Grace EFC Aledo IL

Grace Evangelical Free Church is committed to help people find fulfillment in the following areas:

We want people to experience a deep and abiding relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
We want people to develop deep and abiding relationships with fellow followers of Jesus.
We want people to have a significant impact for Christ on the world around them.

Every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. we meet to worship our awesome God and Savior. We invite you to join us. Come as you are and experience the grace and peace of our loving Savior.

 

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Evangelical Free Church of America  

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A Brief History In Time

During the summer of 1983, a couple moved into the Aledo area coming from an Evangelical Free Church background. They had enjoyed the AWANA youth program, which ministered to their children. They talked with others about beginning an AWANA program in Aledo. It was discovered that there was no church in Aledo which could sponsor one because of doctrinal requirements for the program. This discussion also revealed the need for a church more biblically true. A group of couples began to meet for prayer to seek God’s direction. A Bible study was formed, and a Dallas Seminary graduate was asked to lead the study. After this leader left for a pastorate, a deacon at First Evangelical Free Church in Moline agreed to lead the study. As this study grew, it became apparent that a new church was needed. Contact was made with Rev. Gene Swanstrom of the Great Lakes District office of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Early in May of 1984 Rev. Swanstrom met with several couples to discuss how to form a new church, and to see if there was enough commitment to do so. The commitment was there.

On May 22, 1984, four couples met with their families for a potluck meal, and named the church Grace Evangelical Free Church. Temporary officers were elected, and several meetings followed, for further discussion the the church’s beginning and services.

On June 11, 1984, Rev. Swanstrom returned again to answer questions the group had. He brought 54 hymnals and two manuals on how to establish a Free Church. Two days later, the group met in Fenton Park and organized how to have Sunday School, ordering materials, an order of worship, scheduling jobs, and how to get publicity. They could begin meeting in the Farm Bureau Building. On June 17, the group met for the first practice session in the Farm Bureau building, with 13 people present--seven adults, two youth, and four children in Sunday school. They practiced again the next Sunday, and then held the first official meeting of Grace Evangelical Free Church of Aledo on July 1, 1984, with Rev. Elof Anderson preaching. There were 41 present at the morning worship service, and 35 at the evening. In November, resumes of pastoral candidates from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Dallas Theological Seminary were reviewed. The Constitution and By-Laws were completed and approved. A charter membership meeting was held, with 22 people sharing their testimonies. Incorporation papers were signed December 18, and sent to the state, and registered December 28 in the Mercer County Courthouse. New officers were elected in 1985, and the church continued to look for a pastor, and June 3 the church called Curtis Gunther. He remained with the church until May of 1987. Senior high youth was formed in September, and in October, the church moved from the Farm Bureau building to Apollo Elementary school’s gymnasium for services. A mid-week Bible study was added in October, and the following fall, Adventure Club was added for grades 1-6, with VBS added the following summers. In August, 1988, Rev. Scott Wagner became pastor, and he was with the church until July of 1990. In November, 1990, the church purchased the former House of the Risen Son building at 606 SE 3rd Street (the present location). Renovations were begun for the purposes of the church, and remodeling continues to this day. One year later, in November 1991, Pastor Tim Underwood came to Grace EFC. He served in the church until June 23, 2002. The church decided to hire an interim pastor during the time of its search for a new pastor. Stan Conrad joined us in July of 2002 as interim pastor. He and his wife Joyce were with us until the summer of 2003.

Pastor Mark Bartman became our pastor on August 6, 2003. Pastor Mark was with us for 5 years, and has since returned to Wisconsin to work on a teaching degree, hoping to also do some coaching. His final message at Grace EFC was on December 14, 2008. While we searched for a new pastor, we brought in interim pastor Cliff Gilleland, from the Geneseo area, from January, 2009, through April, 2010. We continued to grow under his shepherding. Many of his messages are available to listen to on the Sermons page. Pastor Paul Perkins began his ministry here at Grace EFC on May 2, 2010. He and his family come to us from the Houston area. We look forward to learning and growing under his leadership here at Grace.