, Research Paper

The Evangelical Free Church of America is a Protestant church that dates back to

the seventeenth century. Its broad beliefs, international missions and personal relationships

among folds make this church one of the most community affiliated and yet

closely knit churches in America. The Evangelical Free Church of America is an

association of some 1250 churches united by a common committedness to function our Lord

Jesus Christ. They are committed to collaborate with one another in ministry and

family as they seek to carry through the word of God. The turning ministry of the EFCA

presently extends to some 40 states of the universe, now embracing about 1400

extra folds.

The Evangelical Free Church of America was formed in 1950 by the amalgamation of

two church organic structures: the Swedish Evangelical Free Church and the Norwegian-Danish

Evangelical Free Church Association. Both of these groups were birthed in the resurgence

motions of the late nineteenth century. John Gustaff Princell was the first adult male to present

this faith to the United States in 1893.

Th Evangelical Free Church of America has twelve specific beliefs that govern

and are applied to mundane life. They are:

1. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the divine Word of God,

without mistake in the original Hagiographas, the complete disclosure of His will for the

redemption of work forces and the Divine and concluding authorization for Christian religion and life.

2. In one God, Creator of all things, boundlessly perfect and everlastingly bing in three

individuals: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. That Jesus Christ is true God and true adult male, holding been conceived of the Holy Spirit

and Born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a forfeit for our wickednesss harmonizing to

the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into Eden, where, at

the right manus of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

4. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to laud the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this

age, to convict work forces, renew the believing evildoer, and indwell, usher, instruct and

authorise the truster for godly populating and service.

5. That adult male was created in the image of God but fell into wickedness and is, hence, lost, and

merely through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and religious life be

obtained.

6. That the caducous blood of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection supply the lone land for

justification and redemption for all who believe, and merely such as receive Jesus Christ are

Born of the Holy Spirit and, therefore become kids of God.

7. That H2O baptism and the Lord & # 8217 ; s Supper are regulations to be observed by the Church

during the present age. They are, nevertheless, non to be regarded as agencies of redemption.

8. That the true Church is composed of all such individuals who through salvaging religion in Jesus

Jesus have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of

Jesus of which He is the Head.

9. That merely those who are, therefore, members of the true Church shall be eligible for

rank in the local church.

10. That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has

the right, under Christ, to make up one’s mind and regulate its ain personal businesss.

11. In the personal premillennial and at hand approach of our Lord Jesus Christ and that

this & # 8220 ; Blessed Hope & # 8221 ; has a critical bearing on the personal life and service of the

truster.

12. In the bodily Resurrection of the dead ; of the truster to everlasting beatitude and

joy with the Lord ; of the disbeliever to judgement and everlasting witting

penalty.

The Evangelical Free Church has no specific credo but each member have faith that all

trusters are destined for Eden. Evangelists do non believe in purgatory but do believe

that any non-believers will be sentenced to opinion and ageless penalty.

One thing that interested me was that the Evangelists do non believe in divorce and if the

? evildoer? or? guilty? individual continues to go on divorce processs they will necessitate to

repent and take stairss toward rapprochement. If the divorce was rendered on unbiblical

evidences, so they are commanded non to further wickedness by remarrying but if the divorce is

scriptural, the partner is wholly free from the matrimony bond and is eligible

for

remarriage. Members of this church besides extremely dislike sex before matrimony and criminal conversation.

They consider these Acts of the Apostless to be immoral. Evangelists deem that those who have broken

the sacred bond of matrimony and have participated in prenuptial sex should grounds

echt brokeneness before God for their wickedness and pay a low thankfulness and devotedness

to God for his forgiveness.

Servicess at the Oakwood Community Church are held on Sunday at 8:10am and

10:30am. A typical service at this church is nil like the multitudes that I have grown

accustomed to. These services are non-liturgical? jubilations? of God. Each service is

really musical and sometimes includes dramatic readings of God in mundane life.

The vocalizing and moving are normally followed by the curates message, quiet contemplation and

shutting supplications. The church services go manus and manus with the church? s physical

visual aspect, both are comfy and calm and non at all superficial or luxuriant. Upon

come ining the church I was surprised to happen that there was no communion table or chief focal point.

Besides no church bench, tapers or crosses were found within the church walls. What I did happen on

the church walls were streamers advancing religion in Christ which were tastily accented

by the church? s natural lighting. The Evangelical Free church members believe in the

sacraments that are stated in the bible such as Baptism and the Lord? s Supper but they do

non believe that the sacraments are required for redemption. Person may go baptised

at any point of their life if they wish to make so, but normally they dedicate their kids

into the religion. This faith besides stresses the sacraments as regulations being observed non

as being reenacted.

The Evangelical Free church has no designated hierarchy but alternatively is an

association of independent churches that are bound together through common beliefs.

Each church does hold a board of members who work closely with curates every bit good as

deacons. This board of seniors decides who will go a member of the fold

but it is up to the people to make up one’s mind on the curates and deacons. The EFCA central office

are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota to convey churches together, fund mission trips and

keep state broad conventions on behalf of the shared spiritual strong beliefs.

The Evangelical Free Church of America has a strong engagement in the

community. Not much is offered for the aged, do to such a little fold but

future programs are in advancement. The church does offer young person plans and support groups

for grownups. These support groups consist of meetings for dependences of any sort,

rearing educational categories and enrichment categories. Each twelvemonth the young person group goes to

a 3rd universe state as missionaries to distribute the word of God and construct Evangelical Free

churches throughout the states. The church besides has seasonal celebrations to convey

households closer together and emphasize the importance of household bonding.

The unusual or interesting facts that I found where that the curate did non give

baptism with H2O, no crosses or tapers where nowadays in church because they don? T

privation to be praying to symbols, play is incorporated with church lighting, and musical

instruments were all around the church.

In decision, I found this church and its beliefs really reviewing in its patterns

and in the manner they spread the word of God and rejoyce in their pattern of His word.

Particularly going abroad to distribute His Word in new states, which doubtless

will besides strenghten the beliefs of the going members of the Ministry, by the many

enlighting experiences they will meet in their trips. It was besides honoring to recognize

that although many of their patterns, regulations and symbols, or deficiency of such, were

drastically different, even contrasting to the Catholic beliefs, the basic values of household,

matrimony, religion and most significantly God and Jesus Christ as our Jesus still remain the

chief focal point of every Protestant church, therefore demoing us that our religion can be expressed or

interpreted somewhat different by faiths, but it ultimaly reaches the same harmonious

consequences.

Divorces and Remarriage. Biblical Conviction of Pastor-Teacher Paul B. Phair.

Phair, Paul B. Personal Interview. 8 March 2000.

Small Small Small Small Groups. Oakwood Community Church.