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The Evangelical Free Church of Merced began in August 1982 as a group
of about 25 people who gathered in homes for
Bible study and prayer. The group soon began to meet in the conference room of at the
County Bank in Atwater. The group also
used the Scout Hut at Applegate Park. As the group began to grow the decision to become a church was confirmed as the group saught to
be used by God effectively in the Merced/Atwater area. The first Service of Worship as the Evangelical Free Church
of Merced was held on November 7, 1982 at the Fremont Elementary School.
Bill Smith,
who at that time was a church planting missionary of the Western District
of the Evangelical Free Church of Amercia, was installed as the Senior Pastor in September
1983. At
that time the church was conducting ministry in the cafeteria and
gym at Hoover Junior High School. In 1983 the church purchased a 7-acre parcel
as a future building site. |
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The ministry grew to include Bible studies,
AWANA, Junior and Senior High youth, three adult groups, a Sunday School, choir and youth
choir, nursery, and many other ministry areas.Larry and Marsha Jones were commissioned
as short term missionaries to Columbia. A small
group of our fellowship were prayed for and sent off to establish the Christian Reformed Church in Merced.
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In 1984 Bill Miller became the Associate
Pastor for Visitation and Senior Ministries. That year the church purchased
our facilities on "G" Street, but retained the other property as a possible
future building site. Phil Stangland became the church's first
Youth Pastor in 1985. A counseling ministry was begun by on of the members,
Dr. Maryann Biggers, in 1986. Tim Denney became the Youth Pastor in 1989.
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Bill Smith left our church
in 1995 to become the District Superintendent for the Midwest District of
the Evangelical Free Church of America. Dave Gish became the Senior Pastor
in 1996. Also in 1996 Tim Denney left our church to work full time with Young
Life. Richard Flatt became our new Youth Pastor in 1997. Steve Muncherian became
our Senior Pastor in 2003. Also in 2003 we welcomed Steve York as our Associate Pastor of Youth Ministries. |
The congregation has gone through periods
of adjustment and refocusing. From our early years participation in the Sunday
Service of Worship grew from 25 to about 260. In 1986 participation
in the Service of Worship peaked with an average of 320. Currently
Service of Worship participation is around 120. God has been faithful and there is a sense
that the unity of the Body is firmly grounded and focused on seeking God's
purposes for us as a congregation.
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A major milestone for us was passed on January 4, 2004.
During a special Service of Worship we burned our mortgage on
the property. More than 150 former and present members of the congregation
joined with us as we gave thanks to God for His graciousness, provision,
and direction. Following the Service of Worship we enjoyed a Celebration
Luncheon which included a historic video presentation and the sharing of
memories by by founding pastor Bill Smith. |
Seeking to prayerfully and obediently follow God's
direction, the congregation chose in January 2003 to sell our Yosemite Avenue
property and remain on G Street. Subsequent exploration and decisions
led us to seek the demolition and construction of the front half of our facilities
(known as Phase One). On April 1, 2006 the congregation had its first
work day. On July 26, 2006 the old building was demolished. On
March 18, 2007 we celebrated our first Service of Worship in the new sanctuary.
Well over 2/3 of the congregation were physically involved in the demolition
and construction process. The $1.2 million facility was completed and
almost fully paid for by God grace and through the Building a Ministry of Faith
and Hope Campaign.
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The words of Pastor Bill Smith, shared on the occasion of
our 10th anniversary, still describe our congregation today. Speaking
of the congregation Pastor Bill Smith said, "There are always dreams when
a new congregation forms. People have different expectations but we
have found that our church has an important part to play in the ministry
of Jesus Christ in this community. I am glad we can be part of a group
of churches that proclaim that Jesus Christ is the answer to man's relationship
to God and the source of a meaningful life in the here and now." |
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