I was introduced to the Evangelical Free Church movement in the early 1950s. To me, it was a breath of fresh air.

Earlier, when I was in seminary, I had been invited to pastor a small Chicago suburban church. I knew little about this church but soon learned that it was legalistic and performance-oriented. After serving for three years, I felt smothered.

Upon graduation from seminary, I accepted a call to an independent church that was looking for a new identity. It was suggested that the church consider affiliation with the Evangelical Free Church. That’s when I first heard of the EFCA. It was one of those “best-kept secrets.”

I was excited to learn of a movement thoroughly committed to Scripture but offering freedom in minor issues of faith. Those minor differences did not become a test of fellowship within the local body of believers. Long ago a church father summed up the spirit that the EFCA has captured: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”¹

“As our movement continues to mature, it faces increasing dangers.”

My personal journey within the Evangelical Free Church from one of its pastors to one of its president has been one of life’s greatest blessings. It has been my privilege to view things from the bottom as well as from the top. I am just as excited about the EFCA today as I was when first introduced to this unique and distinct movement.

It is a biblically centered church, it is a growing church and it is a healthy church. It is on the move. Church planting, church health, evangelism and disciplemaking are all part of this dynamic fellowship. We move with intentionality to reach the ever-increasing diversity of the USA.

In God’s providence, I lit a spark in the 1984 centennial conference to reach and embrace the mission field that God was sending to our shores from Asia, Africa, Central and South America. We are now a diverse fellowship of churches composed of people from many nations of the world. This obviously presents new challenges and ever-increasing opportunities.

I am thankful for our national leadership and their daily dependence upon the Lord for sharpening our vision as we move into a changing future. They need our prayers and encouragement.

As our movement continues to mature, it faces increasing dangers. As the torch is passed from one generation to another, the maturing process can lose the momentum of a movement and degenerate into the status quo. Every movement needs renewal but, in seeking renewal, faces the danger of falling for new theological fads or other temptations.

Let us hold tight to the foundation stones upon which we have been built but be willing to address the changing culture in which we are called to minister.

¹Coined by German Lutheran theologian of the early 17th century, Rupertus Meldenius.

Tom McDill served as EFCA president from 1976 through 1990. He and his wife, Doris, split their time between Arizona and Minnesota. They are members of both New Hope Fellowship (EFCA) in Sun City West, Ariz., and of New Hope Church in New Hope, Minn. (EFCA), where Tom served as pastor for 10 years.

One of the great privileges of my life was to serve as president of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Although I did not aspire nor seek to serve as a denominational leader, Jeannie and I thoroughly enjoyed our years of ministry with the EFCA.

As I survey the past 16 years since I departed from the presidency, I am filled with joy and thanksgiving for the remarkable ways that God has used the leadership of Bill Hamel. It was my delight to team with Bill as he served as executive vice president during my tenure. The Lord has bestowed favor in many ways to Bill and the EFCA.

I am grateful to the Lord for His marvelous provision and guidance in the adoption of the renewed EFCA Statement of Faith. It has been a major accomplishment that has provided significant potential for the guarding of the biblical foundations of the EFCA and for the expansion of the movement in years to come.

“Another major advancement has been the focus upon multiplying healthy churches.”

Another major advancement has been the focus upon multiplying healthy churches. Again, the Lord has used Bill and other EFCA leaders to give a high priority to the planting of new churches and the spiritual renewal of existing churches.

Finally, I am grateful for the continued and significant growth of the international mission. I have been especially impressed with ReachGlobal’s willingness to partner with other denominations and mission agencies. It’s too easy to become cloistered and parochial. On the mission field there are great opportunities for collaborating, and T.J. Addington and his team have given groundbreaking leadership to this collaboration. I applaud that.

When I look to the future, I am greatly encouraged by the potential growth and the continued growth of the EFCA movement in the United States and around the world under the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I pray that it shall come to pass for the glory of God.

Paul Cedar served as EFCA president from 1990 through 1996. He currently serves as chair/CEO of Mission America Coalition, a gathering of denominational and ministry leaders aimed at mobilizing the Church for collaborative evangelism. He and his wife, Jeannie, live in Southern California and worship at Southwest Community Church (EFCA) in Indian Wells, Calif.

Some of the greatest joys of my life have been to serve the EFCA: as pastor, as district superintendent, as vice president and now as president. It is a joy because I believe in this movement with all my soul—its mission, its uniqueness, and its impact domestically and globally. That is why I am excited about this issue of EFCA Today, focused on the movement and the impact it has had, is having now and that we pray it will have in the future.

As in all organic movements, God brings different emphases in different seasons, using the vision and wiring of unique leaders. This has been no different in the EFCA. When we combine those seasons and their results, we see a mosaic of God-moments and the accumulation of pieces that today make up our missional agenda. Just as God uses the various pieces of our personal biography to form who we are, so He uses the pieces of our corporate biography to form who the EFCA is today.

“We celebrate the past but we envision the future.”

As I think of our journey up to this point, I think of our theological excellence, mission commitment, emphasis on “all people” and the multiplication of churches. I also think of our colleges and seminaries, Immigrant Hope, prayer ministries, lay training through EFCA GATEWAY, and so much more that makes up who the EFCA is today.

We celebrate the past but we envision the future. As soon as we want the future to look like the past, we have lost our missionality. Thus we are always thankful for God’s direction in our journey while we are committed to stepping out in faith in new ways.

As your president, I will never be content with where we are, but I celebrate our journey to where we are. May we press on to be an agent of transformation in our world for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Bill Hamel has served as president of the Evangelical Free Church of America since June 1997. He and his wife, Karen, are members of South Suburban EFC in Apple Valley, Minn.