Missions
The Evangelical Free Church of Atlantic is dedicated to the discipleship of the Word of Jesus Christ. The only way we believe we can truly accomplish this is through direction from God and discipleship through outreach efforts including, but not limited to the following:
Hidden Acres Christian Center
Founded in 1979, Hidden Acres is a 660 acre retreat center owned and operated by the EFC Central District. They host year-round events for every facet of the church as well as many outreach programs. Hidden Acres has grown up to be a state-of-the-art recreational retreat center solely for the purpose of facilitating biblically based spiritual growth. Find out more about Hidden Acres.
Short Term Missions
The missions committee remains committed to presenting and suppporting opportunites for all ages to contribute their time (one day to four weeks) in discipleship. Short term missions typically reinforce efforts that EFC sponsors at home and world-wide. Efforts vary from one day local homeless shelter volunteerism to short term stays in war-ravaged countries.
Bethany Camp & Retreat Center
Located on a farm 15 minutes NW of Atlantic, Iowa, this unique environment offers Christ-filled summer camps, year-round youth activites (ages 7 - high school), special men's events, women's & personal retreats and various Bible studies. It is personally run by Bill and Treva Turpin at their 140 year-old farmhouse. The acreage contains a lovely lake and "The Barn" which was built by Treva's father in the 1950's. They are under accountability to the Barnabas Project and sponsored by many private and organized entities. The Turpins are the parents of Sue Jordan of New Tribes Mission. Casey and Natalie Groves are the current camp directors and missionaries to the area.
Whitewater Gospel Mission (WGM)
This retreat center has been providing ministry service to the Navajo people just south of Gallup, New Mexico for many years. Each year high school and college-age youth from Christian Schools and Church youth groups come to WGM where the youth are "short-term missionaries". Bi-annual trips from EFC support the growth and development of Whitewater's calling to spread the Truth of Christ.
PACE Ministries
EFC has provided mission support to PACE ministries, located in West Central Kenya. Wachira & Glenda Ngmau spear-head these efforts. PACE primarily operates the Pan African School of Theology which provides accredited degress for a number of areas including but not limited to evagelism, management and leadership. PACE Ministries
Strategic World Impact (SWI)
SWI targets disaster and war-ridden areas of the world where Christians are severely persecuted. SWI, at this time, primarily goes to Eritrea/NE Sudan, Pakistan/Afghanistan, and Thailand/Burma. They are committed to an evangelical response in these areas pertaining to relief, medical aid, community health, and physical needs, but their primary goal is to minister to the spiritual needs of people by planting churches where none exist. Find out more about SWI.
New Tribes Mission (NTM)
EFC has supported the efforts of Ken and Sue Jordan who work for internationally based New Tribes Missions. NTM mobilizes, equips and coordinates missionaries who come from and are sent out by local churches. Working through NTM, these missionaries evangelize people groups who have had no access to the Gospel, translate the Scriptures into their language, and plant a church. More information on New Tribes Mission.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Today about 200 million people do not have the Bible in their own language. Wycliffe's vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best. To make this vision a reality, Wycliffe also focuses on literacy development, community development and church partnerships. Oran and Sandy Linden, our sponsors, are originally from Harlan, Iowa. Find out more about Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Academia Los Pinares
Caroline Nichols works as a counselor and service coordinator at a Christian, bi-lingual school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The school opened in 1964 by the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and now operates under a board where 5 denominations are represented. ALP serves missionary families, believing Honduran families, and (the majority) non-believing wealthy Honduran families. The school boldly proclaims Christ as Lord and believes these students will impact their nation as they hear and understand the Gospel message. Caroline is supported by the school and also through Atlantic E Free to work at ALP as guidance counselor, advisor, and additional service outreach. It is her personal mission to reach students with the message of Christ through daily encounters with students needing guidance and the role of advisor for student service. She also works closely with several organizations outside the school, including the Micah Project outreach for street children and Manos Extendidas feeding centers. You can find more on Caroline's webpage; caroline.m.nichols.googlepages.com/adventuresonthehonduranhorizon. She also tries to keep a regular blog: foreignheart.blogspot.com
AWANA
For nearly 60 years, AWANA has been a leader in children's ministry, helping churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ. Based in the Chicago area, AWANA is the only organization with fully integrated evangelism and discipleship programs for ages 2 to 18 that actively involves parents, church leaders and mentors. Our Missions Committee continues to support the activites of AWANA as a vital part of our church's outreach, discipleship, family ministry and volunteer training. More information on AWANA is available.
National Women's Ministries
Connected by every district of the EFCA, the National Women's Ministries facilitates leadership training and encouragement to women's ministries. Training and resources are available for the development of a biblical disciple-making pathway for women's minsitries focused on a balance of activities that will ensure spiritual health. This group makes a concerted effort to have an ethnically diverse missional women's ministries leadership team in each district.
Church Planters (EFC Central District)
One primary purpose of the Evangelical Free Church is to spread the Word of Christ throughout the world. Our church planters do this by assisting communities in developing and establishing Evangelical Free Churches where they have not previously existed. Our local congregation funds this effort via the missions committee's recommentation.