On November 2, 1997, an informal worship service was held at the Quality Inn Hotel in West Knoxville. This was the first meeting from which Freedom Fellowship Christian Church grew, a body of brothers and sisters in Christ who were seeking direction and searching for love and peace in their lives. For some of us, the weeks leading up to that first meeting in November were very stressful and difficult. I personally sought God, day and night, concerning the decisions that I had to make and about His will for my life. God Spoke to me through his word, Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm and do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of slavery.” It was through this scripture that God reminded me that I am free from the yoke of all that hinders my relationship with Him! After that, there was no doubt in my mind concerning what God's will was for me. My task was to prepare a pasture, a resting place, a place for healing, and a refuge for God's people. I shared this vision with Deacon Martin L. Martin who was also seeking direction from God concerning the future. Deacon Martin and I agreed that we should move forward with this vision, but we were hesitant due to our lack of resources. Brother Jim Yeary stepped forward and offered to find a meeting place. Jim's action was the final catalyst to move us toward that first meeting. Acting on faith, we purchased communion supplies and worked on an order of worship for the service. We thought at best there would be ten people attending, with the majority made up of three families. We were wrong! More than forty people came out to that first meeting, and God continued to confirm in the weeks to follow that we were in His will. It was not the fact that we were growing numerically that gave us our confirmation, it was the growth in fellowship and Christ-like attitude among those that were coming.

In the beginning, Freedom Fellowship had only two official members, Deacon Martin and myself. On Sunday, November 16, 1997 the doors to Freedom were officially opened for membership. As Elder Robert Sherrod, of the Word of God Ministry gave the invitation, forty-seven people responded. (Elder Sherrod served as our first supply minister during this period.) While it has only been a few months since that first meeting back in November, many of you have witnessed the blessings that God has bestowed on Freedom. He has met our every need. We began with faith and we must continue with faith. We started with love and fellowship and we must continue with love and fellowship. We were set free by the love of Christ never to be burdened by the yoke of slavery again. He is truly the God of New Beginnings.