Dear Freedom Family,

The day is finally here! This Sunday, we will be meeting at 10:30am at our new church property at 5550 S. Sumter Blvd. You have no idea how long we have waited for this day.

For years, we have prayed, made calls, looked at properties, and explored vacant buildings to buy. We diligently searched all of Charlotte County to find a place we could call home. Our hope was to be a lighthouse on a main road, shining a light of hope on people who are lost, making a visible path for prodigal sons and daughters to find their way home to God.

We have found that lighthouse, but to our surprise, it’s in a different county. God wanted us in North Port!

As we were waiting on God, He was waiting to show us His plan of where He wanted us to be. This shouldn’t be a surprise when it comes to our great God, because our new home is better than anything we were hoping for. It’s better than anything we looked at or wanted. No one will ever be disappointed who waits upon Him.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”

Lamentations 3:25

Let this be a lesson for our individual Christian lives. A Hurricane came and damaged the place we were meeting for church and it was beyond repair. We had no place to go. We had to wait on God and He delivered as always.

When an unexpected storm comes out of nowhere and does damage to our life, we have to wait on God! When sickness, death, and other surprises happen that we’re not ready for, we must be still and wait on God.

We might not see the results of what God is doing in each specific circumstance until we get to the other side.

However, here is a promise I will make to you as your Pastor.

In time, God will deliver as always! Because waiting works, when you wait on Him.

While we were waiting on God to provide a home, we never stopped worshiping Him. We never stopped teaching people God’s Word. We never stopped presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a clear way. We never stopped ministering to the people God brought to us.

So while we are waiting for God to get us through this difficult life, may we never stop serving, worshiping and loving Him back for all that He has done for us.

Please never stop waiting for the greatest wait of all. That is waiting for Jesus to come and take us home to be with Him.

“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”

Titus 2:13

On that day, we will be united with our loved ones and beloved church members who dreamed with us, prayed with us, and helped us get to where we are at now. They won’t be able to attend this Sunday because they are in Heaven being rewarded by God. We will never forget them. We eagerly wait to see them again.

Speaking of waiting, I am excitedly waiting for that first lost sheep who walks into our remodeled building in North Port and finds out that our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, brought us there to help rescue them. Waiting works, when you wait on Him!

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

Psalm 33:20-22

I can’t thank you all enough for your prayers and all of your hard work to help get our new location ready to go.

This Sunday is going to be worth the wait. Hope to see you there.

Your Pastor and Friend,

Frank