Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church
"Planting, Growing, Harvesting Together"
ABOUT
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF PLEASANTON
Some of our history:
Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church (PEFC) began August 1981 as a home Bible study on Sunday evenings. By November, meetings moved into the old bank building in downtown Pleasanton. February 1982, Ralph Larson joined the team as part-time church planting pastor. Larson came from the Kearney Evangelical Free Church (EFC). This began our partnership with Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) as both Sumner and Kearney EFC served as supporting churches. The support saw fruit quickly as PEFC held its first baptism service that year along with the addition of children’s and women’s ministries. The first daily Vacation Bible School was held in the old bank building and Free Church Women's Ministry (FCWM) begasn regular meetings.
The very next year, already looking toward the future, the congregation purchased land for the future building. Pastor Roger Ellis was also called in 1983 as the church’s first fulltime pastor. In November, a "Come Share the Harvest" celebration and fundraising was held at the Kearney EFC. On Thanksgiving Day, the congregation gathered at the building site to break ground and to celebration God’s blessing and provision.
The community of Pleasanton has remained instrumental in the success of PEFC. In March 1984, the basement was poured and a church raising was organized with the help of the Pleasanton community and surrounding neighbors. In October the church’s constitution was completed and a Thanksgiving service was held in the nearly completed church building. By December the congregation moved into completed building holding the first Sunday morning worship service.
The congregation declared autonomy in February of 1985 and in June the congregation dedicated the building. Awana began in September 1985 and weekly children's and youth programs remain a vital ministry continuing to this day. February 1986 the District Superintendent of EFCA presented the church with a check that allowed the church to pay off it’s debt and become debt free!
Several pastors have led the ministery of the church in Pleasanton and today we are being served by Pat Moore, an interim pastor provided by Interim Pastor Ministries. We are greatly anticipating what the Lord will do in our midst as we await His provision of our next full time pastor. We would love for you to join us as we experience the joys and fellowship of our loving congregation!
OUR MISSION
Mission: We Exist to glorify God by using the Bible to teach people to love God, care for the needy (physically, emotionally, spiritually) build unity among believers, and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all
OUR VISION
Vision: Teaching and applying God's word
OUR PASSION
Planting, Growing, Harevesting Together
From first being the visitors, knowing only the family who invited us and a few old friends,to months later going regularly and meeting more of the congregation each Sunday, the Pleasanton EFC feels like home. We enjoy the uplifting music choices and the ladies who lead them, getting time to greet one another each Sunday..." Everyone is friendly and inviting and we are very thankful we were asked to come join!
~Emily
Elline invited us after we mention we needed a new church family. We were welcomed with open arms and smiles. My childhood hymns are sung as well as some of my favorite contemporary verses. This makes praising God so gratifying. The words of Yahweh perpetuates my heart and soul from sound Biblical teaching. The heartwarming prayers are like ones prayed around a Christian family table. A family simple in living, but Big in Love, faith, and giving sums up our church family. We love our family.
~Kim
Our Pastor:
AT PLEASANTON EVANGELICAL FREE
Welcome to Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church
My name is Gregory Hermsen and my wife is Katherine Hermsen. I was called to be the Pastor at Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church in March of 2026. My wife and I have found a wonderful home as we seek to live out God's will and direction. I have served at 1 other church and several ministries which God has used for His glory. I preach and teach expositionally as I believe that is how God helps to equip the saints for the work of ministry(Eph 4:12). That means I tend to go verse by verse through books of the bible, so that God's people can have God's Word in its full context. This is designed to help people understand what God designed them for, and what He requires of them. Katie and I love to share the good news of the Gospel with everyone and we really want to show the love of Christ to our world! We want everyone at the church to feel loved, cared for, and connected.
6 PRINCIPLES WE LIVE BY
AUTHENTICITY: We believe we can’t be what God has called us to be if we are not genuinely ourselves. We must be real with one another so that we make a connection with one another on a higher level.
BIBLICAL TRUTH: We believe the Bible is God’s inerrant truth and it’s the foundation to everything we do.
COMMUNICATION: We seek to make biblical truth clear and relevant to your daily life. We seek to do that creatively, passionately and accurately.
LIFE TOGETHER: We aren’t interested in being a place where a lot of people get together for an inspiring service but never move beyond the casual, arm’s distance relationships of an auditorium.
INVOLVMENT: We seek every member’s involvement in every aspect of church life.
GROWTH: This is a safe place for everyone. But safe doesn’t mean comfortable. The answers aren’t always comfortable.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28