EFCA Statement of Faith (Adopted by Conference on June 26, 2008)

The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

The Human Condition

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

Christian Living

We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil.  In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

 Christ’s Return

We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Response and Eternal Destiny

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

The Beginning

Between 1999 - 2000, the church began as a group vision of eleven committed individuals meeting in a private home for evening Bible study. Together, with help from the North Central District of EFCA and Bob Niewendorp (director of church planting), the core group began their training and search for a Pastor.

By Spring/Summer 2001, Tom Latterrell accepted the pastoral call and served until his retirement in August 2015. In anticipation of Pastor Latterell's retirement, the search for his successor began. Pastor Brian Swedburg answered the call in August 2015 and served us until July 2018. In September 2018, Pastor Dan Vesta has been serving as our interim pastor. In September of 2020 the church voted to have Pastor Dan become our permanent pastor.

Our Growth

The first public worship service was held December 2nd, 2001 in the cafeteria at Reede Grey Elementary School. This marked the official launch of The Evangelical Free Church of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. The congregation quickly outgrew the cafeteria and moved into the gymnasium. It wasn't long before the congregation was yearning for a larger facility, a facility to call their own.

In 2004, the church moved into 243 E. 2nd Street in downtown Redwood Falls, Minnesota. The building served the church well until 2015 prompting the search for a larger facility. On December 31, 2015, God answered prayers and the church was able to purchase the current facility, formerly Hardware Hank. After extensive remodeling, the congregation was able to move in and hold its first service in August 2017. With our own place came many new responsibilities and adventures. In 2018 the roof needed to be replaced (praise God is was covered under insurance), in 2019 a water main broke and flooded the whole church (praise God is was covered by insurance), in 2020 Covid hit! With all these adventures the congregation is faithful and looking forward to what God has planned for them. In 2021 nothing “exciting” has happened and we are praising God for that as well!