First Evangelical Free Church of Maine is an independent, self-governing body, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. United by a mutual commitment to serve the Lord Jesus, we are committed to cooperate with one another in Ministry and fellowship as we fulfill the Great Commission. This cooperation is extended beyond the denomination to all evangelical churches. As an "evangelical" church we mean that we are committed to the proclamation of the gospel unto the authority of the Scriptures as being inerrant in the original autographs and the only safe and sufficient guide to faith and practice. "Free" refers to our form of church government, which assures that local churches are free from a central controlling body.
The Free Church of America consisting of over 1200 autonomous churches sharing common purposes, principles and practices. The Free Church includes a worldwide ministry of 500 long-term and 500 short-term missionaries in over 30 nations around the world.
As a community of believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we believe that out of His great love for us, God sent Jesus, the sinless God-man, to die on the cross in our place. Christ's bodily resurrection confirms that His payment for our sin was complete and acceptable to God and satisfied the just demands of His holiness.
We believe all who sincerely acknowledge they are sinners before God and accept Christ, as their savior by personal trust in him alone for their salvation will receive a free gift of eternal life, which can never be lost.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
A small group of Norwegian immigrants established Scandinaviske Forsamling Mission Bethlehem on July 23, 1896. Their mission was twofold: conduct worship services in their native tongue and reach Scandinavian sailors visiting Portland Harbor for Christ. Until 1914, they gathered first in members’ homes, then moved to a rented hall on Congress Street in Portland and yet another rented hall on Preble Street in Portland.
Their desire for a place they could call their own was realized with the construction of their first church building at 58 Wilmot Street in Portland. Construction began on the church’s 18th anniversary, July 23, 1914, and the first service was held on November 1 that year.
The church subsequently had two name changes by the early 1940s. It was known as Scandinavian Bethlehem Church from 1915 to 1944, then Bethlehem Evangelical Church, from 1944 to 1954.
Norwegian language services faded by 1932, and the church voted to hold all services and meetings entirely in English from then on. The church’s alliance with the Congregational Society began to erode by early 1929. At a meeting in the spring of that year, members voted “in favor of union with the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church” and became the first Evangelical Free church established in the state of Maine and one of the first few in New England. Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church’s (in the Northeast) merger in 1950 with the Swedish Evangelical Free Church (in the Northwest) resulted in the formation of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as it is known today.
As the Wilmot Street neighborhood began to deteriorate by 1950, church members sought to relocate, finding a parcel of land on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Rosedale Street, across from Payson Park. Performing most of the construction themselves, the church body moved into their new building at 424 Ocean Avenue and held their first service in the vestry in October, 1954. The name was changed again to Payson Park Evangelical Free Church. The church was dedicated and fully in use on November 2, 1958.
Throughout its occupancy on Ocean Avenue, PPEFC acquired four more buildings. The house next door was purchased in 1967 and turned into Sunday school classrooms and office space. The small house behind the church, on Rosedale Street, was acquired in 1983 and used as a nursery. A large 2-story home across the parking lot on Ocean Avenue was purchased in 1984, began as a parsonage then later converted into classroom space upon the purchase of a new parsonage on Winding Way in October, 1989.
The church remained committed to its original purpose when it observed its 100th anniversary in 1996. Throughout the yearlong celebration, with the theme, “Lighting the Way for 100 Years,” the congregation acknowledged God’s faithfulness to this church, enabling it to show the way clearly to the Savior for salvation, growth and the greater glory of God.
That commitment remained as the church experienced growth over the next 10 years and actively sought either to expand or relocate yet again. After several attempts to do both, God’s purpose was fulfilled at last when the congregation acquired the former St. Edmund Catholic Church at 355 Bridgton Road in Westbrook in December, 2005.
Membership voted in late March, 2006 to change the name to First Evangelical Free Church of Maine, the same night it voted to sell the Ocean Avenue property to interested buyers. Closing on the sale was held later that week. The first service in the new building was held on April 30, 2006, and a dedication service is scheduled to take place on June 25th. During that service, we will also celebrate the church’s 110th anniversary which is on July 23, 2006.
First Evangelical Free Church is devoted to glorifying God by producing Christ-centered disciples who are increasingly fruitful.
We believe God will be glorified to the degree we become fruitful disciples who are both “growing and going.” To accomplish this God-given work, in dependence upon Him we seek to...
Engage people in the worship of God, the hearing of His truth, and the life of His Church, so they become devoted followers of Christ.
Establish believers in a growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the study of God’s Word, prayer, and accountable relationships.
Equip believers to do the work of the ministry according to their God-given gifts and abilities and in dependence upon Him.
Extend God's fame in southern Maine and in the world individually by our life and witness, and collectively through Church planting and cooperative missionary effort.
Nursery is available for infants and toddlers through age 3 during both worship services. We hold diligently to a two adult policy for the safety of your child. We believe that nursery is a first step for children to learn to trust our heavenly Father as we love them in a secure environment.
Sunday School is available during the school year for all ages in the following locations: Infant-age 4 - Nursery Building; Pre-k-5th grade - Christian Education Building.
Summer Children's Ministry replaces children's Sunday School in the summer. This gives teachers a much needed break and the kids a Vacation Bible School type program with creative Bible teaching around a unified theme.
Sunday School classes for the Junior High and Senior High meet on Sunday mornings. In the summer we encourage some teens to help in the children's programs to gain experience and ministry skills in working with children.
Youth Ministry gives our young people in grades 6 - 12 an opportunity to know Christ as their Savior and grow in a relationship with him. This is accomplished primarily through a fun but intentional youth group ministry which meets from 5:30 - 7:30. Teens are dropped off at the Church at 5:30 and picked up at 7:30 p.m. The Youth Group meeting is a fun time of fellowship with other Christian teens, worship, learning from God's Word, and encouragement through the personal ministry of a committed staff of adult Christian leaders.
In addition to the Youth Group ministry, the youth ministry provides additional opportunities for teens to grow and serve. Bible studies are held during the week to help teens grow deeper in their understanding of the Bible and in relationship to Christ. Teens are also encouraged to serve as leaders in the youth ministry, through occasional community activities, and through participation in occasional short-term missions trips.
Adult Bible Classes meet Sunday mornings during the school year and are held in the basement of the church. They usually include two electives from which to choose. Fellowship time (including coffee) prior to the classes makes this a great place to meet people and to engage in "one-anothering."
Small Groups meet in area homes either on Sunday nights or during the week. These groups combine the power of transparent relationships, the truth of God's work and trusting accountability to promote accelerated growth in Christian maturity. The result is "Consistency through the power of Community." A small group is also where you can truly get to know others and where we are best able to care for you. For these reasons groups remain together all year to develop meaningful relationships.
Our Women's Ministry exists for the purpose of "engaging women's hearts for establishment in biblical teaching: equipping them for deeper learning and service to God in their homes, church and communities all for the glory of God." This mission statement is carried out through Bible studies, mentoring and special women's gatherings.
The Networking Ministry seeks to help people discover their spiritual gifts and passions and then direct them to places of service. Their goal is to place The Right People in the Right Places for the Right Reasons. A seminar with a follow-up consultation is offered periodically, usually in the fall.
Personal Discipleship is available for new Christians who desire to grow in Christ. The pastors match interested new believers with mature Christians who have a desire to disciple.
In Summary, there are no shortages of ministry opportunities here by which you can grow. However, we are convinced that your greatest growth will come from consistent, personal time spent with God in worship, in prayer and in His Word.
We believe that in the Great Commission Jesus gave His Church a specific responsibility to share the good news of God's forgiveness with lost people. This charge is accompanied by the promise of His presence and power in the task of taking the gospel not only to our families, neighbors, and co-workers, but also to people throughout the world.
The Evangelism Commission equips the church (through workshops and other forms of training) with how to effectively share the gospel with others. They also supply resources to help the church in its task of sharing Christ. Though we currently also have a monthly outreach to local nursing homes one Sunday during the month, much of our evangelistic thrust is through developing relationships and sharing Christ on a one-to-one basis in our schools, workplace, and neighborhoods.
The Missions Commission helps the church accomplish the responsibility given by God to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. They inform and educate the church as to the prayer and financial needs of the 25 missionaries and organizations we support. They also keep the church aware of changes in the world that affect the missionary effort. They encourage and oversee short-term missionary trips such as those taken to the Czech Republic, Africa, Japan, Mongolia, Honduras and Mexico.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head and Chief Shepherd of His church and directs the local church through the Holy Spirit and godly leadership.
The members of the congregation of this local church, in submission to their head, Christ, have final an overall authority in the affairs of this local church. Membership is limited to those who are believers. Becoming a member involves attending a 7 week discovery class, applying for membership, sharing one's testimony through an interview with the elders, and approval by the elders and church.
Elders consist of the pastors and qualified, elected laymen who are charged with the overall leadership and spiritual welfare of the church. Their God-given roles include protecting, feeding, leading and caring for God's people.
Deacons and Deaconesses assist the pastors and Elders in the spiritual and physical care of people within the church family. These leaders serve through personal encouragement and by organizing help with such things as meals for the sick, transportation, childcare, and other demonstrations of Christ-like love.
The Church Council is charged with the practical leadership of the church. It consists of elected representatives from each of the Commissions and the Board of Elders, plus the pastors, moderator, treasurer and church secretary.
The Commissions are responsible for accomplishing the vital ministries of the church. Each commission consists of an elected chairperson and approved members who serve in the vital ministries of the Church including, evangelism, discipleship, missions and stewardship.
The Pastoral Staff serves the church through equipping believers for the work of the ministry, preaching, teaching and leading the Church to accomplish God's purposes.
Following the Reformation, German theologian, Rupertus Meldenius advised, "Unity in things necessary and liberty in things unnecessary, and charity in all." We cooperate with those who hold to the "things necessary" (essentials) of the faith even though we may differ on the "things unnecessary" (non-essentials). We believe that such cooperation demonstrates true biblical unity.
1. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man and the Divine and final authority for all Christian Faith and life.
2. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit 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.
4. We believe that the Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living in service.
5. We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost and that only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
6. We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for salvation and justification, and that only such as believe and receive Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God.
7. 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.
8. We believe that the invisible church is composed of all who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the mystical body of Christ of which He is the head.
9. 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. We believe that immersion is the scriptural mode of baptism.
10. We believe that Satan is a person; that he is the unholy god of this age, and of all powers of darkness, author of sin, and that he is destined to eternal punishment in the lake of fire.
We believe that the worship of God is the most important and privileged ministry of those who have become God's children by faith in Christ.
Our style of worship is unapologetically a blend of traditional and contemporary, since we believe they represent the differing preferences of God's people here at First EFC of Maine.
We believe that many of the old hymns are a rich heritage of strong teaching about who God is and what he has done. They also encourage us to remember that we are identified with generations of other believers who also worshipped the Lord "in spirit and in truth."
Contemporary musical elements such as choruses and special music keep our worship fresh as we "sing a new song unto the Lord." Occasional audiovisual vignettes, object lessons, and dramatic monologues flow from our conviction that the unchanging truth of God in the Bible can and should be clothed in fresh forms to communicate to a new generation.
Music plays an important part in worship. Organ and piano accompaniment, prelude and offertory instrumentals, worship teams, children's musical specials, occasional cantatas and special music selections are among the varied ways music helps the congregation focus upon the Lord, "who is worthy to be praised."
Sermons flow naturally out of our worship and focus upon our response to who God is and what He has done. These messages are relevant presentations of God's truth contained in the Bible. They are intended to probe and reveal the need for salvation in the unbeliever and to promote spiritual growth in the believer.
