The Great EFCA Celebration

The weather was ideal––temperatures in the 70s and almost no rain. 308 delegates from the Swedish Free Churches and 106 from the Norwegian/Danish Free Churches, gathered on the Medicine Lake conference grounds just west of Minneapolis for their historic merger conference.

Of course there were hundreds of others there for the celebration, with more than 2,000 filling the tabernacle for the meetings. Each day was filled with outstanding preaching, which was also broadcast on KTIS, a local Christian radio station, for the surrounding communities to hear. 

The first days allowed the two bodies to meet to conclude their respective final business sessions. Then at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, 1950, they gathered for the merger ceremony, followed by a celebration rally.

The music was outstanding, featuring Winifred Larson, Edsel and Royal Lindquist, Rev. Arley Bragg and George Beverly Shea. Burton Hedstrom led the congregational singing and a choir of pastors, which touched hearts with their expressive praise to God.

Listen to the music celebration:

Rev. O.M. Johnson and Rev. A.J. Thorwall were the official hosts of the event. Dr. E.A. Halleen, beloved president of the Swedish body since 1922, spoke on “Our Heritage,” followed by Dr. A.T. Olson of the Norwegian/Danish group, who touched on “Our Future.” Each were challenging messages which are worth listening to.

Listen to E.A. Halleen's message:

Listen to A.T. Olson's message:

As we prepare the EFCA's 75th anniversary at EFCA One in West Des Moines, Iowa on June 24-26, let’s come with a mind to remember what God has done in the past, while prayerfully anticipating the ways He is working now and into the future through His church.