Who we are and how we function (3)

EFCA

History

The Evangelical Free Church of America was formed in 1950 by the merger of two church bodies: the Swedish Evangelical Free Church and the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church Association. Both groups had been birthed in the revival movements of the late nineteenth century.

Swedish Evangelical Free Church - 1884

Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church Association - 1884

The Swedish group had its formal beginnings in Boone, Iowa, at a conference held in October of 1884. In that same year, two Norwegian-Danish groups began to worship and fellowship together in Boston, Massachusetts and Tacoma, Washington.

By 1912, both the Swedish Evangelical Free Church and the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church Association had been formed.

Historically, the Lutheran church was the state church in their home countries.

Groups of believers did not want the state run church, but wanted to be free to worship according to what they saw in scripture.

“Where stands it written...”

1946 approved a merger

1950 completed the merger

275 churches

Distinctives of EFCA

The Evangelical Free Church of America is a believers church – membership consists of those who have a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

The great heritage of EFCA people around the world includes the fact that fellowship and ministry opportunities in the local church are based solely on one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and trusting in Him alone for salvation. Membership requires commitment to sound doctrine as expressed in our Statement of Faith. However, a person is not excluded from membership because he or she does not agree on every fine point of doctrine. Within the EFCA, there is allowance for legitimate differences of understanding in some areas of doctrine.

paedobaptism

eternal security

last things

creation

The Evangelical Free Church of America is evangelical – we are committed to the inerrancy and authority of the Bible and the essentials of the gospel.

The EFCA was born out of a heritage of commitment to the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. We have deep convictions based on the authority of God’s Word, but we do not draw battle lines over minor points. Nor do we make minor issues of doctrine a test of fellowship in the local church. We are evangelical. We believe in separated living and personal holiness, but we are not separatists.

The Evangelical Free Church of America embraces a humble orthodoxy in partnership with others of like faith.

We believe in the spiritual unity of the Church though not necessarily in the structural union. We join with other Christians and other denominations of like, precious faith in common goals and ministries to accomplish the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. But we believe that there is strength in diversity and that it is important to preserve our distinctives. We recognize that union in structure does not guarantee unity of spirit. Our foremost concern is unity of spirit with our Lord, with each other and with other Christians.

The Evangelical Free Church of America believes in Christian freedom with responsibility and accountability.

We believe in Christian liberty, but freedom always has its limitations. Responsible Christians do no abuse freedom. The apostle Paul wrote forcefully about Christian liberty in the book of Galatians. He shattered the legalists with the doctrine of grace. But in First and Second Corinthians and Romans, the apostle also rebuked believers when liberty was abused. He declared boldly the principles of Christian liberty, but spoke with equal forcefulness about Christian accountability. The EFCA desires to preserve our freedom in Christ. We encourage our people to be responsible, godly men, women and young people who desire to live under the control of the Holy Spirit in obedience to the principles and precepts of God’s Word, and in harmony with God’s will for life as revealed in the Scriptures.

The Evangelical Free Church of America believes in both the rational and relational, i.e. the head and the heart, dimensions of Christianity.

We believe the Scriptures must be applied to our individual lives with warmth of heart, warmth of message and warmth of concern. We believe it is essential to have solid, biblical content in our doctrinal understanding of faith, but it is equally important to have dynamic, vital relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son and to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sound Christian doctrine must be coupled with dynamic Christian experience. Ours is a ministry of love and spiritual reconciliation.

The Evangelical Free Church of America affirms the right of each local church to govern its own affairs with a spirit of interdependency with other churches.

The EFCA is committed to a congregational form of government as stated in our Articles of Incorporation, “The Evangelical Free Church of America shall be an association and fellowship of autonomous but interdependent congregations of life faith and congregational government ...”

Strong personal leadership coupled with discerning and well-equipped Christian lay people can produce spiritual growth as well as significant church growth. While the EFCA affirms the right of each local church to govern its own affairs, we also believe in the biblical values of interdependence and cooperation. We are a movement of churches committed to working with one another in order to fulfill the Great Commission in the United States and abroad. This is only possible when there are strong ties with other EFCA churches, with local district organizations and with the national EFCA ministries.

Essentials of the Gospel & The Significance of Silence

The Evangelical Free Church is a movement theologically centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. In a unique way, it seeks to bring together a diverse spectrum of Evangelicals, whose backgrounds may be Lutheran, Reformed, Arminian or Wesleyan, baptists and paedobaptists, Dispensationalists and Covenantalists —united in the essentials to engage the world with the gospel.

Governance

National Office and Conference

The Office of the President, the various ministry departments, the boards and committees, along with the district staffs and district boards, exist to serve local EFCA churches as they carry on “front-line” ministries.

17 Districts

Districts hold a unique place in the organizational structure of the movement. Local churches affiliate with the EFCA as a movement by joining their district organization. To be a part of the EFCA, each church must be committed to the EFCA Statement of Faith and have a congregational form of government.

District level conferences

Local meetings of pastors

Camp ministries

Licensing and Credentialing

Ministries

listed on pages 84-86

EFBC

History

January 13, 1989 meeting to start a church.

First service - January 15, 1989.

Joined EFCA in November 1989.

Property purchased in 1990

First Pastor - 1991

First service in building - December 1995

First Youth Pastor - 1999

Pastor Micah - 2003

Addition - 2006

Second Senior Pastor - 2012

Super Summer Slam - 2013

Pastor Keith - 2020

Involvement in Church

Natural Abilities

Tendencies an individual can develop through experience and training. What are some of your abilities which God could use in service for Him?

Personality

Each person possesses certain personality and temperament traits which should be considered when choosing a place of ministry. What are some of your positive traits which could help you determine where to serve?

Special Inclinations

People usually have an inner compulsion to do something good. What things do you naturally enjoy doing which God could use in service for Him?

Spiritual Gifts

A spiritual gift is a special ability given by the Holy Spirit to every believer for the purpose of serving God in a unique manner. Spiritual gifts are not Christ-like characteristics such as the “fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

All Christians should practice these elements.

Nor are spiritual gifts those necessary responsibilities we fulfill, such as helping others in need, serving on committees or a church board, giving to the church, or assisting in a work project.

Rather, spiritual gifts are special God-given abilities for service.

Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift and should use it to help others. The gifts listed in the Bible are found in Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11; and I Peter 4:10-11. The following is a brief definition of some of the gifts. After reading through the definitions, check the one(s) which may be the gift(s) God has given you.

Service

the special ability to identify unmet needs and be involved in meeting those needs.

Teaching

the special ability to explain clearly and apply effectively the Word of God.

Prophecy

the special ability to explain and apply the Scriptures for edification and correction in a public setting.

Leadership

the special ability to effectively set and pursue biblical goals, motivate others to do God’s work, and coordinate and oversee a project to completion;

Administration

the special ability to oversee projects, understand and implement goals, and execute effective plans to accomplish what needs to be done.

Exhortation (or encouragement)

the special ability to give words of comfort, consolation, counsel and encouragement to others in such a way that they feel helped.

Shepherding

the special ability to care for the spiritual needs of a group of people and to oversee their growth in Christ.

Giving

the special ability to earn money, to manage it effectively, and to give wisely, liberally and cheerfully to the Lord’s work;

Helps

the special ability to assist others so that their ministries and gifts will be more effective.

Mercy

the unique quality of having deep empathy for individuals who are suffering and of being involved in alleviating the suffering in a spirit of compassion and love.

Hospitality

the special love for people, providing an open home for those in need of food, lodging, and/or fellowship.

Evangelism

the special ability to effectively present the gospel and lead people to salvation in Christ.

Knowledge

the special ability to think analytically and objectively in mastering the contents of the Scriptures.

Discernment

the unique ability to distinguish between truth and error, good and evil, the Spirit of God, and demonic influences.

Faith

the unusual ability to trust in the promises and the power of God and to see results in acting upon this trust.

Wisdom

the unusual ability to apply scriptural principles to complex issues or situations.

Ministries

Pages 90-91

Steps to becoming a member

Be a believer

Attend EFBC for at least three months before applying for membership

Complete the membership class

Read the Constitution By-laws.

Submit a completed membership application

Meet with the elders to share your testimony of salvation, and ask any questions you may have.

The elders will vote on your membership and present your name to the congregation

The congregation will vote on your membership

You will be publicly welcomed into church membership on a Sunday morning

Benefits of Membership

Read on pages 91-92

Congregational Vote Required

Purchasing or selling real estate

Affirmation of elders

Approval of new members

Calling of the senior pastor

Calling of additional pastoral staff

Dismissal of the senior pastor

Amendments to the constitution or by-laws