Services
Sunday School (Adult and Children’s Classes): 9:00 am
Worship Service: 10:15 am (In-person and LIVE on facebook)
E Free Kids: On Summer Break.
E Free Youth: Summer Schedule-Wednesdays 5:00pm – 7:00pm
E
News
Congregational Meeting Notice:
As part of the worship service on June 26th, we’ll hold a congregational vote on the acceptance of four people into E Free’s membership. The Pastor and Elders have met with these individuals and recommend them for membership. Please see Pastor Jeff or one of the Elders if you have any questions. Members, we encourage you to be present that day to be part of this very brief meeting. A church dinner will follow the service on that day. Enjoy tacos with the church family! Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
E Free has a new Youth Director! Calvin Stevens began serving at the church on March 1. Calvin recently served as the Youth for Christ Area Ministry Director. He has four years previous experience serving as a youth pastor as well as five additional years volunteer service with Youth for Christ.Asked to share his story, Calvin explained that while growing up he had an unhealthy idea of what love looked like. His biological father didn’t want anything to do with him and there was inappropriate attention from an extended family member. ‘The Bible references life as a race, and my race began with hurdles. I stumbled, and I fell; instead of turning towards God for comfort, I turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. I was running from my childhood trauma and was trying whatever it took to numb that pain to fill that void. My self-prescribed treatment only intensified my trauma, perpetuated my pain, and increased the void within. This cycle continued until my 30th birthday.’
It was around this time that he came close to ending his life. ‘I was overwhelmed and distant from God. I was trying to do it all on my own, and it was just making things worse. By this point, I was homeless, jobless, and hopeless. The enemy was in my head and telling me “Why would anybody love you? Your father didn’t. You’ll never amount to anything; just give up.” That was my plan, to give up. I started to make my way to a bridge in town. I planned to end my life over its edge. I texted my mother, told her I loved her and thanked her for doing what she could. “Come home,” was her response, amongst other things, and for some reason, I did.’
Calvin recalls that he was three blocks away from ending his life. Three days later, he came to see that God had a totally different plan.
‘My mother texted me and asked if I’d come to a revival. I said “If it’s like Creedence Clearwater Revival, I’ll go.” I was trying to be funny; she was trying to save my life. I went to the revival to make my mother happy. While there, I heard this truth that everyone needs to know and make known: “Nobody is too far gone for the mercy and love of God.” Before the altar call was even over, I ran up front and gave my life to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That day Jesus, as He does, restored everything the enemy was trying to take. He made good out of every trial and trauma I experienced, as He does for those that love Him. I finally knew what love looked like…’
March 17 marked the nine-year anniversary of that important day when Calvin gave his life to Christ. ‘Many may look at my story and find it hard to believe,” he says. ‘Many have looked at my story and think I could turn back. There is no turning back.” Stevens believes that one of the reasons Jesus saved him is to remind those that are hopeless and those that know someone who seems too far gone that there IS hope. That hope is found in Jesus.
Calvin is grateful that God has given him abundantly more than he could ever pray for since placing his hope in Him. Since becoming a Christian, he had prayed to find a wife that could love him and yet love Jesus more than she loved him, and who would serve with him in ministry. Calvin says: ‘He has answered these prayers and much more by bringing Melissa into my life. Not only did I get to marry a woman out of my league, but I also get to help raise her four children. I know the hurt created when men neglect being a father and I’ve felt called from a young age to be a father. I do not take this role lightly and look forward, with God’s guidance, to provide for, nurture, and protect all that has been given to me.
My wife and I both have a heart for kids, for youth, for people. We have vision for the church to reach the lost, to create disciples, and to see an Acts early church model lived out. We are wholeheartedly invested in pursuing the Great Commission and fulfilling the calling He has on our lives. We want to see lives changed. We want to help crowd heaven, to see His kingdom grow, starting here in Keokuk, the Tri-State area, and around the world. We desire to come alongside the pastoral staff at E Free in a supportive role, to help unite the local churches and turn Keokuk upside down in the name of Jesus. We want to reach our neighbors, see the lost coming through the doors, and help those within our walls grow even closer to Christ. We want to see lives changed.’
E Free’s summer youth program meets Wednesday evenings from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Middle School and High School students are invited to come enjoy a meal and a message from God’s Word. For more information, call the church at 319-524-1090.
Sunday Messages
Christian, Your Lot in Life is Good
"Christian, Your Lot in Life is Good" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 15. Genre: Sermon.
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Jun 26, 2022Christian, Your Lot in Life is Good
Christian, Your Lot in Life is Good"Christian, Your Lot in Life is Good" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 15. Genre: Sermon.
- Jun 19, 2022Remaining Married is Good
Remaining Married is Good"Remaining Married is Good" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 14. Genre: Sermon.
- Jun 12, 2022Chastity Outside of Marriage is Good
Chastity Outside of Marriage is Good"Chastity Outside of Marriage is Good" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 13. Genre: Sermon.
- Jun 5, 2022Intimacy Within Marriage is Good
Intimacy Within Marriage is Good"Intimacy Within Marriage is Good" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 12.
- May 29, 2022How We Use Our Bodies Matters
How We Use Our Bodies Matters
- May 22, 2022Healthy Churches Don’t Handle Problems Like the World
Healthy Churches Don’t Handle Problems Like the World"Healthy Churches Don't Handle Problems Like the World" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Track 10. Genre: Sermon.
- May 15, 2022Healthy Churches Practice Church Discipline
Healthy Churches Practice Church Discipline"Healthy Churches Practice Church Discipline" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 9.
- May 8, 2022Being Imitators Who Others Can Imitate
Being Imitators Who Others Can Imitate"Being Imitators Who Others Can Imitate" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 8. Genre: Sermon.
- May 1, 2022Assessing Ourselves & Church Leaders
Assessing Ourselves & Church Leaders"Assessing Ourselves & Church Leaders" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 7.
- Apr 24, 2022A Church of Flesh vs a Church of Faith
A Church of Flesh vs a Church of Faith"A Church of Flesh vs a Church of Faith" from Healthy Church by Pastor Jeff Higbie. Released: 2022. Track 6.
Church Information
Evangelical Free Church
2315 South 7th Street
Keokuk, Iowa 52632
Phone 319-524-1090
Office Administrator:
kefcoffice@gmail.com
