The Bridge

(Excerpt from “The Historical Background of Fresno Evangelical Free Church” by Stanley Lindquist)

The International Evangelical Free Church origins came from Scandinavian immigrants who wanted to establish a church in their new United States home, unfettered by government interference, as had occurred in their home state churches. That is why “free” is so important to the history of our church…

The goal expressed for the living church was that when one had truly accepted Christ as personal Savior, and attempted to live by the basic Christian principles in his daily life, he then could be free. As Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36 NASB)
The Evangelical Free Church of Fresno started… in September, 1950, in the home of Malcom and Ruth Nelson. District Superintendent, E. H. Lindquist, fostered the plans to start his last of more than forty Evangelical Free churches during his tenure. As described to the national Evangelical Free Church President, he gestured toward the little chapel on the corner of Olive and Cedar Avenues and said, “This is my last fling.” Now, through the nurturing of many dedicated laymen and pastors, that “last fling” now located on Ashlan and Bond has grown to its present strength and numbers…

It is impossible to document the contribution of the hundreds of persons who have been used by the Spirit of God to bring our church to the place where it now is. Millions of dollars have been sacrificially given to support the work. Millions of hours of contributed labor has gone into building the church, both physically and spiritually. God knows who each one is and what has been done. The greater reward is the satisfaction of the heart in knowing that each has been faithful to the cause.

It is the hope of our Bridge Church members that the Holy Spirit will use every member to become skilled in reaching out to others, translating the love of God into understandable concepts that help win them to Christ…

Press Play below to hear a sermon on the history of The Bridge.

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