Ebenezer Evangelical Free Church was first organized on October 17, 1887, by a few friends of Norwegian descent. It was first known as the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Free Church. Like the New Testament churches, our church met in homes for the first eleven years of its existence. The church had no regular pastor over its first twelve years. The elders of the church handled the preaching of God's word and conducted the services. In 1890, the church purchased the property at the corner of S. 7th St. and W. Madison St. and met for a while in the store located on the property. In 1900, the first church building was constructed and dedicated on December 16, 1900. In 1911, the church joined the Norwegian Danish Evangelical Free Church Association which in 1950 became part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. In 1932, the name of the church was changed to Ebenezer Evangelical Free Church.
In the 1940's, the church began to look for a place to relocate. In 1946, construction of the present building was begun. In June of 1947, the basement level was dedicated and used for services until materials could be acquired to construct the upper level. Work began on the upper level in April of 1950 and was occupied for services on Sunday, February 25, 1951.
Through the 50's and 60's, the church continued to grow on the corner of S. 43rd St. and W. Oklahoma Ave. In the 70's, property to the south of the church was purchased and in the 80's property to the east of the church. In the late 90's, the congregation made a decision to stay at its present location and minister in the city. With that decision made, we began a major expansion project in September of 2000 that nearly doubled the size of our church facility. We are thankful for the great church building God has given us to serve Him with.
Although our church began with a mission to reach out to the Norwegian immigrants of Milwaukee, today it has become a church that ministers to the broad ethnic diversity of the south side of Milwaukee County. We have a growing ministry to the Hispanic community of Milwaukee.
We have a strong ministry of music and worship. We work hard at ministering to our young people of all ages through our AWANA, VBS, and youth groups. God's word is taught in our growing small group ministry, and on Sunday mornings from the pulpit. We are a church that desires to be what God wants us to be. We can't say that we have arrived at that point, but we are continually striving toward that goal. We reach out to others who we hope will become part of our growing church family and join us in our desire to become the people God wants us to be. Our church mission statement is summed up in these simple words:
"Reaching out, Bringing in and Building up".
