J.R. Lee

Yesterday we loaded up the staff team from Freedom and headed to west TN for a couple of days.

It’s a strategic location from the standpoint that the dream to begin a church in Acworth started from a house in Millington, TN.   We are going to be loaded down for the majority of the time we are here, but we’ve worked in a little R&R as well.  Very little

I absolutely love our team, the people at Freedom Church, and those whom we are striving to reach.  The next 6 months are going to be insane.  Scary actually.  Can’t wait to get back and fill you in…

Guest Blog: Blake Goss, Worship Pastor

One of my greatest passions as the Worship Pastor at Freedom Church is
songwriting. Singing original songs is part of the culture at
Freedom. God speaks His vision to Pastor JR for our church and our
city. It’s my job to create worship experiences that make that vision
come to life. Part of doing that is writing songs that speak the vision.

It’s easy to fill a set list with songs by Hillsong. They write
amazing songs that were birthed out of the vision of Hillsong Church
and for the people in Australia. We write songs that are birthed out
of the vision of Freedom Church and for the people in Acworth. Any
worship leader who can play chords and carry a tune can learn worship
songs written by other artists. To write songs for the vision of your
church means you take the vision God has spoken to your pastor and you
prayerfully get before God and allow Him to bring it to life through
song.

One way we make this happen on a consistent basis is by having weekly
song writing sessions. Tyler Orr (Worship Leader) and I sit
down and develop songs based on upcoming series ideas that God has
given our Pastor. As time goes on more originals will take over the set list. We are very
excited about going into the studio in September to do a full-length
album of all original songs. This album and all of the songs would not
exist apart from the vision of Freedom. Our songs are written so that
people far from God can experience life in Christ.

In Malachi 1 the Priests are getting blasted for lackluster leadership.  In a complicated sacrificial system, the Priests had been allowing the people to bring their leftover, jacked-up animals to the temple instead of the award winning kind that were capable of winning a blue ribbon at the county fair (do they still have that stuff?).

The problem was that since the Priests were to be a type of standard bearer – their willingness to bend the rules caused the people to have a distorted perception of God.  2nd rate giving (our gifts to God reflect our attitude toward Him) became the norm and ignoring the issue was much more convenient than confronting the problem.

God didn’t take this lightly…¹⁴ “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great King.”

If He didn’t take it lightly – than neither should we.  God deserves our best – so whatever your bringing – bring your best.  He is a Great King!

Beginning Saturday, our staff will begin a 15-day fasting experience that will carry us through our biggest series to date.  Join us as we pray for specific people who are far from God.  Many of our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, etc., are just one personal invitation away!

Several people accepted Christ yesterday – the week before the JESUS  series even begins.  God is up to something in Acworth, GA.  We are believing God for even bigger things over the course of the next 3 weeks.

I have decided to hijack the Pastor’s blog for the morning.  With that in mind, I get the incredible opportunity to serve as the Executive Pastor at Freedom Church.  So what exactly does an Executive Pastor do? I’m glad you asked. 

1. I honor and defend my Pastor. I consider J.R. my best friend in the entire world.  Even cooler than that, I get the privilege to call him my Pastor.  I desire to honor him and protect him in every way. I don’t just do it because of the fact that it is expected, it’s something that I enjoy doing because I have a high respect for the office of Pastor and I want the very best for my friend. 
2. I empower our staff to accomplish what God has called them to do. It is my job to make sure they have the resources they need and hold them accountable to be the best they can be. 
3. I handle the details.  I do this so that J.R. can be free to dream.  I want him to be casting vision, leading the staff, and preparing messages.  I fly at 1000 ft. so that he can fly at 30,000 ft. He is one of the greatest visionary leaders that I have ever been around. I want him to continue to do what he does best!

We are 7 weeks into the incredible journey that is Freedom Church.  The best is yet to come!

Todd Lollis

Executive Pastor.