Evangelical Heritage

Evangelical Heritage tells the story of immigrants from various countries of the world who formed the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). This story reveals God’s work to raise up Christian leaders and lay people to plant new congregations across the United States and to send hundreds of missionaries to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19). Initially, the immigrants came from Scandinavian countries in Northern Europe, aided in their travel by steamships, railroads, city newspapers, and relatives who already lived in the United States. Later, immigrants came from Asia and Latin America, and joined the work of the EFCA to multiply churches among all people. Today, the EFCA is an evangelical body of 1,600 congregations that voluntarily form this association that unites around a common Statement of Faith rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This movement of churches cooperates in common (interdependent) mission, both in the United States and globally, and educates and credentials Christian leaders for ministries in Evangelical Free Churches and associated organizations. The goal of this volume has been to produce a history that covers the past 140 years in a manner that is sound historiographically and helpful practically to all interested in learning more about the EFCA. Watch the video with Dr. David Gustafson with President Kevin Kompelien interview about Evangelical Heritage book. About the Author Dr. Gustafson serves as the Professor of Evangelism and Missional Ministry at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Previously, he served in campus ministry with Cru and as pastor in two Evangelical Free churches. His areas of expertise include evangelism, Evangelical Free Church history, and missional praxis. He is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Free Church of America and serves on its Board of Ministerial Standing and he also serves on the Spiritual Heritage Committee. He is an affiliate docent at Johannelund School of Theology in Uppsala, Sweden, and a contributing author in evangelism to the International Alliance for Christian Education. He is the author of several books including Gospel Witness: Evangelism in Word and Deed (2019) and Gospel Witness through the Ages: A History of Evangelism (2022).