First Free Church
Vision & Values (Part 1)
Adam Bowers
Locations & Times
First Free Church
1375 Carman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
New Here?
If you’re new, welcome! We’re so glad you’re with us today, and we’d love to get to know you! Please connect with us at efree.org/connect or by texting CONNECT to 636-251-4778. You can also stop by the Welcome Center in the lobby to fill out a Connect Card and get a free gift.
https://www.efree.org/connectKid Connection is Open!
Kid Connection is open during the 11 am service! We ask that you reserve a spot for each child that will be in attendance - to make a reservation, visit efree.org/reservations. If you have any questions, please email kidconnection@efree.org.
https://efree.churchcenter.com/registrationsEldership Course
Our nominating process for elders happens every fall, and to help potential nominees understand the role and responsibilities, we’re offering an Eldership course. The course is a chance to hear our current elders explain the biblical qualifications for eldership and what eldership looks like at First Free.
If you are considering nominating someone for elder this fall, please first nominate them for the Eldership course. Of course, please check with the person you would like to nominate first. We will carefully pray over the nominations and then invite several individuals to participate. For more information, and to submit a nomination, please visit efree.org/nominate. Nominations are due by July 18th.
https://www.efree.org/nominateIf you are considering nominating someone for elder this fall, please first nominate them for the Eldership course. Of course, please check with the person you would like to nominate first. We will carefully pray over the nominations and then invite several individuals to participate. For more information, and to submit a nomination, please visit efree.org/nominate. Nominations are due by July 18th.
Church Picnic July 18th
We’ll be having church picnics after the second service every two weeks, so mark your calendars for July 18th! Bring your lunch and chairs out to the corner property after second service and hang out, play some games, and enjoy time with your church family!
Kanakuk KampOut!
Kanakuk KampOut! will be at First Free this summer from July 19-23! KampOut! is a 1-week, high-energy, non-stop excitement, traveling Christian day camp experience from Kanakuk for children ages 5-12.
https://www.efree.org/event/kanakuk-kampout-2/Cup of Nations Soccer Tournament
The Cup of Nations is back this year! This tournament is an amazing opportunity to connect with immigrants in St. Louis through soccer. The connections that are formed during the tournament turn into relationships, which can lead to gospel conversations and reaching the nations for Christ, all within our city.
The tournament is July 24-25 at United St. Louis in Eureka.
We need volunteers to help make it all happen! There are lots of ways to serve – from field marshals, ball chasers, and scorekeepers, to manning the welcome booth and filling water jugs.
To learn more and sign up, contact Rachel at cupofnations@efree.org.
The tournament is July 24-25 at United St. Louis in Eureka.
We need volunteers to help make it all happen! There are lots of ways to serve – from field marshals, ball chasers, and scorekeepers, to manning the welcome booth and filling water jugs.
To learn more and sign up, contact Rachel at cupofnations@efree.org.
ESL Interest Meeting
Join us for an interest meeting for current and prospective ESL volunteers on July 25th at 10:15 am in Room 372. We'll give an overview of the program, let you know what is required of volunteers, and leave plenty of time for questions. If you're considering serving with this awesome ministry, we'd love to see you there! No registration needed.
Ark Encounter / Creation Museum Trip
Join us for a four-day trip to the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky this July! These state-of-the-art attractions present biblical truth and quality scientific research through engaging and interactive exhibits. Both kids and adults will learn and be encouraged in their faith. Kids (10 and under) are free at both locations in 2021, so this is a great time to go! Learn more at the link below!
https://www.efree.org/arkRed Cross Blood Drive
Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime. One donation can potentially save up to 3 lives! Our next drive is Thursday, July 29th, from 12-6 pm in the Activity Center. Please make an appointment to give at redcrossblood.org.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=FirstFreeChurchSummer Movie Night
Kid Connection at First Free Church is hosting summer movie nights on the last Friday evening of the month. Join us in the Activity Center at 7:30 pm for games and a great family-friendly movie – the movie on July 30th will be Tangled!
https://www.efree.org/event/summer-movie-night-2/Baptism
We’re holding our summer baptism celebration on August 8th! The service starts at 6:30, and, as is tradition, we’re having a First Free tailgate party beforehand. If you haven’t yet been baptized, this is a great opportunity to do so! Follow the link to sign up!
https://www.efree.org/baptismRightNow Men's Conference
Men, join us on August 20th for the RightNow Men’s Conference presented by RightNow Media! You’ll hear from great speakers like Larry Osborne, Derwin Gray, Scott Drew, and more! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with other men and be challenged to grow in your relationship with God in all areas of life. Learn more and register at efree.org/events!
https://www.efree.org/event/mens-conference/Holy Land Tour
In 2019, a group of people from our church traveled to Israel together and were able to see the Sea of Galilee, walk on the Mount of Olives, float in the Dead Sea, explore the old city of Jerusalem, and more. Our 2020 trip was postponed due to the pandemic, but we’ve been able to reschedule and we hope that you can come with us in November of 2021! To learn more, visit efree.org/israel.
https://www.efree.org/israel/Bridge of Hope Tutoring
Right now, the two elementary schools nearest Bridge of Hope in north St. Louis city have only a 4-6% reading proficiency rate, but you can help improve that number. If you’ve been looking for a tangible way to impact the lives of others during the pandemic, we’ve got a great one for you! Bridge of Hope has created an online tutoring program to help these children learn to read. It only takes 40 minutes, twice a week, and the impact can last a lifetime.
Bridge of Hope provides the curriculum and training you need to be successful.
To learn more about how you can get involved and help change a life, email robin@bridgeofhopestl.org.
Bridge of Hope provides the curriculum and training you need to be successful.
To learn more about how you can get involved and help change a life, email robin@bridgeofhopestl.org.
Groups
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul encourages believers to “share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Life can be hard sometimes, and we aren’t meant to go it alone - we’re meant to do it as part of a group. If you're interested in joining or starting a Group, check out efree.org/groups!
https://www.efree.org/groupsConnections Ministry
Every Sunday could be someone’s first Sunday so our Connections team - our parking lot team, greeters, Welcome Center hosts, and ushers - strives to provide a welcoming environment from the moment someone pulls into our parking lot. if you have a love for others and a heart for hospitality, we'd love to have you join the team! Get in touch using the link below.
https://www.efree.org/connectionsChurch Center App and Directory
Church Center is a hub for First Free - you can manage giving, find a group, reserve your spot for a Sunday service, and more. The app also has a directory! Download the app, go to your profile and ‘My Directory Settings’ and choose the information you’d like included in the Directory. If you need help, email directory@efree.org.
http://www.efree.org/directoryLibrary Open!
The library is back open for business before and after the 11 am in-person service on Sundays (hooray for books!).
Please be sure to return the books you already have out, even if the library is technically closed when you are there. There's a slot in the security gate where books can be placed. When in the library, please keep your masks on and s
Please be sure to return the books you already have out, even if the library is technically closed when you are there. There's a slot in the security gate where books can be placed. When in the library, please keep your masks on and s
RightNow Media
We wanted to remind you that RightNow Media has thousands of videos for your kids and loads of Bible studies for you to help you stay grounded in your faith during all of this stay at home time. We’re giving you free access to the RightNow Media library, so head over to efree.org/rightnowmedia to learn more and get signed up.
https://www.efree.org/rightnowmediaNeed Help?
We know that the coronavirus outbreak is impacting us all a little differently. If you need help, let us know by heading to efree.org/care and clicking on ‘I need help’. And if you can offer help, click on ‘I can help’. If you need prayer, visit efree.org/prayer. We want you to know that we’re here for you even if we can’t be physically here for you, and we’ll get through this together!
https://www.efree.org/carePhotography Team
We’re looking for volunteers to join our Photography Team! To get involved, fill out the form at efree.org/phototeam.
http://www.efree.org/phototeamCare Team Counseling
Life often includes challenges that are too big to face alone. Our lay Care Team Counselors are trained to walk alongside and assist people who are in need of hope, care, and direction. Counselors are available by appointment every Wednesday evening - email care@efree.org.
http://www.efree.org/care/SOS - Servants On Site
God uniquely gifts every person for service, and SOS is a way to serve by using your maintenance skills on minor jobs such as painting, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc. To get involved, contact Tom Siener at 636.779.2160 or tsiener@efree.org.
Messages
Our sermons and Preparing for Worship emails are now available as podcasts!
http://www.efree.org/messages