positioned us for promotion by moving
us from supporting missions to being mission-minded.
A great joy to us is
Cornerstone School. We are in our thirteenth year with 26 students.
We use the Alpha Omega Publication's
curriculum Switched-On Schoolhouse. This is a self-paced, critical
thinking, computer-based curriculum. Our school mission is to “Rebuild
America -- One Student At A Time” and we are doing it. About 1/2 of the
students are members of Cornerstone and other students are members of
other churches or do not attend church regularly. . .
We utilize the gifts in the body of Christ. We usually host a Christian
musician, speaker, or minister each month. Our desire is to bless
Cornerstone members as well as the community.
Our mission as God gave it to Pastor Duane, “Love My people and preach
My Word and I will add to the church.” He also told Pastor that
Cornerstone is a place “where families grow strong together.”
