Freedom Christian Fellowship

A number of  important things have happened since our last update.   Brad finally connected with a job.    Just like the last time, this came in direct answer to us going before God in prayer.   He got to the final round at one place and was the preferred candidate until someone with a “perfect resume” parachuted in and took it.  It was at that point that we decided we needed prayer to get this breakthrough, and as soon as the prayer started, a whole series of opportunities started coming leading to the new role.  That was a breakthrough for the ministry because Brad’s employment is an important part of the financial provision for the ministry in this season.

We took some new people into the program, but lost them.  This was a disappointment to us.  We always reflect “what could we have done better.”  It also led to God searching my heart about really putting concern for each individual ahead of any kind of grand master vision.  There was one moment when things seemed so full and crowded that we would have to get a bigger house immediately so we put an offer in on an apartment complex, and then were looking at living in a big house in a slightly rougher part of town.   Ultimately we did not feel like either of these was the right option, but the process helped us a lot in clarifying our values and team dynamics.

Joel’s dad came down and did some nice ministry on the father’s heart, and also took our deliverance process back to Duluth with a lot of excitement.  He has been trying it out and giving us feedback.   In addition we had some great follow up ministry in Washington, Indiana.    One of the guys who received ministry on our recent trip to Evansville was so impacted that he started reaching out to basically everyone around him.   This led to us going out to his house in Washington twice in the past week to minister to these people.   One drug dealer got down on his knees to surrender to God, and another one was directly confronted in his own house!   Jaime was also able to get involved and do some ministry time with a woman who was later filled with the Holy Spirit.    This activity was a major confirmation for us because it showed that not only were people getting real help, but that our philosophy of following the need really does work.   Someone who gets ministry, then wants others to get the same ministry, and it creates a chain reaction.

This is leading us to see new avenues of ministry including women’s ministry, the remote ministry in Washington, and Duluth.    Our original guys gain a little maturity each week, which is encouraging me that a harvest is coming.   We were realizing that once people are not in a crisis in anymore, only then do they have a real choice to surrender all to God.   This led us to give a series of messages on dying to self.   One of the biggest payoffs of all of this work  was seeing one of our guys get involved in the action that God was doing in Washington.     I am looking forward to the summer, as I hope it will mean the arrival of Craig and Rachel, as well as some potential new team members we have been praying about.