Chewelah Evangelical Free Church Profile
CEFC began as a church plant in 2001, meeting in the local Senior Center. Since that time, CEFC has enjoyed the ministry of three full-time pastors with interim pastors in between.
Our doctrinal statement can be found on the church website. We hold to believer’s water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism at conversion, sovereignty of God balanced with free will, creation by direct act of God, premillennialism, congregational governance with elder leadership, a complementarian view of women, and marriage exclusively between a man and woman.
In 2009 the members of CEFC stepped out in faith and purchased 5+ acres of land, annexed it to the City and began building, with the assurance that God would provide the needed finances for land, labor and materials, all without incurring debt. The weekly attendance grew to around 150, necessitating the addition of a larger sanctuary which was added in 2018, again with no debt.
COVID took a toll on our church, as with many other churches, and a split of the membership resulted. Attendance dropped to a low of about 40-50 average, and now stands around 60-70 each week – a growing, loving, prayerful body. We have embraced mentally and physically challenged young adults together with their Kenyan caregivers, from a local Assisted Living Facility.
Our church is a small town – rural mix of young families, with some middle age and many retired. There are several home-school families supportive of one another.
Worship services are firmly fixed in tradition – a mix of choruses and hymns – with strong expository teaching from the pulpit. Other worship and outreach services include Easter Sunrise service, Christmas Eve service, and Spring/Fall Community Hymn Sings.
Currently we do not have any children’s programs due to lack of trained volunteers, insurance questions, etc. It is our plan to reinstate past programs such as Awana, VBS, Children’s Church, and possibly a youth group.
We support three EFCA global missions, have established a sister church relationship with the EFCA church in Mills River, NC as a result of our aid to hurricane victims in that area. We also support the local Northeast Washington Family Services Center monthly and annually, In Faith local ministry, as well as Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox ministry.
Our governance includes elected elders, deacons, treasurer, leaders of ministry areas. The annual budget is approved by the membership.
We are lacking in leadership development, greater community involvement and member involvement in the leadership areas of service. Most members are involved in some areas of service.
If you are considering answering God’s call to serve in ministry at Chewelah Evangelical Free Church, please review the senior pastor job description, church profile, and community demographics, as well as our statement of faith.
To send a résumé or ask a question, please email us at [email protected].
