Our History

Family Life Credit Services: How We Began

Darold and Patricia Larson started a ministry to young women in the Fargo-Moorhead community in the early 80’s. They had three young sons and opened their home to a crisis pregnancy center starting in 1982. Pat counseled young women that were planning to terminate their pregnancy and offered them a last-minute opportunity to give life to their child as well as a place to live, medical care, clothing and other support.

Then in 1984 close friends, Dr. David & Judy Perry were killed in an automobile accident. Dr. Perry had provided free medical care to many pregnant women before his death. In 1985, a house was purchased with the plan of making it a home for young women to stay during their pregnancy where the Larsons and staff could minister the love of Jesus Christ. The Perry Center was incorporated as a non profit and in September, 1986 was licensed by the ND Department of Human Services as a maternity home.

In mid 1985, an adoption license was applied for to place children in Christian homes. Again it was incorporated as a non profit and was licensed by the ND Department of Human Services as Christian Family Life Services - an adoption agency.

During this time, some pastors and a Christian counselor began marriage and family counseling from a Biblical perspective. In 1990 it was incorporated as the nonprofit National Association of Christian Counselors dba Christian Counseling Center.

There were occasions when a Perry Center resident would have a legal problem or other persons would have a legal case and no money to hire an attorney. In 1990 the Family Legal Clinic was incorporated as a non profit and began helping individuals and families with legal issues.

While working with clients in many of these areas, the Larsons would meet individuals and families that were struggling with debt and their finances often considering bankruptcy as their only way out. The Larsons began helping them one-at-a-time set up a budget and get caught up in their bills - all without a loan, but by teaching them budgeting, showing them how to change their spending habits and contacting their creditors to see if they would help by lowering the interest rates. This counseling started under Help & Caring Ministries in 1985. Eventually, it was incorporated independently in 1989 as a non profit and was named Family Life Services dba Family Life Credit Services.