Legacy
On November 9, 1983, District Superintendent Ray Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa came to Atlantic to discuss the Evangelical Free Church of America. At the end of the evening, Mr. Johnson was requested to return and start a Bible study group. Ads were placed in the Atlantic News Telegraph for a few weeks prior to the first meeting. The study began on November 30th.
As these Bible studies continued, a desire was felt to start Sunday Worship services. The first Sunday morning worship service and Sunday school was held at the Farm Bureau Building, 1501 E. 7th St., Atlantic, Iowa, on February 5, 1984 with 26 people in attendance. Early in April, consideration was given to obtaining a pastor. On April 17th, Pastor Terry Schoenfeld from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Atlantic contacted Ray Johnson about the possible merger with our small group to become the Evangelical Free Church of Atlantic, Iowa.
Johnson presented this to the group during Bible study on April 18th as Pastor Schoenfeld presented the possibilities to his board, deacons and congregation. On April 25th, a committee was elected to meet with the committee from the Emmanuel Baptist group on May 3rd. The committees from both churches met on the evenings of May 22nd, May 29th and June 5th to work on plans for the merger of the two groups.
The Evangelical Free Church group worshipped at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Sunday, May 27 and June 3, 1984. The Constitution and By-laws were drawn up during committee meetings for the new Evangelical Free Church of Atlantic and copies were distributed to members of each group on Sunday, June 10, 1984.
On Sunday, June 24th, 1984 both congregations met for worship at the Emmanuel Baptist Church. Immediately following the worship service, the combined group reviewed the constitution and by-laws. A vote was moved and passed to accept the constitution and by-laws. A vote was then cast for agreement in becoming the Evangelical Free Church of Atlantic, Iowa, and to become affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Following the vote in favor of becoming the Evangelical Free Church of Atlantic, those who desired to become charter members gave their testimonies of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Thirty six individuals thus became charter members on June 24, 1984. Pastor Terry and his wife then left the meeting at which time the members of the newly formed congregation voted to retain Pastor Schoenfeld as pastor.
Pastor Schoenfeld served as pastor for the Evangelical Free Church of Atlantic until October of 2007. At that time, he left for a call to Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in St Louis. Alan Seehusen was called as Youth Pastor and Associate on June 22, 1998. He continues to serve our congregation at the present time. In September of 2008, the congregation called Don McClean to be our new pastor. Pastor Don came to Atlantic from Glastonbury, Connecticut with his wife and three children. The church is blessed to have another man of integrity to teach the Word of God in its fullest.