Our service on Sunday was so powerful with the stories that were told of God’s faithfulness. We wanted to capture the stories that were told in one place to honour Him and encourage His Church. As we begin a new year, remember, we’re choosing to fix our thoughts on what is excellent and praiseworthy! (Philippians 4:8)
You can watch the service on YouTube or Facebook if you missed it (or again!).
Adam Brodrecht
“The change in our family is incredible.”
Coming out of 2019 we were lost. Eyes set on Christ, trying to stay in tune with the Spirit, but struggling hard. Our Church of 15 years had become painful, because there was both beautiful components and seriously concerning components. Parenting was becoming harder. Our world was consumed with pressure and struggle.
These trials are trivial compared to some! But it was significant knowing that we were in the transformative years of our kids lives.
And through the least predictable way, we ended up in the sanctuary of Freedom in Christ and found family, found home.
In the natural, it makes no sense. We live in Elmira, church is in west-end-Kitchener. We knew nearly no one. And yet, everything witnessed in our spirits that this was good.
We have been here 9 months now and the change in our family is incredible. It makes me think of how our bodies are created to heal when wounded. The Brodrecht’s spirits have been healing over the last 9 months. And we are better than we have been in many years. I see Jesus shining through each one of us.
We love you Freedom and what you’ve brought to our family. It’s come through so many of you.
I could go on, but I will leave it at that.
““The angel’s in Heaven are rejoicing. So even through this pandemic, God works miracles.””
Angie Morris
God has blessed my family. When my grandson, Jamal, was young, Mike & I would bring him to church with us at Freedom as much as possible - especially if he came for a sleepover with us. God has given us opportunities to minister to him and also in his life growing up as a teenager. Mike & I always pray for all of our grandchildren, that God will reach their hearts that they would find Jesus Christ as their Saviour. God has been good because Christ has been working on Jamal's heart. Jamal told us how he had many dreams of Jesus talking to him. He then started to tell people about how God is good and can help them in their lives during difficult times. So Happy, Glad, Rejoicing, Dancing & Thankful for the Best Christmas gift of all - I’m so honoured to tell you that Jamal got baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour. He found a home church family and that is where he got baptized. Thank you, Pastor Tracy, for helping to guide Jamal in his young years when he was attending Freedom with us and encouraging him to participate and help so that he can be at church as much as possible. So happy to let you know that the seed planted in his heart was fertile & has grown & flourished & bloomed. The angel's in heaven are rejoicing. So even through this pandemic, God works miracles. Praise God. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Juno Park
Losing my dad over thanksgiving this year will always be tough. But God has shown me that this is true thanksgiving. When it means something it has weight. God’s given my dad peace, my family strength and joy. God knows what we need and provides more than we will ever need. We can only be left with gratitude and thankfulness.
“God knows what we need and provides more than we will ever need.”
Eric Jackson
“There are plenty of reasons for me to leave this to the professionals. Except I’m called to action. ”
I haven’t heard one person say “2020 was great! Let’s do it again!” For me? Yes, there have been some things that have caused me displeasure and concern. But ultimately, I’m filled with peace, remembering that this is temporary, and God is still in control.
Throughout this year, I have personally known people struggling. Anxiety. Depression. I’ve watched strangers in public treat each other with angry outbursts and disrespect. I understand where this is coming from, and acknowledge that without Jesus, without understanding that there’s more than just this broken world, I’d be in the same state of mind.
Romans 10:14 really weighed on me this year. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”
How could this apply to me? I’m not a gifted orator. I’m not educated in theology. This is out of my comfort zone. There are plenty of reasons for me to leave this to the professionals. Except I’m called to action.
Our faithful God answered my question as to how. Multiple times, with multiple people, I have been offered the opportunity to tell people in whom I believe. I have been able to share with them that despite this world being broken, there is a Father in heaven that created and loves them to the point of offering salvation to us through his son. These were natural conversations. No awkward “have you heard the good news?” statements. No judgemental “Repent!” declarations. Just real conversations that I thought would be unlikely if not impossible. I pray that I never miss one of these opportunities!
Domm Family
God truly is so faithful.....he has been with us this whole year...every week...every day...every hour...every moment! HE didn’t bring us this far to ever leave us!
Walt Kippenhuck
I want to highlight another little miracle from 2020. People started to share again. We’ve always known people had great stories of God’s faithfulness and that He was STILL working in our church and world today. The pandemic has pushed us online and separated us, yet it has brought us together in this new way of sharing. People have found a medium by which to share...walls have come down and people have found courage to tell their stories. Praise God, even in 2020.
“Walls have come down and people have found courage to tell their stories.”