Evangelical Free Church of America was formed in 1950 by the merger of two other church bodies--the Swedish Evangelical Free Church, and the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church Association.  These groups had both been born in the revival movements of the late nineteenth century.

The Swedish group began in Boone, Iowa in October 1884. Unknown to them, two Norwegian-Danish groups began worshiping and fellowshipping together in Boston, Massachusetts and Tacoma, Washington also in 1884.  By 1912 both the Swedish and the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church  groups were formed and growing associations.

Together, these associations represented 275 local congregations; they formally united in June 1950 at the Medicine Lake Conference Grounds near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minneapolis is where the national and international EFCA offices have been located ever since.

Southern Hills Evangelical Free Church began with five Hot Springs families meeting together in homes to worship the Lord and study his Word.  After some time of serious consideration they associated themselves with the Evangelical Free movement--Evangelical meaning church doctrine would originate only from the Bible, and Free meaning the government of the local congregation would remain with the congregation.  They particularly appreciated EFCA's philosophy of taking a firm stand on issues expressly stated in Scripture, but dealing graciously in areas where absolutes are not so stated.

This group of five families quickly out grew even their largest living room and were forced to seek larger accommodations.  They moved into the Black Hills Power & Light Building--meeting upstairs until even that room became to small!  Eventually the Lord allowed this new EFCA congregation to purchase some land with and existing church building on it--that's where we are today.  One of the founding members was Herb Doering;  listen to him explain a little of those early days.