Church Explained · September 26, 2026
What Is a Free Church? What Does Pentecostal Mean in Germany?
In Germany, terms such as Freikirche, evangelische Freikirche and Pfingstgemeinde describe different aspects of church identity. They are related, but they do not all mean the same thing.
Freikirche describes a family of churches, not one denomination
The German term Freikirche is used for Christian churches outside the large regional church structures. The Association of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany describes free churches as diverse in tradition, organization and theological emphasis while highlighting common themes such as personal faith, religious freedom, organizational independence and the separation of church and state.
That means the word Freikirche by itself does not tell you everything a church believes. Baptists, Free Evangelical churches, Pentecostal churches and other movements can all be described as free churches while differing in history and emphasis.
What does evangelical free church mean?
In German, evangelische Freikirche generally points to a free church rooted in the Christian Gospel and the Protestant tradition rather than membership in a regional Protestant state church. The precise beliefs and structure still need to be checked church by church.
River Church Frankfurt publishes its own beliefs rather than asking visitors to infer them from a label. Its public beliefs page emphasizes the Bible, Jesus Christ, salvation, the present work of the Holy Spirit, prayer, faith, the local church and the Great Commission.
What does Pentecostal church mean?
Pentecostal Christianity places particular emphasis on the present work of the Holy Spirit. As one major German Pentecostal body, the Bund Freikirchlicher Pfingstgemeinden describes Pentecostal identity around Scripture, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, local church life and the mission of sharing the Gospel.
Pentecostal churches are not all organizationally connected to one another. Citing the BFP here explains a major German Pentecostal tradition; it does not claim that River Church Frankfurt is a BFP member.
How River Church Frankfurt describes itself
River Church Frankfurt describes itself as a Spirit-filled Christian free church and Pentecostal church in Frankfurt am Main. The church says it believes in the authority of the Bible and the present-day work of the Holy Spirit, and it connects those beliefs with prayer, faith, evangelism and practical Christian life.
For someone comparing churches in Frankfurt, labels are only a starting point. The most useful next step is to read the church’s published beliefs, watch its messages and visit a public service to understand how those beliefs are actually lived.
River Church Frankfurt
Looking for a Spirit-filled free church in Frankfurt?
Read how River Church Frankfurt describes its church identity, Sunday service and Pentecostal-charismatic faith practice.
Spirit-Filled Church Frankfurt