What we believe
MEFC
Vision
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We are seeking to be a Christ–Centered Community of Good Neighbors.
We are seeking to make Christ the center of all we are and do.
“For by him (Jesus Christ) all things were created… all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church… so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:16–18
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We are seeking to share our lives together in a community Christ has created called the church.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35
We are seeking to share the good news and do the good deeds of Jesus Christ.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
MEFC
beliefs
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The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions
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We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. II Timothy 3:16–17
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1; Colossians 2:9
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, he arose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and advocate. I Corinthians 15:3–4; I John 2:1; Luke 1:35
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. John 15:26, John 16:7–14
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual
life be obtained. Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; John 3:3
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God. Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:1; John 3:16
We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded
as a means of salvation. Matthew 28:19–20; I Corinthians 11:23-26
We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head. Ephesians 4:1-6; I Corinthians 11:23–26
We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. Acts 2:47
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18)
We believe in the personal and premillennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal
life and service of the believer. I Thessalonians 4:14–16; Acts 1:11; I John 3:1–3
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and
everlasting conscious punishment. II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:15; II Thessalonians 1:7–9)
MEFC
denomination
The Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) is an association of some 1250 autonomous churches united by a mutual commitment to serve our Lord Jesus Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God. We are committed to cooperate with one another in ministry and fellowship as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission which Christ has entrusted to His Church. The growing ministry of the EFCA currently extends to some 40 nations of the world, encompassing nearly 1400 additional congregations.
The term Evangelical refers to our commitment to the proclamation of the Gospel and to the authority of Scriptures as being inerrant in the original autographs and the only safe and sufficient guide to faith and practice.
The term Free refers to our form of church government which assures that our local churches are free from a central controlling body. Evangelical Free Churches depend upon the active participation of pastors and lay people in the decisions and direction of the local church.
Our local church, MEFC, grew out of a handful of believers meeting together in Park Ridge in the late 1950s. In 1960, the 25 charter members sought their first pastor. We have enjoyed a rich and fruitful heritage of ministering God’s Word to our growing congregation and community ever since.
We are associated with a regional district and national headquarters. Read below for more information.