In the summer of 1872 two young Norwegian girls arrived in the quiet, historic hamlet of Concord Massachusetts to take positions as domestic servants. Over the years many more men and women arrived, becoming domestic servants and farm laborers. The wife of a farmer who employed Norwegians took an interest in their spiritual welfare, learned their language and began teaching a Norwegian Sunday School class in 1879. From these humble beginnings a new church was born in 1893, hosted by the Trinitarian Congregational Church as its Scandinavian Branch. In 1920 they dedicated their own building and became the Norwegian Zion Free Church of Concord. In 1975 they erected a new building in nearby Acton and worship today under the name Faith Evangelical Free Church.
This account was created in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the church’s founding as an independent congregation. It chronicles the experiences of these immigrants as they sought to be exemplary American citizens, while celebrating their Norwegian heritage and recognizing that their true citizenship was in heaven, not on earth. The first part describes the events and people who gave so much in service to their community and congregation. The second part acknowledges the many people and organizations that helped bring their dreams to fruition. The third part takes and unflinching look at the church through the years to draw lessons for the future from the successes and missteps of the past.
Innehållsförteckning
- Table of Contents
- Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact
- Reminiscences
- Preface
- Introduction
- Prologue: Fertile Soil at Home and Abroad
- Part 1: History
- Chapter 1: The Scandinavian Mission Society
- Chapter 2: Skandinaviske Trefaldigheds Menighed
- Chapter 3: A Place to Call Home
- Chapter 4: The Norwegian Evangelical Free Church
- Chapter 5: The Evangelical Free Church of Concord
- Chapter 6: Faith Evangelical Chapel
- Chapter 7: Faith Evangelical Free Church
- Chapter 8: Ebenezer
- Part 2: Church Planting Insights
- Chapter 9: The Birth of a Church
- Chapter 10: Church Planting Lessons
- Part 3: Church Health
- Chapter 11: Stages of Church Life and Church Health
- Chapter 12: Report Card
- Chapter 13: Insights from Surveys and Evaluations
- Chapter 14: Insights from Pastoral Transitions
- Chapter 15: Insights from Attendance
- Chapter 16: Lessons Learned
- Epilog: Looking Ahead
- Appendix A: Biographical Sketches
- Appendix B: Pastoral Staff
- Appendix C: Demographics
- Appendix D: Statements of Faith
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index of Names
Om författaren
Michael Young is a recently retired electrical and software engineer. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 1977 he settled into the high-tech environment of eastern Massachusetts. In 1978 he married his high school sweetheart Kristine, and they eventually made their home in Hudson, Mass., and then nearby Boxborough where they have lived for over 25 years.
Mike and Kris have attended Faith Evangelical Free Church since 1977, shortly after the church moved to its current location in Acton. Over the years he has served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and elder. As the church approached its centennial celebration, Mike’s hobby as an amateur genealogist and his interest in local history piqued his interest in the stories of the people who founded the church. As a church elder, he was also very interested in church growth and spiritual health, prompting him to focus on these issues in his research in the church archives.
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