J.R. Lee

A Crowded Market

J.R. — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:05:43 +0000

I read a book called Mavericks at Work back in October. It’s a fantastic book that our staff is now reading together. Our team decided that one of the best takeaways from this weeks’ reading was the following quote ::

But even in the most crowded markets, there’s room for an innovator with something original to offer and something authentic to say.

That’s a great thought that can be applied in any business, church, or other area of leadership. There’s always a demand for something distinctive.

Almost MidWeek Review

J.R. — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:04 +0000

My little (I use that term very loosely) boy turned 1 this past Sunday. This year has flown by. He is going to be a big kid. I call Bryce my little “man-baby”.
We moved from Barber Middle to North Cobb High School this past Sunday.
We’re now on Day 2 of a 7 Day Prayer Challenge :: Hope you are going strong! If not, start fresh now!
What an incredible day! More than 400 people showed up this Sunday over the same Sunday last year. That’s crazy.
God is doing something great and I am one grateful individual!
I can’t explain how excited I am about the next several weeks! God is just getting started and what we have seen so far is just the beginning!
I don’t care what the fair-weather UiNC fans say – Duke winning by 32 was priceless!
One thing I am learning right now? God is far greater than I could ever imagine. He has everything under control and He desires to see this community changed far more than I ever could. We serve a GREAT God!
Easter Preparation is taking place and it’s going to be and incredible weekend! Wow!
Don’t miss any of the weeks during this series! Be praying for God to restore broken relationships, strengthen solid relationships, and challenge complacent relationships.

Whose Got Your Back

J.R. — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:52:07 +0000

“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” 1 Samuel 14:7

I read this recently and immediately thought of the staff and partners that God has surrounded me with at Freedom Church. There are a large number of people who have chosen to leverage their influence and giftedness so that people far from God can experience life in Christ. They have my back (and my front and sides – as someone told me Friday), and I have theirs. They challenge me more than they can imagine and I couldn’t be more proud of what God is doing in each of their lives!

The journey has just begun! Keep making much of Jesus. He is with you – not just for you.

Freedom Church is moving!

J.R. — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:15 +0000

This is the week! Freedom Church has a new home at North Cobb High School and we are kicking it off in style with a powerful series designed for those who are single, married, use to be married, or one day would love to be married!

Sunday is going to be an incredible day! I know that you’ve been inviting your friends, family, etc. and I am excited about what God has in store for them at either 9:45 or 11:15.

Help us out by coming to the 9:45 if at all possible to free up seats at 11:15. Be praying that God does what only He can do!

The next phase of our journey at Freedom begins Sunday. See you then!

Forward in Faith!

J.R. — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:07 +0000

I absolutely love these verses!

¹⁸Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²²This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:18-22)

Doubting God’s ability to come through on His promise? Read the above paragraph repeatedly until you can move forward in faith!

Almost MidWeek Review

J.R. — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:51:05 +0000

We are moving to North Cobb High School THIS Sunday! Absolutely Can’t Wait til 9:45 and 11:15 on Sunday!
The girls started tennis lessons this past week. Their coach might be the epitome of patience – especially when teaching the 4 yr. old class.
Bryce turns 1 on Sunday. That’s hard for me to believe.
This past week we talked about Honor (Rom. 12:10) to close out our time at Barber. It was a great day!
Several people accepted Christ. That’s the reason we do what we do!
So proud of the 48 families that signed up for the 90 Day Giving Challenge! This was week 1 and we have already received some incredible stories!
77 Partners from Freedom Church are heading to Unleash Thursday morning! Love the opportunity that our people will have to get a first hand glimpse of all that God can do when people just like them are willing to stop at nothing to see people far from God experience life in Christ!
We are moving THIS week to North Cobb High School! Do what you do best and invite everyone you come in contact with. It is going to be an incredible day!

Invitation

J.R. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:34:12 +0000

We always ask first time guests why they attended Freedom Church for the first time (via an email survey).

The overwhelming response? “Because we were invited.”

It sounds simple, but reality is that impacting the lives of people is not much more difficult than extending a simple invitation.

Keep doing what you are doing! Keep investing. Keep inviting. We exist so that people far from God can experience life in Christ.

God is using you to see that vision become reality. Great job to the people of Freedom Church! Keep it up!

Last Week at Barber Middle!

J.R. — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:00:08 +0000

It’s going to be an eventful Sunday! Last week of our current series and last week at Barber Middle School.

The move to North Cobb High School happens next Sunday – but this week we are celebrating all that God has done in our 14 months at Barber!

A few months ago we asked 75 of you to move from 11:15 to 9:45. You listened and it freed up seats during the optimal time for guests. The good news is that not only did we free up seats but we filled them back up and then some. As a result, I need another 50 – 75 of you to make the switch from 11:15 to 9:45. Thanks in advance!

Overheard on Twitter

J.R. — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:06 +0000

Love the real time feedback each Sunday via Twitter / Facebook. Here are some things overheard via Twitter from this past Sunday.

jrlive
So proud of the crew at @freedomchurch! 57 signed up to partner & 48 families signed up for the 90 Day Giving Challenge!

FreedomChurch
LOTS of new partners today after our partnership week two weeks ago! Exciting time to be part of what God is doing!

benfowlkes
Huge day @freedomchurch so many kids @freedomkidz

maddir
im in one of those great moods for no reason. I love sundays! #freedomchurch

metalchicksta
#freedomchurch is amazing! Can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next couple weeks.

kelsianne
I love these kids! #freedomchurch

meganstrange
great morning at #freedomchurch! Moe’s for lunch and then looking forward to open house at #nccs at 3pm. invite someone to check out #nccs!

malthegal
#freedomchurch was freakin awesome today! we’re smokin what we’re sellin!!!! SELAH aka HOLLER!!

maysville
Stoked about #freedomchurch this morning…

khead22
The dew is still on the grass, the sun is shining bright.. It looks like a SUNDAY! #freedomchurch

amy_patterson
#freedomchurch today at 945 or 1115! It’s gonna be awesome! #fb

benfowlkes
The energy already @freedomchurch!!! Awesome/// Means it’s gonna be an awesome day .. See you @ 9:45 or 11:15

Things I am Excited about

J.R. — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:50 +0000

I believe that the next couple of months are going to be incredible. I am praying that the message of the Gospel will go out further and faster than it ever has – across the world – and in the context of Freedom Church.

Here are a few things that I am VERY excited about ::

Last week at Barber Middle School :: February 28th at 9:45 and 11:15
I love Barber Middle School and it has been such a privilege to meet at that facility! It’s going to be a celebratory day as we honor what God has done in the past and look forward to what He has in store for the future!

Unleash :: March 4th
We are taking 77 of our partners to the One Day Conference at Newspring Church in Anderson SC! Actually, we have an internal waiting list because people continue to sign up! I love the passion of our people and I can’t wait to see that continue to increase as a result of this trip!

Freedom Church moves to North Cobb High School :: Beginning March 7th at 9:45 and 11:15.
This is going to give us the opportunity to reach more people, house more people, and be accessible to more people so that your friends/family/neighbors/etc who are far from God can experience life in Christ! I need 100 of the people at 11:15 to move to 9:45 as we make this move to free up seats! We are kicking off a series called IWantANewMarriage that day. It’s going to be a life-changing couple of weeks!

Acworth Egg Drop :: March 27th
It’s hard to beat several thousand people and 40,000 eggs falling from a Helicopter! This year is going to be bigger and better than ever! New location to accommodate the growth and a few surprises will be thrown in as well.

Easter Weekend :: April 3rd and 4th
Easter at Freedom Church. Enough Said! We are throwing a Saturday night option into the mix as well and it’s going to be one fantastic weekend! Be praying with expectation and anticipation! God is going to do something great!