A life of Worship-worshiping God in all of life

The Bible's authority-centering our lives on God's Truth

The Richness of community-growing together in Christ

Joyful Witness-sharing and living the Good News

Compassionate Service-humbly extending His compassion to those in need

Intentional Training-preparing and releasing God's people for ministry

Persistent Prayer-devoting ourselves to pray continually

Articles of Faith

We believe...

1. 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.

2. In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. 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. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate.

4. 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, and indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.

5. 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.

6. That the 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.

7. That water baptism and the Lord's supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.

8. 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.

9. That only those who are thus members of the true church shall be eligible for membership 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 decide and govern its own affairs.

11. In the personal and pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and this "blessed hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.

12. 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.

The Evangelical Free Church of America

The Evangelical Free Church of America (www.efca.org) believes that all believers are entitled to a fellowship based on a common faith in God's Word and a common commitment to Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord, not based on forms of baptism, predestination, or eternal security.  The Free Church offers fellowship for all believers, especially those who recognize that it is possible to agree on the major matters without majoring in the minor ones.

Evangelical: Maintaining the Doctrine of the Bible is the only rule of faith and that salvation is attained by faith in the redemptive work of Christ.

Free: Each local congregation is independent.

Church: A community of believers who gather together to worship, learn, and serve.

Of America: Distinguishes it from the Evangelical Free Churches of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Holland, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Greece, and Canada.

The Evangelical Free Church attracts those from other Protestant denominations because of tolerance for differing views on baptism (child vs adult immersion); The Lord's Supper (for all believers vs for only church members); eternal security (once saved always saved vs salvation is a gift that must be maintained continually), and the Tribulation (are believers taken to be with the Lord before or during the Tribulation).

The roots of the modern Free Church began in the 1500s during the Reformation in Europe.  Out of the Reformation, three principles emerged that remains key to understanding the Free Church.

1. The Bible is the Word of God and is without error

2. Salvation is the gift of God and only by God's grace

3. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith.  We have no human mediator, works, ceremony, or established religion which can give us salvation.

Therefore, the Free Church is comprised of "Believers only but all believers" and any church debate is based on "where stands it written" in the Scriptures.  Since the Reformation when the Scriptures were made available to the lay person, the study of the Scripture and prayer has been an emphasis of the Free Church.

Door Creek's Statement of Faith affirms what the Free Church believes, but is also silent on secondary issues.  For example:

1. The EFCA is committed to the belief in the absolute infallibility of the Scriptures, not only in faith and practice, but also in matters of history and science.

2. The Statement of Faith speaks about the ministry and transforming work of the Holy Spirit but does not enter into a discussion about specific gifts.

3. True believers will demonstrate a changed life by the power of the Holy Spirit and will affect how the individual behaves in his daily life.

4. The local church is autonomous to make its own decisions. A Free Church has a congregational form of government.  This means the authority is with the congregation, not with paid staff.