Tag Archive for: #freedomlifechurchofgod

Sossamon Plans Concert Tuesday, July 23

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Pastor Frank Sossamon has scheduled a concert for Tuesday, July 23 at Freedom Life Church of God. Come listen to some good old Southern gospel music and hymns, featuring Sossamon, accompanied by Marsha Ranes on piano.

The performance begins at 4 p.m. and will highlight the activities of Community Partners of Hope. Sossamon said the event’s offering would benefit this worthwhile ministry and its ongoing activities.

Come out for a great time of worship, inspiration and fellowship at Freedom Life Church of God, located at 1001 Martin Creek Rd.

Call 252.432.1469 for more information.

The Rev. William Brodie Receives Governor’s Service Award

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-information courtesy of the office of Rep. Frank Sossamon

Freedom Life Church of God pastor the Rev. William Brodie received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in a ceremony at the church on June 2.

Rep. Frank Sossamon presented the award, which honors individuals and groups that embody the true spirit of volunteerism, making a significant impact through their selfless efforts, according to a press statement from Clai Keel from Sossamon’s office.

Brodie’s extensive volunteer work spans multiple roles and institutions and showcases his unwavering commitment to helping others, the statement read.

“It’s my hope and prayer that the good spirit of volunteerism displayed in Rev. William Brodie’s life will spread throughout our community and we’ll see an increase of people of all ages signing up to serve in some capacity in our community organizations,” Sossamon said.

In his role as a chaplain at Maria Parham Health, Brodie’s compassionate care and support provide comfort to patients and their families. His volunteerism extends to pastoral care at both Duke and UNC hospitals.

In addition to his work within healthcare facilities, Brodie dedicates his time to transporting local seniors to health appointments and ensures that military veterans have reliable transportation to and from the VA, reinforcing his commitment to serving those who have served our country.

Brodie’s volunteer efforts are not confined to health-related services, not by a long shot. His dedication to Freedom Life Church in Henderson is equally significant, where he continues to provide spiritual guidance and support. Moreover, Brodie is the proud founder and pastor of I Am My Brother’s Keeper Ministry, an organization dedicated to uplifting and assisting community members in need.

Brodie actively participates in community safety initiatives as well, such as volunteering for the Pinkston Street Community Watch and the Vance County Public Safety Task Force.

Lisa Radford, volunteer coordinator at Maria Parham Health, praised Brodie’s unwavering dedication, noting, “Mr. Brodie was one of the few pastors who continued to come to the hospital during the pandemic. He is known to always be dressed for success, wearing a fine suit and sometimes a matching fancy hat.”

Brodie’s remarkable volunteerism exemplifies the spirit of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, and his contributions have made a lasting positive impact on countless lives in the community.

TownTalk: Freedom Life Church Of God’s Camp Meeting Returns

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According to Pastor Jeff Prewer, the upcoming camp meeting at Freedom Life Church of God will have all the markings of a traditional revival – there will be guest speakers and lots of special musical entertainment over the four-day event.

But when you add technology – from video screens to social media platforms and podcasts – the traditional revival setting gets taken up a notch or two.

And that’s just fine with Prewer, because he has David Cole, who is the church’s technology specialist and A/V team director, to make sure everything’s running smoothly for those who attend the revival in person and for those who may watch via livestream or later on the church’s YouTube channel.

As with so many other things, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a monkey wrench into how the church conducted services, Prewer told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

Prewer said he found it different, but not difficult, to preach in an empty sanctuary which pre-pandemic could be filled with hundreds of people.

“Though the pews were empty, I knew that people were hearing the Word,” Prewer said.

As recorded sermons evolved to parking lot services, Prewer led the church as it made its way back to in-person services.

“We refuse to sit back any longer,” Prewer said. “We decided we’re going forward.
The camp meeting kicks of Sunday, Sept. 25 with services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and continues through Wednesday with services at 7 p.m.

Special guest speakers include Craig Stone from Braselton, GA, Steve Edmondson of Wilson, NC, Tracy Stone, a pastor in Lawrenceville, GA and Steve Hargrove, of Oxford’s White Rock Missionary Baptist Church.

Planning a camp meeting can take months, Prewer said. It’s important to select speakers and musical entertainment that “fit” the church, he added.

“God has blessed us to break barriers and build bridges,” he said, and to “lift up Jesus…I’m looking for men that share that heartbeat.”

Cole said he and his team have to do a lot of preparation as well in advance of each service. “I have a wonderful team behind me,” he said, to make sure that all the equipment and lighting is ready each week.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused some headaches at the outset, but from that came creativity and innovation that allowed Prewer’s message to continue to be delivered.

So whether he’s preaching in front of one person who is operating a camera, or 500 people inside a church building, for Prewer, it’s all the same.
“I just preach out of my heart…to please God (and) to bring the word of God to people.”

Just a couple of months ago, the church reached 5,000 people across the different social media platforms. That number has surged to 9,000 since then, with 20 percent of the views from Henderson and the rest from across the nation and globally.

“It’s just awesome to see how God moves,” Cole said.

Visit www.freedomlifecog.org/campmeeting to see a schedule of speakers and musical guests. The church is located at 1001 Martin Creek Rd. in Henderson.

 

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TownTalk: Brick Power Team Event Benefits Local Church

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Think you’ve got what it takes to compete at The Brick?

If you have to ask what The Brick is, you may want to be a spectator rather than a competitor – The Brick is where The Brick Power Team gets its name and it is the site of an upcoming bench press contest.

Harry Orr, a member of the weightlifting team, said the Oct. 15 event will benefit Freedom Life Church of God, located right next door to The Brick on Martin Creek Road in Henderson.

It’s a tangible way to say thank you for the support the church has provided The Brick Power Team, Orr told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk.  (Click to Play Audio – TownTalk: Brick Power Team Event Benefits Local Church)

“We’re trying to give a little bit back to our church for helping us and supporting us through these events,” he said. “We’re like a ministry outreach from the church – we’ll find somebody with some kind of need” and then host a fundraiser bench press event.

“Every little bit helps,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s a lot we can give…we enjoy doing it – and use weightlifting to make it happen.”

A recent recipient was the local American Legion, he said. Adult competitors pay $40 to register and teens pay $30, but Orr said they’re not sticklers on strict rules and regulations – Orr said he’s grateful to sponsors for their help in defraying the cost of things like food and trophies for the first- and second-place finishers in the various categories.

Competitors can weigh in between 8:30 and 11 on the morning of the competition, which should begin around noon. Previous events have pulled competitors from Wake Forest, Raleigh, Greensboro, Greenville and Roxboro, and Orr said he hopes that folks will turn out in October to participate or to cheer the competitors on.

“We go by weight classes and age,” Orr said, in determining the different categories for the competition. There are classes for teens, and men’s and women’s master classes, as well as open classes determined by weight.

There’s been a 75-year-old winner and a 10-year-old winner, he said. The youngster weighed about 100 pounds and he benched more than 100 pounds.  “We’ve got some real tough competitors in this sport,” he added.

For Orr, it’s a time to do what he enjoys doing – he’s been lifting for more than 30 years, he said. “It’s a great event to put on – we have a good time doing it.”

And the competitors probably get a little charge out of flexing their muscle in front of  others. “Everybody likes to show off a little bit,” Orr said.

Orr may fit that description as well, when he’s in a competition. But he was a bit more subdued as he shared an accolade that will be bestowed on him and some others from Vance County in just a couple of weeks at Aycock Rec Center: Orr will be inducted into the N.C. Power Lift Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 10.

In 2011, Orr was ranked #1 in the 55-59 class of the American Challenge. It’s a lot of hard work on his part to train and practice, but he gives the credit to God.

“God’s been good to us, giving us the ability to do it,” he said.

Call Orr at 252.432.4196 or email him at horr2553@yahoo.com

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