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                                                                 Exhibit 99.cert

                           N-CSR FORM OF CERTIFICATION

I, Dennis M. Marker, certify that:

        1.     I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of EquiTrust Variable
Insurance Series Fund;

        2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

        3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;

        4.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible
for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) for the registrant and have:

               (a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
                      caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be
                      designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
                      information relating to the registrant, including its
                      consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
                      within those entities, particularly during the period in
                      which this report is being prepared;

               (b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                      controls and procedures and presented in this report our
                      conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
                      controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior
                      to the filing date of this report based on such
                      evaluation; and

               (c)    disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
                      internal control over financial reporting that occurred
                      during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the
                      registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an
                      annual report) that has materially affected, or is
                      reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's
                      internal control over financial reporting; and

        5.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to
the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

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               (a)    all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
                      the design or operation of internal control over financial
                      reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
                      the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize,
                      and report financial information; and

               (b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                      management or other employees who have a significant role
                      in the registrant's internal control over financial
                      reporting.


Date: 2/19/04                                    /s/ Dennis M. Marker
                                            -------------------------------
                                                       Dennis M. Marker
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

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                           N-CSR FORM OF CERTIFICATION

I, James W. Noyce, certify that:

        1.     I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of EquiTrust Variable
Insurance Series Fund;

        2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

        3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;

        4.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible
for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) for the registrant and have:

               (a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
                      caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be
                      designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
                      information relating to the registrant, including its
                      consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
                      within those entities, particularly during the period in
                      which this report is being prepared;

               (b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                      controls and procedures and presented in this report our
                      conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
                      controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior
                      to the filing date of this report based on such
                      evaluation; and

               (c)    disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
                      internal control over financial reporting that occurred
                      during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the
                      registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an
                      annual report) that has materially affected, or is
                      reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's
                      internal control over financial reporting; and

        5.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to
the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

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               (a)    all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
                      the design or operation of internal control over financial
                      reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
                      the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize,
                      and report financial information; and

               (b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                      management or other employees who have a significant role
                      in the registrant's internal control over financial
                      reporting.


Date:  2/19/04                                    /s/ James W. Noyce
                                            -------------------------------
                                                        James W. Noyce
                                                    Chief Financial Officer