Lobby Time with Pastor Tracy (if we could chat in the lobby...)

Here is a transcription of today’s Lobby Time video in case you like to read more than you like to watch!

Hey, church family. I wanted to bring you a little bit of lobby time for today's devotional. That's just things I would say to you in the lobby if we had a chance to connect one-on-one.

On Sunday, we talked about grief and mourning. And a couple of things occurred to me. Usually, when I preach for 35 minutes, there's just so much you can't say. And usually I just let that be. But I just got thinking so deeply about this particular topic, and I wanted to say to you, as I was praying and expressing some of the prayers that I had shared in my deepest grief, I heard the way I was even praying it. I haven't personally struggled with suicidal ideation or self-harm, but I know that many people have and do. I heard in my prayers maybe some of the prayers others may be praying, who are really struggling with those things in the depths of their own grief and pain. And I wanted to say to you, you are not alone. This is not the end of your story. And I want to encourage you to reach out for help. If those are prayers you're praying, and it's becoming a desperate situation for you, please reach out for help. Get in contact with me. I'll also leave in this devo a resource for you to reach out to people that you can talk to who specialize in walking you through what that means.

[If you are in crisis, please reach out to a friend, family member, one of your pastors or Here 24/7.]

This is not the end of the story. There is so much ahead of us. And so, I just want to encourage you and give you hope. And if you heard in my prayer something in you that resonated deeply, and you need another step to ask for help, I just want to encourage you to do that.

I had somebody come and share with me a picture that they felt the Lord had shown them on Sunday morning. It's like two wheels that were turning together, and some people feel like they're stuck between those wheels that are grinding together. They're just stuck there, and they can never move, and there's just no good outcome that could come out of their life.

The encouragement from the Lord was that those wheels are moving. And while we might get pressed in a particular situation or in a particular difficulty or in a particular season of grief in our life, God is using that pressing to bring something great out of us, and He is moving. Sometimes it feels like we're stuck in a moment, but God really is moving. So be of good cheer, be hopeful, be encouraged, because what is being produced in your life is for the good, and God is working in your life.

So, while the things that we talked about on Sunday that can become distractions from really dealing with what's going on in our lives and mourning and grieving well with the Lord - like video games, social media, even extreme productivity - those things are benign in themselves. But, I just want to encourage you that you're always keeping an eye on what it is that you're doing with the pain in your life and how it is that you're processing it… Not to demonize any particular form or activity that you're doing, but simply just to say, "Hey, let's keep an eye on these things together.” Let's be mindful of one another's pain. Let's be mindful of our own pain, and let's remember that we can always bring it to Christ.

So, just wanted to share a couple of thoughts with you today and pray that you're blessed as you may be mourning today, that you would be comforted by the Lord.

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, February 22 @ 10am

LEARN / UNLEARN
About Strenth
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Even More Learning (or Unlearning)

We are keenly aware of the changing dynamics of our community. We used to be surrounded by fields, now we are surrounded by neighbours. It’s exciting, but it’s teaching us that we have some learning (and unlearning) to do if we want to share Christ effectively across cultures and languages that are different from our own. Church, we’re up for the challenge!

As part of that learning, Pastor Erin is starting a group on February 23rd that is going to help us grow in living out the Great Commission. Here is what she said:

“Did you know that by the year 2030, it is predicted that across Canada we will no longer be known as a monoculture society? In fact, in our bigger cities, this is already true. Isn’t that amazing? Canada is a beautiful country with rich history and rich culture, and we have done this amazing thing over the past decades of inviting other cultures and countries in, and it’s changed our nation. There is diversity and it brings beauty, it brings strength, it brings really good food, and it also brings challenges. Learning to connect within our church, in our community, in our workplaces, and with our neighbours has become more challenging over the years. 

“And so, as a church, we recognize that and want to do something about it. We want to be able to connect within our church family and we want to be able to engage with our outside community well, even with the changing tapestry of cultures around us.

“I want to invite you to join me. There is a group starting on Monday nights over Zoom called ‘Culture Cross.’ It’s a study that explores culture, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus in a diverse world. This study was made by Canadians, for Canadians (which we don’t often get). It was made to help us understand what it means to move beyond assumptions and to build Christ-centred relationships rooted in diversity, finding respect, and finding our mutual agreement.

“I would really love for you to be a part of this group. I want our church to be a place that is strengthened by our diversity and I think that this course can help us connect with one another. And, more than that, I want us to be so well-equipped to talk to our neighbour and our co-worker who comes from a different culture, finding common ground and sharing Christ across cultures really, really well.”

She also sent me this note: “Different cultures often experience the gospel through distinct lenses: some through honour and shame, others through guilt and forgiveness, or fear and power, and some with indifference. All of these ways of seeing salvation can be found in the Old Testament and in how Jesus spoke to people about God’s kingdom.”

Consider what an investment of your time into this group could mean for your effectiveness as a witness for Jesus. Let’s learn (or unlearn!) together!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, February 15 @ 10am

LEARN / UNLEARN
About Grief
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Intentional Unlearning (learn and unlearn)

There are some things in life that we consciously or unconsciously just know. It’s clear to us that the world works in certain ways, that certain actions produce certain results. This learning can be helpful or unhelpful…

  • Helpful: If I eat gluten, my stomach hurts. So, I will not eat gluten.

  • Unhelpful: If I throw a fit, I will get my own way. So, I will throw a fit. (This is the mind of a three-year-old that is so challenging!)

As we get older, though, and gain some wisdom, we start to realize that what we took for granted as being universally true may not be true at all. We understand that we must challenge our assumptions and allow them to be reshaped if we discover that we’re wrong. This could apply to anything from the best way to make chocolate chip cookies to the existence of God. 

Our new series is called Learn / Unlearn for this very reason. As we study scripture, we find that there is a lot to learn. It is endlessly rich in what it teaches us. And, our hearts also have to be humble enough to allow the Spirit to “unlearn” some things as well. The Bible challenges our worldview, our behaviours, our assumptions, and our values. It doesn’t take its cues from the culture; it presents an entirely different culture of the Kingdom.

We’ll be working our way through Matthew 5:1-12 over the coming weeks, famously called “The Beatitudes.” They are the opening statements of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, His declaration that things are different in His kingdom. What we assume we know about how the world works likely needs to be “unlearned,” and something far better is being taught. 

I invite you to come ready to both learn and unlearn on Sunday as we dive into who Jesus says is blessed!

See you then,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, February 8 @ 10am

LEARN / UNLEARN
About Poverty
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Castle and A Banner (the Lord is a strong tower)

On Sunday, I asked everyone to picture an army, a flag, or a stronghold to help us get an image of what it meant to be under God’s banner (Jehovah Nissi - The Lord is Our Banner). I was picturing various scenes from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. For Joel, it was Kilravock, a castle built in 1460 (see the photos he sent me attached) near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
— Proverbs 18:10

As I read this scripture, Joel was picturing this strong tower, a place that was used during battles to mediate peace between warring armies. It was not a meant for warfare, but was built as a refuge, a place for authority and stability in difficult times. As violence was erupting all around, people ran to this tower for wisdom and protection. What a beautiful picture of being under the banner of Jehovah Nissi.

Whatever this week has thrown at you, remember that your God is able, so, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:1

Many blessings,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, February 1 @ 10am

HE LEADS ME
Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

The Third Space (welcome back to Groups)

A couple of years ago, I heard a phrase I'd never heard before but immediately connected with. It's "a third place" or "a third space." According to a very helpful article I Googled, "A third place is a familiar public spot where you regularly connect with others known and unknown, over a shared interest or activity." Your first space is home, and your second is work, but people are realizing how important third spaces are.

I was excited when I heard this phrase because, without being told, I already knew that I had access to the best third space. We are the Third Space.

Church, we already have what the human heart is longing for - community that makes a difference in our lives, where people know our names and are doing life with us. And, we have the best reason to create and nurture this space: Jesus. (Since, of course, He's why we gather!)

And, let me point you to one of the most life-giving third spaces that I know of - Groups. New groups start next week and they provide such an excellent third space. They are a place to gather around our shared desire to know Jesus more, connect with others and be known by them. It is always worth the time you invest.

All the information is on our website but here are this season's Groups in a nutshell:

  • Sunday Debrief - Wednesdays - starts January 28

  • Alpha - Wednesdays - starts January 28

  • KidzConnect - Wednesdays - starts January 28

  • Women's Prayer Connection - Tuesdays once/month

  • Men of Freedom - Saturdays once/month

See you in a third space!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, January 25 @ 10am

HE LEADS ME
Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is Our Banner
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Melody & Harmony (bringing your voice)

Some of my favourite courses in college were my conducting courses. I took a theology degree with a major in music ministry, so these were required in my program. I loved them. We had to learn all about the structure of an orchestra, reading scores, choral arrangements, and, in second semester, we got to start using a baton. So fun!

My final exam for this course was to conduct our school choir at the grad ceremony. The song was Psalm 23 and was pretty much everyone’s favourite in choir that year. I wish every exam was like this one! I’ll never forget how fun that was. It was over 20 years ago, but while I was preparing for our current sermon series, I went back and listened to that song a few times. (Yep, I still love it.) I still have muscle memory for how to conduct it, it’s so ingrained in me. It was on in my car on my way to church last week and as I was conducting my imaginary choir, I realized something… being a pastor is a lot like conducting. There are a lot of uniquely gifted people all around me, all bringing their gifts to the group. My job is to help us all create something beautiful together - life transformation and kingdom impact as we are led by the Spirit. 

Whether you more often bring the melody (a more up-front role) or a harmony (a supportive role) to church life, all of it matters. However you serve, you are seen and appreciated. It’s so good to have your voice.

If you haven’t stepped onto a ministry team at Freedom, let me encourage you to add your voice. You have been created uniquely and the body of Christ needs you to serve with what you have been given. Ever wondered where you might fit, take a look at this page on our website and ask the Lord to show you where to begin. He’ll lead you!

I also want to let you know that on January 25th @ 6pm we’re having our next session of Next Leadership Training. For details and to sign-up, check out our website. This session is going to be more dreaming and planning for the futur of Freedom. You don’t want to miss it!

You’re invited to serve in new ways this year. Our Staff is always here to help you figure out the next steps. Just give us a shout!

Looking forward to serving with you this year,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, January 18 @ 10am

HE LEADS ME
Jehovah Shaama: The Lord is There
Scott Corkill

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Membership Matters (visibly together)

Behind the scenes, we've started working on the details for our Annual Business Meeting (on March 29 @ 6:00pm, by the way). There are motions and nominations and reports to put together. But all of it reminds me of the bigger picture. We take care of these things for much more important reasons than being in compliance with the government to retain our charitable status! (Though, we do it for that reason, too.) I want to take a moment this week to tell you why participating in church life as a member is a great thing to do.

Becoming a member makes your commitment to the body of Christ visible to everyone. You are saying that you will be accountable to others in the body of Christ. You are saying that you belong to a body of believers and are devoted to helping them and serving with them for the Kingdom. We know from 1 Corinthians 12 that we are meant to be members of the church body together. This takes submission to our head, Christ, and a heart to serve each other. Through membership, we declare our investment in the local church as well as the universal Church.

If this is a new idea for you to consider, here is an article about church membership that you might find helpful:

If you're considering becoming a member of Freedom, I would love to have that conversation with you. Here is a link to information about membership and an application form. If you would like to participate in our upcoming ABM, you’ll need to submit your application before March 25th so it can be reviewed at our March board meeting.

Truly, it is an honour to be a member of this church, accountable to, and serving with you.

In Christ,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, January 11 @ 10am

HE LEADS ME
Jehovah Rapha: The Lord Who Heals
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

New Year, New Page (join us in the Bible app)

There are 91 people who have made Freedom “their church” in the YouVersion Bible app. Between us, we were in the Word for 13,295 days in 2025. That’s pretty incredible to think about. I believe that our own hearts, our families and our church have been reaping the benefits of these days. 

Reading the Bible is a spiritual discipline and, as such, takes a measure of, well, discipline! Some may find it intimidating, confusing, or overwhelming. But I want to encourage you not to be deterred as we enter 2026. One step at a time, one day at a time, the scriptures will renew and transform your mind (Romans 12:2). And you’re not alone. Your church family is with you every step of the way.

If you haven’t already, we’d love for you to make Freedom in Christ your church on the YouVersion app. We can’t see anything that you don’t share publicly on the app, but it tracks our church collectively and lets us pastors see what people are sharing, highlighting and searching for. 

Once you’ve done that, add us as a friend on YouVersion. This is how we do reading plans together, like the one that we are starting today. 

Yesterday, we finished the Bible-in-a-Year with Malachi 4. Today, we open the Bible freshly to a new page, the first page, and begin with Genesis 1. Will you join us?

Here’s what some of our 2025 Bible-in-a-Year readers said to encourage you…

“As you expose yourself to the scripture every day, God is faithful through the Holy Spirit and His words to give you a golden nugget for the day to lean into and on. It’s warmth for your day.”

“It’s a structured way to help us keep up with the discipline of daily reading. It provides the  opportunity to ask God to reveal things about His character, especially in the hard-to-read portions that we may not think about in our ‘familiar’ passages.”

“In my earlier years as a believer, I went along without reading the Word regularly. My ability to resist the temptations of the world was weakened as a result. When I came through to the other side, I fed on the wod daily like a starving child. It strengthens me and I have seen the fruit of the Spirit grow in me.”

“We live in a time with incredible literacy rates. We live in a time after the invention of the printing press, which has given us easy access to Bibles, further made accessible by the internet. We live in a country where we can freely open, study, and discuss the Bible. None of these things is the historic norm, nor are they a worldwide reality in the present. So given this unique privilege, why wouldn’t you engage with scripture?”

Are you ready to turn the page this year with us? 
See you in the Bible app!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, January 4 @ 10am

HE LEADS ME
Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Merry Christmas (a prayer for Christmas Day)

The season of waiting is over and our hearts are full of gratitude that Jesus has come and is coming again. I pray that your day is full of the peace and presence of Christ as you celebrate Christmas!

Click here to download a reflective prayer for Christmas Day.

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:2,6

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, December 28 @ 10am

BEFORE BETHLEHEM
Sanctuary
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Peacemaker Will Come (prayer and readings for the third week of Advent)

This week, we reflect on the peace we have in Christ.

Click here to download the prayer and readings for the third week of Advent.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, December 21 @ 10am

BEFORE BETHLEHEM
Shepherd
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Saviour Will Come (prayer and readings for the second week of Advent)

This week, we reflect on the love we have in Christ.

Click here to download the prayer and readings for the second week of Advent.

"…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, December 14 @ 10am

BEFORE BETHLEHEM
Sovereign
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Come Lord Jesus (prayer and readings for the first week of Advent)

Last weekend, the kids and I did what we almost always do on the first Sunday of Advent - decorate the house for Christmas. I like to mark the beginning of the season like this. Maybe you do the same!

Now that the lights are twinkling in my living room, I’m reminded that I don’t want this season to be busy; I want it to be about Jesus. I know I’ll have to be intentional about this over the coming weeks, but that’s what I know will be more valuable than anything else I may do for Christmas. 

With that in mind, I want to invite you to follow along with our Advent prayers and offer some scripture readings to help you each week. You’ll find a copy of the prayer we prayed together on Sunday and some traditional passages for each Advent theme in the devotionals all through December.

To start off, we reflect on the hope we have in Christ.

Click here to download the prayer and readings.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, December 7 @ 10am

BEFORE BETHLEHEM
Servant
Del Wells

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

The Best Decision (share with someone you know)

On Sunday, I invited anyone who wanted to make a decision to follow Jesus to pray with me at the end of the service. I was thinking about that later in the day and was reminded that in this season of Advent (which starts this Sunday), people are often more open to responding to the good news about Jesus. There will likely be many opportunities over the coming weeks for people to make the best decision of their lives.

While some people just show up to church without any connection ahead of time, many people who are new to Freedom come with you. They are friends, family, co-workers and neighbours. You’re the one they have been asking questions to, and you’re likely the one who invited them to church. 

Here’s a resource for you as you head into this season. If you know that someone has questions about what it means to follow Jesus, or they’ve made a decision for Him, take a minute and navigate with them to: freedomkw.com/life

This page is simple but has great information. There is a booklet to download, a link to our Alpha course, and a way to connect with our pastors. 

Perhaps it’s been a long time since you talked to someone about becoming a believer. Nicky Gumbel of Alpha has written a great resource called “Why Jesus?” It outlines how to answer the question of why Jesus is so important and what to do about it. I’d encourage you to take a look and be sure that you’re equipped to simply but powerfully share your faith.

It’s going to be a beautiful season of Advent and we start it off with our new series about how Jesus was promised long before Bethlehem. I’m looking forward to celebrating with you!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, November 30 @ 10am

BEFORE BETHLEHEM
Skull-Crusher
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

What's Your Story? (let's hear it!)

Just beside my desk, I have two water baptism applications ready and waiting for Sunday. (I use them as notes for my interviews with the candidates.) They’ve been there for a couple of weeks and every time I look over there, my heart gets happy. No two stories are the same, but what is the same is that Jesus found each and every one of us and brought us into His family. Incredible.

These testimonies are only a sampling of the ones that are in the room each Sunday. I suspect that we could write volumes on what God has done in our lives. What a book that would be… and maybe that’s what heaven will be like!

Over the Christmas season, starting on 5th Sunday, we have some unique times to share what God has been up to. For some of us, it will be around a meal with friends and family as you catch up and reflect on the year. But I’m also wondering if you have a story that you know will encourage the rest of the church. In the same way that you are encouraged when you hear someone else’s testimony, perhaps you could share something that would do the same for others.

If you’re reading this and something God has done or is doing in your life pops into your mind, would you hit reply on this email and share it? I would never share anything without permission, but I would love the chance to talk more as a church family about all that God’s been up to. 

I am praying that through our stories, God will not only encourage us but will make Himself known to those who are open to the gospel at this special time of the year. 

So, what’s your story?
Looking forward to hearing it!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, November 23 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Redeemed & Righteous
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Three Generations (intentionally passing on your faith)

I was challenged by something that was shared in my Group on Wednesday night. We were “debriefing” the message from the previous Sunday (Malachi 1 & 2, bringing God your best) and how the people seemed so quick to forget what God had done for them, so quick to disobey, and so quick to break their covenant with Him. When we read the stories, it’s easy for us to judge and see how foolish they were.

But someone mentioned that things are lost within three generations. The example was from farming: “My grandfather could plough a field with a horse. My father knew how to do it but never had to. I have no idea how.” How many other things could we name that are lost in as short a time as three generations?

Unfortunately, we’ve also seen this in the faith. One generation’s faith can become the next generation’s nominal belief, which becomes the third generation’s unbelief. It wasn’t intentional; the erosion simply happens.

On the other hand, we’ve also seen faith built over generations. One generation’s introduction to Christ becomes the next generation’s ability to grow up in a loving, discipling church family, who in turn raise their children to love and serve the Lord. This is intentional, a thoughtful choice over a lifetime of following Christ.

It caused me to take stock of my life and my kids. What am I actively modelling for them? What elements of faith in Christ could be lost to my children’s children if I don’t intentionally pass them on while I have the opportunity?

The book of Judges starts in a sad way. It says, “The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel… After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:7,10) It can happen so quickly, can’t it?

I want to encourage you to live your faith on your sleeve. Talk about it at the dinner table, discuss it on your way to hockey/soccer/dance/etc, and integrate it into your discipline and problem-solving. Stay sharp in the Word, choosing to learn and grow each day so that you can invest well into the next generation. As you determine to make Jesus known to everyone in your life, your faith will be strengthened at the same time.

Let’s make every generation as well-informed about the goodness of God as the first generation!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, November 9 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Refined & Clean
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

5Q at Freedom: The Follow-Up Conversation (you're invited!)

Back in September, we had a fantastic session of Next Leadership Training with Pastors Chris & Kim from Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly. Using the framework from the book 5Q, we looked at the gifts listed in Ephesians 4 (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, teacher) and learned how they show up in the church today.

But that wasn’t the end of the conversation. The question still lingers… so what? What should we do with this information? How can we use it for kingdom purposes here at Freedom?

We want to invite you to join us for 5Q: Part 2! On Sunday, November 23rd from 6-8pm, we’re going to work through those questions and gain some insight into how Jesus has specifically called us for this next season of ministry in our local church.

If you didn’t attend Part 1 on September 19 & 20, your first step is to head to our learning platform and get caught up with the material. It will take about 3.5 hours to complete and is well worth the investment. Click here to get started. (And don’t forget to RSVP for November 23rd, too!)

If you did attend Part 1, you can head right to the RVSP link to secure your spot for Part 2.

I’m anticipating a fantastic night of discussion and learning together! I hope you can join me as we discover more about one another and God’s good plans for us!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, November 2 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Unfaithful & Rejected
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

I Know God Loves Me But... (maybe this is you?)

On Sunday, I talked about God’s love for His chosen children (including us!) and how easy it is to doubt that love. This is certainly the context of the opening of the book of Malachi: “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ (Malachi 1:2) I believe that many people feel that same distance from the love of God, whether they say it out loud or it’s hidden somewhere in their heart. The Lord brings it out in the open through the prophet’s message and this antipatory question.

After the service, Walt Kippenhuck brought up another way to consider the question of God’s love. He said that for him (and others he’s talked to), the question isn’t knowing if God loves us. He’s always known and believed that. The problem comes when you compare it to how consistently we mess up, even though we are loved so extravagantly. You might ask it this way: “If God is good and he loves me, why do I keep messing up?”

I thought about it a lot this week and asked Walt how he has wrestled through this in his own life. Here are some of his thoughts…

In some ways, the answer is as simple as the fact that we're broken by nature. When we live our own way, we can reliably expect to encounter this, and it will be the story of our lives. But God has given us a better way - clear, detailed instructions, in fact. Unfortunately, we: don’t read them, think we know a better way, think we know an easier way, read them years ago and are pretty sure we remember how it’s supposed to be done, or learned them from someone else who read them but didn’t look for ourselves because we are busy and haven’t made the time.

God is telling us all through scripture to ask when we don’t understand something. But we stay in our confusion because: we don’t know what to ask because we didn’t read the instructions, we feel like the question is dumb (“I should know this by now!”), we’re ashamed because we ignored the instructions and failed, or our relationship with Him has become distant and we don’t feel connected enough to ask for anything.

All of this is exacerbated by the fact that we have an enemy who is focused on throwing all of this in our faces 24-7.

My conclusion has been this:

  • DO read the instructions.

  • DO ask the questions… all of them… all the time.

  • DO read the instructions again and note how holes are being filled in as a result of the questions you asked.

  • THANK Him. Don’t just move on to the next step. Stop and recognize the difference it made just talking to Him.

Walt

————

Maybe you’re not doubting God’s love, but you can’t see yourself as anything but a total mess who can’t be in a life-transforming relationship with Jesus. I trust that Walt’s experience will encourage you to be in the Word, ask for help, ask questions, and observe how you are being changed day by day.

And, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:18-23)

Blessings,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 26 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Blind & Broken
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Good. God. Gospel. (the hardest part)

Everyone’s faith journey looks different. We all have unique struggles as we learn to think and act more like Jesus. When we think about the hardest parts of our walk, we often think of battling sin, watching our words, or learning patience and kindness.

But maybe one of the hardest things for many of us — and one we don’t talk about enough — is sharing our faith.

We know we’re called to tell others the good news of Jesus. Scripture is clear. The challenge isn’t understanding that we should — it’s finding the confidence to actually do it.

I get it. I’m not a theologian or an apologist. I don’t always have the right words. And sometimes, even when God gives me an opportunity, I miss it.

Just last week at the pharmacy, the assistant helping me went out of her way to sort out an insurance issue. We had a lovely chat, and as I was leaving, she thanked me for being kind — saying she often deals with “creeps” who blame her for things beyond her control.

I encouraged her and told her we all need more compassion. But as I got into my car, it hit me — that could have been a moment to share why I try to be kind, to connect my faith to my words. The Lord handed me an opportunity, and I missed it.

But instead of guilt, I felt gratitude — because I recognized it. That’s growth. Next time, I’ll be more ready.

And that’s what this is all about. On Sunday, October 26th @ 6PM we’re setting aside a few hours to talk together about how to share our faith — how to recognize opportunities, how to have good, God, gospel conversations, and build relationships that point others to Jesus.

There isn’t one perfect way to share your faith, but there is one perfect call — and the empowering of the Holy Spirit that equips us to walk in obedience.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
— Ephesians 2:10

God already has the opportunities prepared. We just need to be ready and willing to walk into them — imperfectly, but faithfully.

So don’t worry about having all the answers. Come and explore with us how we can grow in confidence and courage together as we learn to share Christ.

Pastor Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 19 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Love & Hate
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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I (Maybe) Can But I Won't

I have been humbled in the past few weeks. I signed up to take a course in biblical Greek as part of my master’s program. I didn’t take any biblical languages in my undergrad, so I was excited about the opportunity. The problem is, it’s kicking my butt. It’s difficult to understand the grammar of another language when you barely remember the grammar of the language you speak and write every day. (When was the last time I had to find the indirect object of a sentence!?) Plus, the memory work. Oh, the memory work. By the time this email gets to you, I’ll be in my fourth week of the course and have already (hopefully) memorized 160 Greek words, in addition to all the other paradigms and conjugations thus far… and I still have nine weeks to go. Yes, I chose and paid for this torture.

I was telling my son how overwhelming it is to fit all of this work into my brain and schedule, and there was something about the way he was looking at me… I froze and realized what I would tell him if the roles were reversed. “Have you asked Jesus to help you?” And, nope, I hadn’t. I’d been powering through and hoping I wouldn’t drown. Why hadn’t it occurred to me until that moment that the Lord would help me as I apply myself to this learning? That would have been my advice to someone else. How quickly I can forget that my faith is integrated into every part of my life.

Sometimes it’s easier to trust Jesus when you’re desperate, when you are facing something way beyond your ability. When you’re scared, anxious or overwhelmed, the prayer, “Jesus, please help me,” comes more quickly. But the truth is, I do have the ability to do this hard work. I can grit my teeth, stress myself out, lose a bunch of sleep and white-knuckle my way to the final exam. But that doesn’t sound much like the life and peace of a believer whose mind is governed by the Spirit. (Romans 8:6) The call on my life isn’t to survive this semester, it’s to walk quietly and confidently in Him.

Even as the coursework has been humbling me, the moment with my son humbled me in an even better way because it pointed me back to the source of my strength, joy, and hope.

So, as you face challenges this week (month, year, or season), be encouraged that even if there are things you can do on your own, choose to say that you won’t live apart from Christ. I am convinced that there are more blessings in this choice than we can even imagine.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 12 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gifted Church
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Welcome, Pastor Isaac! (exciting days for our next gen ministries)

We’re excited to introduce Isaac Quinn, our new Youth & Young Adults Pastor. Pastor Isaac officially started at Freedom on Sunday and is ready to get right into things at his first youth night on Tuesday.

Join me in praying for him as he gets settled in Kitchener and gets oriented to life and ministry here. And pray for our youth and young adults, that we’d see incredible growth in their lives as God does great things in them.

Looking forward to a wonderful new season,

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 5 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gifted Church
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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