There are so many different denominations in Christianity that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between churches. Our Church is the Greek Free Church located in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.
We are often asked, “What does that name mean?”
Our Church began as a gathering of Greek people from parents and grandparents that arrived from Greece around the middle of the previous century. That takes care of the “Greek” part of our name. The “Free” reflects our denominational position. We are a free or independent church, separate from government or the established state church. Our Greek origin means we are a Protestant church that is not part of Greece’s officially accepted church. We do not get involved in government policy, nor do we accept government interference in theology and practice. We do not receive government funding to carry out the work of the church as often happens in countries with established churches.
Our name also reflects we are congregational in governance. Each church is governed and financially supported by its own members. “Free church” identifies us as free to spread the Gospel away from the shackles and restraints that established religion imposes upon the church.
We are of evangelical tradition. Our Pastors and board of Elders receive their authority by the vote of the congregation. We accept the assertions that the scriptures are the inerrant Word of God, people are born into a sinful condition, and salvation comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as a commitment to spreading these beliefs. We also believe in the premillennial return of Christ, the bodily resurrection of the dead, the celebration of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Our purpose as a Church is beautifully described by Paul in Ephesians 4:7-16. By the grace of Jesus Christ, each believer has been given spiritual gifts to be used by the Holy Spirit in the Church and for the Lord. The purpose of those gifts is summarised in – “…for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”
In accordance with this passage, our Church seeks to:
1. Build up believers and preparing them for the spreading of the gospel.
2. Support the spiritual growth of all believers in their walk with the Lord.
3. Glorify God through the life of believers as we grow and become more Christ-like.
We want our church family to reflect the Lord working in us and through us to draw attention to the man’s need of salvation. We want our church to be a vibrant community of people from all ages, any background and from all walks of life, all knit together as a community of like-minded people serving and giving glory to the Lord.