Onawa Evangelical Free Church (OEFC) was founded in 1970 in Onawa, Iowa. In the 50 years since our founding, we have been blessed with six Pastors, including our current Interim Pastor. We are affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Our Mission
We exist to glorify God by equipping His people for joyful service through the teaching of His Word, prayer, and fellowship. We serve God by serving one another, the community, and the world through supported missionaries so that others may know that Jesus is the Christ.
Our Congregation
Sunday morning worship service attendance ranges from 45 to 65 people. The makeup of our congregation is varied, with ages ranging from young children to senior saints, within a mix of small and large families, couples, and singles. Congregation members are employed or retired from varied industries including agriculture/ag related, manufacturing, construction, education, engineering, accounting, medical, and hospitality. The church draws attendees from the town of Onawa and the surrounding communities of Castana, Mapleton, Blencoe, Whiting, and Decatur, NE.
Sunday Morning
We have Sunday School classes for all ages. Following Sunday School, we gather in the Fellowship Hall for a half hour of coffee, snacks, and conversation, immediately followed by our Worship Service.
Our Worship Service is an important part of who we are as a congregation. The message is a blend of expository and relevant topical teaching to help us better understand what God would have for His people today. Prayer plays an important role in our service. A significant amount of time is given to the taking of prayer requests and bringing those requests before the Lord.
Worshiping through music also plays a large part in our service. We lift up our voices to praise the Lord via traditional hymns as well as contemporary worship music. We are blessed with a number of talented singers and musicians who use their gifts to enhance our worship through song.
Our Ministries
OEFC has a variety of ministries including men’s and women’s Bible studies, Women’s Ministry, Prime-Timers (men and women 55+), King’s Kids (elementary school aged), CHAOS Youth Group (middle and high school aged), Vacation Bible School, and Praise in the Park. Of note, the CHAOS Youth Group is made up more so of kids from Onawa and surrounding communities than church attendees.
Church Facilities
We have two buildings on approximately 2.65 acres. The main building is 7600 square feet and houses the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Pastor’s office, kitchen, coffee house, classrooms, nursery, and library. The newly remodeled Ministry Center is an 8040 square foot facility composed of a kitchen and two very large rooms well suited for a variety of gatherings and activities. We own the church property/facilities and are debt free.
Online/Social Media Presence
Please visit us at Website: https://onawaefreechurch.squarespace.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Onawa-Evangelical-Free-Church-233460056805373/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiTmVILoxMjrtXjMsqEqtGQ
Community and Surrounding Area
OEFC is located in the quaint rural community of Onawa, IA. The Seat of Monona County, Onawa is nestled between the beautiful Loess Hills and the Missouri River along the I-29 corridor, providing ample opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, and exploring.
Onawa is approximately one hour north of Omaha, NE, and Council Bluffs, IA, and forty minutes south of Sioux City, IA. Onawa has a grocery store, several gas stations, a coffee shop, thrift stores, a dollar store, movie theater, a campground, and parks. Onawa also has several restaurants including fast food and casual dining. Onawa has an optometrist, dentist, Burgess Health Center - an award-winning critical access hospital, Burgess Family Clinic, and a pharmacy. Elementary, Middle, and High Schools are also located in town.
The population of Onawa is approximately 2850. Median age is 41.9 years and median household income is approximately $51,636.
Monona County has a population of approximately 8,700, with a median age of 46.7 years and a median household income of $41,498.