Reflecting on EFCA One 2023

“Are you here for prayer?” asked a dear older woman as I sat in the prayer room at Fullerton Free Church.  

“Well, I’m preaching this morning, and I’m just going through my message,” I said.  

“Oh, you’re preaching this morning,” she replied, and she walked to me, put her hand on my head and prayed an incredible prayer of blessing over me. She said “amen,” smiled and said, “There, I’ll leave you alone now.” 

Shortly after, I shared my sermon on Romans 1 and 2, reminding us that our world is broken, and broken people are in need of the Savior. But rather than be moved to anger or judgment with the lost in our midst, we must look in the mirror, coming humbly before God in repentance because brokenness is something we all know intimately. As Paul reminds us in his letter to the Roman church, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet, God’s righteous judgment is satisfied in the finished work of Christ. May we boldly share this good news with the hurting and broken in our midst. You can watch the full message here.

As I reflect on our time at Fullerton Free Church for EFCA One 2023, this godly woman’s prayer remains a personal highlight. Her prayer points to something God has placed on my heart for the EFCA in recent days—that we would boldly pray for a move of God in our nation and spark a spiritual awakening in our hearts. God brought Free Church people together at EFCA One to remind us of our unity in Christ and our shared mission, and in the days ahead I believe He’s sending us out to prayerfully and boldly proclaim the gospel to a hurting and broken world. 

A much-anticipated gathering 

EFCA One is a significant time for pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders of the EFCA to gather and celebrate what God is doing in our movement. Through fellowship, worship, biblical teaching and training, we are affirmed in what it means to be people of the Great Commission while also being encouraged toward the fulfillment of our shared mission—to glorify God by multiplying transformational churches among all people.  

For four years we’ve waited to gather again as one EFCA family. After EFCA One 2019, no one could have predicted what the next years would bring. From the pandemic to cultural shifts and political tensions to pastoral burnout, the last four years haven’t been easy. I could sense anticipation on everyone’s faces as we were finally together. Even through tumultuous years, God has done great things in and through local churches, districts and national and international ministries, and I’m deeply grateful for everyone who contributed to this gathering where we encouraged one another and celebrated God’s faithfulness.   

I’ve been attending EFCA national conferences since 1984, the EFCA’s centennial conference. Back then, I was a young pastor and remember how incredible it was to be among so many of my brothers and sisters to acknowledge a century of God’s faithfulness to our association. With that said, I place EFCA One 2023 on my top three list. On the first day, as I surveyed the Fullerton campus alive with friendly and familiar faces, laughing and smiling and greeting each other, I could sense the sweetness of the Spirit of God.  

It brought joy to my heart to see the EFCA family reconnect and renew established relationships while also forming new friendships and ministry partnerships. So many aspects of this gathering deepened my love for the Free Church. From these bonds formed through the gospel, to the worship services, training sessions, networking opportunities and beyond, I felt a deep sense of appreciation for the EFCA as I watched the conference unfold, and I know many of you felt the same way.  

For three days we were encouraged by speakers as they unpacked the book of Romans during our main sessions. I’m thankful for Cedrick Brown, Carlton Harris, David Pao and Matthew St. John, who provided deep insight into the Scriptures and a refreshing perspective for EFCA leaders. We also heard stories of God at work in the movement, including a story about David Park, an EFCA church planter in the San Gabriel Valley in California who is partnering with Global Equipping to see churches strengthened, revitalized and planted around the world.  

I thank God for pastors, ministry leaders and missionaries, like David, engaging an ever-changing culture for the glory of God. 

Business Session

The Business Session proved a valuable time for delegates from across the movement to pray, discuss and make decisions on important matters in the EFCA. Thank you to all the pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders who attended the Business Session. Your leadership blesses our association and helps to make the EFCA stronger for years to come.  

This conference is also a reminder that we’re a family that sometimes needs to have difficult conversations and make important decisions. As an association of churches with a congregational polity, we take this time to elect new leadership and address essential matters for the future of ministry. In the Business Session, delegates voted on a motion to amend the EFCA Bylaws and a motion to uphold a determination by the Board of Ministerial Standing. They also voted to elect new members of the Board of Directors, the Board of Ministerial Standing and the Nominating Committee. As delegates voiced their opinions on these matters, I was thankful for the posture and display of respect. You can find the business session results here.  

The EFCA One Business Session presented a key moment for the Board of Directors and the Board of Ministerial Standing to also address questions about the EFCA over the last several years. It was important to put a stake in the ground, declaring who we are and who we aren’t as an association of churches. 

During this session, I read aloud a document called, “Where We Stand in the EFCA: Denials and Affirmations.” This document was approved by the EFCA Board of Directors and the Board of Ministerial Standing, and later affirmed by the District Superintendents. As leaders in the EFCA, we sought to address social movements and cultural trends that can cause division by clarifying where the EFCA stands on these issues.  

As the president of the EFCA, I’m tasked with five responsibilities by the Board of Directors and one of those tasks is to guard the biblical values and ethos of the EFCA. For over 100 years, various cultural pressures and distractions have come and gone, attempting to pull the EFCA away from its gospel-centered mission. I believe the denials and affirmations clearly articulate who we are as a movement and will help us navigate cultural pressures and distractions in our present and future days of ministry with more alignment. I encourage you to read the full document and, if you’re a pastor, consider using it as a resource with your congregation.  

Call for prayer

To close the conference, I called on EFCA leaders to dedicate significant time throughout the coming weeks to pray. God has moved in my heart to pray for a spiritual awakening in the United States. If we want to see our neighborhoods, cities and country transformed, then we need God to powerfully transform the hearts of lost people. It’s not a resource issue. It’s not a knowledge issue. It’s not a power issue. Let’s ask Him to move.  

We must also remember that when God moves, He does so through His people. So let’s start with us, looking in the mirror, praying that God will move in us, and then we look out the window, praying that God will use us to work for His glory and purposes toward the fulfillment of our mission to glorify God by multiplying transformational churches among all people. 

As you go throughout your day, would you please spend extra time in prayer for these things? Pray that God will raise up more pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders and send them out. Pray that God would revitalize and strengthen existing EFCA churches around the country. Pray that His Church would multiply and that the gospel would flourish in every neighborhood. Pray for another spiritual awakening. Pray that God would do a work in us.  

Lord Jesus, do it again.  

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).