Evangelical Free Church in Sweden
| Evangelical Free Church in Sweden | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Baptist |
| Region | national |
| Headquarters | Sweden |
| Origin | 1 January 1997 |
The Evangelical Free Church in Sweden (Evangeliska Frikyrkan, in missionary work and other international relations also referred to as InterAct) is the largest of several Baptist bodies in Sweden.
The movement describes itself theologically as evangelical, missionary, baptist and charismatic.
Evangeliska Frikyrkan was founded in 1997 as a merge of the Örebro Mission (Örebromissionen, founded in 1892 as Örebro Missionary Society), the Free Baptist Union (Fribaptistsamfundet, founded in 1872) and the Sanctification Union (Helgelseförbundet, founded in 1887).
Today (2009) over 300 parishes are affiliated to the Evangelical Free Church in Sweden, consisting of more than 31000 members. Many parishes are also connected to other church communions.
Since the Evangelical Free Church (Evangeliska FriKyrkan = EFK) was formed, it has been described as an evangelical, mission-oriented, and charismatic Baptist church movement. These four key words together determine EFKs theological profile.
"Scripture alone" is a principle which belongs to the legacy of the Reformation. "As it is written?" was a central issue in the joint call of religious issues in the revival movements. Of historical reasons and referring to the Bible as the ultimate standard of faith and life in the Free Church tradition, been a skepticism about the new wording of belief. At the same time it is important for the EFC to affirm the common Christian faith as expressed in the Apostolic and the Nicene Creed, in the reformatory basic tenets and in the evangelical theology has its roots in the evangelical revival movement had a contemporary expression including Lausanne declaration.
This means briefly that they jointly:
Mission is a natural outflow of confession to God the Father, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and transparency for the guidance of the Spirit. Its cause and basis in God the Father who is love and wish that all people should know him. Its center and design found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is sent to the world for its salvation. The driving force is the Spirit of God who convinced sin, draws people to Christ and gives life. Mission is also a natural outflow of what church is. It is God's people gathered around Jesus Christ and thus involved in his mission in the world. "As the Father has sent me to the world, I send you to the world "(Jn 17:18, cf 20:21). The consignment or mission is thus, a fundamental biblical dimension of the local congregation and the entire life of the Church and mission. Church's mission is all that it is called to do in the world outside their own Community. This Mission has its prerequisite and basis of the Assembly's internal life. Its attractiveness may, therefore, an important missionary dimension. But the mission is more specifically by Mission's ultimate purpose is that God will be glorified and that the Lord Jesus shall be known and honored among people and nations as he is. It is not least by people released from the power of evil and establish a real sense of community, which is a witness to the kingdom and shows up at him coming. This "message of the kingdom shall preached throughout the world and become a witness to all nations "and only then" the end come "(Matt. 24:14). EFC stands for a pioneering approach that involves the readiness to join the Gospel to new areas or unreached peoples and ethnic groups. EFC is also a dynamic holistic approach includes evangelism, church development and social responsibility. Its mission focuses as well as to meet the individual human spiritual, social and material needs to operate to changes in society and the environment. This is to all people to live a dignified life. Efforts to combat poverty and promote human rights based in conviction that all people have equal value based on the will of God in creation and redemption. This mission always realized in and through relationships. Therefore, the dialogue at various levels with representatives of other religions and visions in order to establish mutual understanding, prevent conflicts between religious groups and promote good community development. But testimony and invitation to believe in Christ must remain central in Christian mission. The work of evangelism and church founder, leader and church development and Deaconess and community cooperation is sought where possible and reciprocity in relations and partnerships. EFC welcomes the principle of reciprocity missionaries from other parts of the world or other forms of cooperation in evangelism, Assembly of the establishment and Deaconess in Sweden. This may in other ways enrich EFKs development and enhance its work. Both in Sweden and in international missions focusing on the EFC to establish and strengthen churches, train leaders and serve the community. This is to realize the vision EFC "Growing congregations to take the whole gospel to the whole person across the world".
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