The Importance of Listening and of a Blog Taking Feedback

A blog post the other day raises the issue of how important it is to discuss and listen. When I wrote about an EFCA church in Bloomington, Minnesota that led to a discussion with the pastor. Whether it be the EFCA, Acts 29 or other organizations this blog wants people to know that it will engage and listen and discuss these issues. This blog does not hide behind a computer screen and bunker down. In contrast it will engage people and have discussion. 

A Sampling of How a Number of Evangelical Free Churches in the United States Celebrated Easter Online in the Middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Easter in the United States was changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As states from California to New York and Louisiana among others grappled with a national pandemic many states asked Christians to stay home and practice social distancing. From an overview it appears as if the EFCA followed the guidelines imposed by state and local health authorities. This blog would like to say thank you to the EFCA for doing its part to stay at home and helping to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This post is a look at how a number of EFCA churches around the United States celebrated Easter. From outside Seattle, Washington to Tampa, Florida. From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Thousand Oaks, California this is how a number of churches inside the EFCA celebrated Easter during a challenging time. 

Why the EFCA Needs to Discuss Spiritual Abuse and How John Secrest Can Be the Point Person on this Topic

The EFCA needs to start to have a discussion about spiritual abuse. From EFCA One, to blog posts and district conferences its time for the national EFCA to begin to discuss spiritual abuse. Inside the denomination there is one individual who should lead the discussion and guide it. John Secrest is an EFCA pastor who went through the dark Harvest Bible Chapel scandal, and yet he’s the perfect candidate to lead the EFCA in a discussion about spiritual abuse. 

Looking at the Growth of Neo-Calvinism/Reformed Theology in the Evangelical Free Church of America in the State of Washington

The Wondering Eagle determines the Evangelical Free Church of America and the status of Neo-Calvinism/Reformed theology in the state of Washington. As Washington is divided between two districts; two districts had to be studied to give a snap shot. This blog will re-visit this situation in the course of time when it returns to these two districts.

SE District Superintendent Glen Schrieber Invites EFCA President Kevin Kompelien and District Superintendents to Montgomery, Alabama Where they Wrestle with the Legacy of Racial Injustice

EFCA SE District Superintendent inspired upon President Kevin Kompelien that the District Superintendents visit The Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. As a result the EFCA leadership visited the museum and memorial to lynching victims in March of 2019. In a series of blog posts by both Kevin Kompelien and other EFCA leaders and personalities they reflect on the experience and the challenges that racial injustice poses today and how it needs to be dealt with. This ends with some suggestions for the EFCA on this topic.

Echo Lake Community Church in Snohomish, Washington on Giving

An EFCA Church in Snohomish, Washington, Echo Lake Community Church as led by Marc Hughes has an interesting take when it comes to giving. How many churches handle giving is problematic and it can also be troubling. This blog would like to see more churches transparent about their finances including making salary information public. 

The Wondering Eagle Review of 2018. The Top Stories and Posts and What is Coming in 2019

This is the final post for The Wondering Eagle for 2018. This article reviews the stories and situations covered in the year of 2018. From Acts 29, to the EFCA to the Sojourn Network, the atheist community and Harvest Bible Chapel. This is a wrap up of all the work this blog accomplished. Plus I discuss what is coming in 2019 as well.

The Wondering Eagle Book Review: Amanda Farmer’s “Once An Insider, Now Without a Church Home”

A recently published book looks at the growing problem of Neo-Calvinist theology inside the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). Its the story of “Truth Evangelical Free Church” outside Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a story of how a church goes from elder led to elder rule. Along the way you see how a traditional EFCA church was theologically flipped. In this heartbreaking story you will learn about how it became authoritarian. In the process the Neo-Calvinists are violating the “Significance of Silence” which is core to the EFCA.  This is a solid book that this blog heartily recommends.

EFCA’s Church Multiplication Sunday Occurs on October 7, 2018

On October 7, 2018 the EFCA is having Church Multiplication Sunday. Its a push through prayer for more church plants across the EFCA. In this post you can see the prayer requests for the EFCA districts across the United States. I also urge the denomination to proceed with caution as there are a number of internal issues inside the EFCA that need mitigation. From pastoral credentialing gaps to managing the Neo-Calvinist issue. If the EFCA doesn’t manage and deal with these issues then this will create additional problems for the EFCA. 

EFCA, Please Learn from My Mistake

On August 26, 2018 this blog made an error about D.A. Carson and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This post is a follow up explaining what happened and how that error occurred. In addition I also use this mistake to teach the EFCA how to respond to errors that will happen inside the denomination. My hope is that the EFCA will learn from my mistake and become a better organization in time.