Who We Are

 

 

The mission of Salem Evangelical Free Church is to honor God as a caring community by

We also invite those who are examining the claims of the Bible, but do not call themselves Christians, to study the Bible with us. Let us know if we can assist you (or check out the Evangelism Explosion or TheKristo websites for immediate information).
 Salem is part of the Northern Plains District of the Evangelical Free Church of America and our Statement of Faith is consistent with the 12-point doctrinal statement of the EFCA. The EFCA publishes a magazine named EFCA Today which may be viewed on-line.  
We were founded in 1979 and have a historical summary on-line. In May 2002, the congregation adopted statements of values, mission, and vision as shown below or downloadable as an MS-Word document.

Who we are...Core Values Statement

Preamble

We the people of Salem Evangelical Free Church, endeavor by God's grace to be a body of believers who glorify God. We are imperfect and depend on empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, we hold these core values in the hope that we will grow in Christlikeness both corporately and individually. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Scripture

We believe that the Bible is God's authoritative Word. Therefore, the teachings of the Scripture provide the foundation for all that we are and do.

Worship

We believe that we are created by God to worship Him. Therefore, we live in worshipful response to God's character and activity.

Prayer

We believe that prayer is a privilege and responsibility of every Christian. Therefore, prayer permeates our lives both individually and corporately.

Discipleship

We believe that all Christians are to be disciples - believers who are becoming more like Jesus Christ. Therefore, regardless of one's spiritual maturity, we provide opportunities for individuals to take the next step in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Community

We believe God instructs Christians to cultivate loving relationships. Therefore, as a body of believers, we actively pursue interdependent relationships characterized by grace, love, and truth.

Every Believer Ministry

We believe God calls every believer to serve in ministry. Therefore, we encourage and equip every believer to identify, develop, and use their spiritual gifts and abilities.

Outreach

We believe God desires a personal relationship with every individual and has entrusted us with His message of salvation. Therefore, we reach out to others in the Fargo/Moorhead area and throughout the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Compassion

We believe that God cares about the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of every person. Therefore, as an expression of God's love we reach out with compassion to those in need.

Kingdom Perspective

We believe that God is accomplishing His purposes through a variety of means throughout the world. Therefore, we partner with other churches and organizations in Christian ministry.

Why we exist…Mission Statement

"Our mission is to honor God as a caring community by

worshiping Him passionately,
growing in Christ faithfully,
and sharing His love generously."

Where we are going…Vision Statement

As we look ahead, what will happen as we live out our core values and mission as a church? Where do we sense God leading our church? What will Salem be like?

By God's Grace:

We will be people whose lives are energized by prayer. Prayer will be a daily priority, a primary value. As a church we will teach people to pray and provide many opportunities for prayer. We will also teach and model prayer for our children. Prayer will permeate all we do as a church. We will have a team of people who pray regularly for the ministries and people of Salem.

We will make our times of worship together welcoming, encouraging, and life-changing for all who attend.
Together we will recognize the reality of God so powerfully that we respond to Him in humility, joy, and obedience. Our worship together will be grounded in Scripture and will creatively use biblical teaching, music, drama, and other art forms to provide an environment for people to draw closer to God.

We will help all of our attenders become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. We will provide an intentional discipleship strategy of training, experiences, and relationships that encourages individuals to grow in Christlikeness. We will be a congregation where people at every level of spiritual maturity are encouraged to take the next step in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

We will be a multi-generational, multi-cultural congregation that challenges people to develop meaningful
relationships. We will have a network of effective, vital small groups meeting regularly. These groups will be safe places for us to get to know and trust others deeply as we experience true Christian community together.

We will actively support quality programs for children and youth. Biblical principles will be presented as relevant to their needs and interests. Because the activities will be enjoyable and age appropriate, children will want to attend. We will also help parents develop skills and understanding that foster healthy Christian families.

We will be a congregation where every believer is discovering and using his or her spiritual gifting. We will have a team of people to support and facilitate this process. We will provide opportunities for the use of a wide range of gifts both inside and outside the congregation.

We will individually live out our faith and intentionally share the gospel, so that hundreds of people in our region will hear it every month. We will offer training and support so that every Salem attender can be effective in reaching out to family members and friends with the good news of Jesus Christ. We will intentionally develop relationships with non-Christians and pray for opportunities to encourage their interest in Jesus. We will offer events that appeal to the concerns and questions of non-Christians.

We will be a church that eagerly shares God's love in tangible ways. We will engage in projects that meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people in our area.

We will be a church that actively shares God's love for all peoples and nations. We will generously support a variety of missionaries and mission projects. We will encourage our people to participate in short and long term mission projects in the United States and other parts of the world.

Simply put, we will be a vibrant Christian community that glorifies God by making an impact for His kingdom in Fargo/Moorhead and beyond.


Return to Salem Home Page |

Last Update: 30 April 2006
Copyright 2002-2006 by Salem Evangelical Free Church of Fargo, North Dakota, USA