Freedom Center of Kalamazoo

“Expenses office expenses 1,430 information technology 788 insurance 856 automobile 6,622 telephone 4,211 community services 11,082 books/education 1,502 legal/professional 113 miscellaneous 3,883 total 30,487”

“Accounts payable and accrued expenses 6,571 3,268”

“To create a family of grace-oriented disciples who deeply experience and embrace the love and presence of jesus and partner with him to be a conduit of his grace, love and power in every area of their lives.”

“Our personal ministry appointments in 2016 averaged 17 per month, totaling 204 for the year. Men, women and children all engaged in these appointments, desiring growth and soul-care or just wanting to experience god in deeper ways. Recipients sometimes chose to have just one appointment, and some recipients chose to continue to receive. The average amount was four appointments per recipient. Our focus during the allotted two hours was to encourage each individual to connect with god on their own, learning who he is and also their identity in christ. We do these appointments at our location but also have been asked to minister at other locations. We regularly partner with youth for christ to minister to individual participants of michigan youth challenge academy, as well as at times meeting someone at a different location, such as a home or hospital.our goal is always to see peoples lives healed and experience real transformation in their lives. We abundantly met that goal. In 2016 we went out to various areas of downtown kalamazoo where, through experience we knew the homeless to congregate. Once per month, loaded with items we collected for the homeless we brought out winter gear as well, as footwear, hoodie sweatshirts, backpacks, suitcases, sleeping bags and blankets, tents, socks and toiletries. We also assembled goodie bags that we distributed with non-perishable snacks and small necessities. Our goal was to provide people with basic needs and from time to time a luxury. Another goal and most primary was to make relational connections, valuing people, listening to them and spending time with them. When able to meet an even more unique need, such as a cane or an air mattress we would do that. It was also a goal of ours to teach people how to connect with people living on the streets, how to compassionately understand them and give selflessly of themselves to people in our community who are in need. We had approximately 15 volunteers per monthly outreach. We also had relationships formed with people living on the streets, whereas they knew they had a safe place in the freedom center to reach out to for help if needed. The freedom center offers trainings or classes for people desiring to grow in their relationship with the lord and for soul-care. Depending on the time of year we offer weekly or monthly trainings. Some stand alone and some are part of a series of teachings that build upon one another. The public is welcome to attend and there is no charge for the trainings, although we do receive donations. Trainings are taught by our pastoral staff and are always interactive, allowing participants to ask questions or contribute with their thoughts on the topic. Topics range from how to study the bible to setting healthy personal boundaries in relationships. Some of our other reoccurring trainings are, but are not limited to: forgiveness, supernatural marriage, family training, hearing god, prophetic ministry, prayer, identity, etc. We also offer intensive trainings, which are a succession of 3-4 days of training, comparable to a retreat. During these intensives we walk people through tools we use in our personal ministry sessions. The dynamic is more community driven, as participants have a chance to interact with each other and minister to one another. Our staff also takes our trainings out to different locations upon invitation. We have been invited to other churches and ministries to minister, also to peoples homes. An organization called michigan youth challenge academy has us out in partnership with youth for christ to teach and train its participants.”