Maywood was born during a series of tent meetings held at the Victory Housing Center on Harrison Avenue in 1943, where Rev. Elmer Johnson and Mr. Gunnar Johnson form First Evangelical Free Church, spoke God’s Word to eager listeners. Sunday School and Vacation Bible School began from those meetings, and by 1947 regular morning services were being held.

 

In 1953, the church family, who called themselves Silver Hill Evangelical Free Church, broke ground for a permanent building at Pershing Avenue and 16th Street. The Building was dedicated on December 6, 1953 and May 20, 1956, the charter was closed with a total of 48 members.

 

Donald Wernberg donated a 3-acre plot of land on Samuelson Road to the church in 1973. The church building and parsonage were sold, and Maywood Evangelical Free Church held its first services at the Howard Johnson Convention Center on 11th Street on November 18, 1973. They broke ground for the new building on June 30, 1974 and held the first services there on Palm Sunday, April 27, 1975.