At Arlington Baptist Church, we’ve seen God work in amazing ways right from the start. In June 2018, God put it on Pastor Robbie McClelland’s heart to bring the Gospel to a place that needed a Baptist church. Around the same time families in Arlington, SD, were praying for exactly that. God soon connected the two, and in the summer of 2019, Pastor Robbie and his family visited Watertown, SD, to help at an existing ministry on a two-week trip when God placed the community of Arlington on Robbie’s heart.
In February 2020, Pastor Robbie attended a preachers’ fellowship in Florida and shared his hopes for Arlington. A pastor from Pennsylvania mentioned knowing a family in Arlington that had been praying for a Baptist church to be established there. That was the clear confirmation Pastor Robbie needed to relocate his family to South Dakota and serve the Arlington community.
Stepping out in faith, the McClellands arrived in May 2020, right as COVID-19 was beginning to reshape our world. Despite the challenges, they started meeting informally with two families in the summer of 2020. By October, they held the first official church meeting—initially as in-home Bible studies for nearly two years.
God continued to open doors, and in July 2022, Arlington Baptist Church was blessed to purchase and renovate the old American Legion building on Arlington’s Main Street. The inaugural service in our new home took place on August 7, 2022. Since then, we’ve seen God provide through the generosity of other ministries, allowing our church to grow and serve. In 2023, we hosted our first Vacation Bible School and supported our very first missionary.
In 2024, we launched monthly small groups, including men’s and women’s Bible studies, a homeschool day, and a teen night—offering multiple ways for our church family to connect, learn, and support one another. Then in 2025, we moved our midweek service from Thursdays to Wednesdays, placing a greater emphasis on prayer and fellowship, and launched a youth group—giving our teens a dedicated time to learn, grow, and connect.
On January 5, 2025, we reached a major milestone: Arlington Baptist Church became fully self-supporting after five years of faith-filled ministry. This incredible step marks not just a time of gratitude for the prayers and generosity of partnering churches but also a renewed commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission. We are now in a position to help support other ministries, trusting in God’s continued provision as we move forward.
We’d love for you to be a part of this unfolding story. Come grow with us as we build a legacy of faith, fellowship, and service that will impact our community and beyond for generations to come. We look forward to welcoming you into our church family!
Arlington Baptist Church of South Dakota
Church rooted in Scripture. No "traditions", just Biblical teachings. Bible-focused, Christ-centered!
📖 Men’s Bible Study – Tonight!
Topic: Covenant or Dispensations: What’s the Difference?
Join us for an open, down-to-earth discussion as we dig into how different Christians understand the big picture of Scripture. We will discuss the ideas behind covenant theology, dispensationalism, and everything in between. Come share your thoughts, ask your questions, and be part of the conversation.
📍 Tonight at Arlington Baptist Church @ 6:30PM,
All believers are welcome - We’ll have some food and we’ll enjoy fellowship ... See MoreSee Less
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🌷 Celebrate Mother’s Day With Us! 🌷
Celebrate the incredible women in our lives at our special Mother’s Day Breakfast! Join us for a morning dedicated to honoring mothers. After the meal, we’ll reflect on Scripture that celebrates the strength, love, and wisdom of godly mothers.
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
📅 Sunday, May 11th at 9:30 AM
📍 Arlington Baptist Church (106 Main Street S, Arlington)
ALL are welcome—invite friends, family, neighbors! ... See MoreSee Less
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“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
Tonight at 6:30PM, we will reflect on the importance of that truth.
We’re combining Prayer Meeting and Small Groups for a special message on the crucifixion of Jesus. Everyone — kids, teens, and adults — will meet together in one powerful, shared time of worship and teaching.
📍 Arlington Baptist Church
🕡 Tonight 6:30 PM ... See MoreSee Less
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🏗️ Building Update
We’re excited to share that renovations are underway at Arlington Baptist — and our building is getting a much-needed facelift! 🙌 It’s a blessing to see progress being made, and we’re thankful for God’s provision.
That said, there’s a little inconvenience during construction — our front entrance is temporarily closed, so we’re asking everyone to please park and come in through the back entrance this Sunday.
🔹 Sunday Morning Service – 10:30 AM
🔹 Evening Service – 5:30 PM
Thank you for your patience and flexibility while we improve the space God has given us. We’re looking forward to worshiping with you tomorrow! ... See MoreSee Less
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Pardon our progress! Our front entrance is currently “immersed” in renovations—but don’t worry, our Men’s Bible Study is still on tonight at 6:30 PM! Speaking of immersion, we’re diving deep into baptism and exploring key questions: Is baptism essential for salvation, symbolic, or something else? Should infants be baptized? What does the Bible teach about baptism?
All viewpoints and questions are welcome—come ready to engage in meaningful discussion!
Park behind the church, enter through the back door, and join us at Arlington Baptist Church. Great fellowship, great food, and thoughtful conversation await! ... See MoreSee Less
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❗ Midweek Service Cancelled Tonight ❗
Due to the unpleasant road conditions, we will not be meeting for our midweek prayer and small groups tonight!
We’ll miss gathering with you! Stay safe — we’ll see you Sunday! ... See MoreSee Less
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🎉 You’re Invited — This Sunday!
Join us at Arlington Baptist Church for our Fifth Sunday Fellowship Dinner this Sunday, March 30 — right after the 10:30am morning service!
We’ll be serving brisket, ham, and lots more — and we’d love for you to join us. Whether you’re new, visiting, or a regular, this is a great time to connect, share a meal, and get to know our church family better.
🕥 Service starts at 10:30am
📍 Arlington Baptist Church
🍽️ All are welcome — bring a friend!
💻 More details under the calendar at: visitabc.com ... See MoreSee Less
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Can I get a ride there?
It’s easy to grow up in church… but are we growing in Christ? At Arlington Baptist, we’re all about growing together. That’s what Wednesday nights are for—real connection, real prayer, and encouraging one another.
Join us tonight at 6:30PM for our Wednesday Prayer Meeting—Kids and teen groups meet too! Let’s keep growing in Christ, side by side. ... See MoreSee Less
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