The Freedom Resource (the organization supporting Freedom Prayer Ministry) is a 501(C)(3) not for profit organization whose goal is to provide a landing place for resources and assistance to people and ministries who wish to use the Freedom Prayer ministry model. The Freedom Resource is outgrowth of a growing number of ministry teams and relationships. As the relationships grew and the need to help others became apparent we felt it would be best to form a special organization that was nimble in its ability to help others get started with the right materials and provide relationship-based support. We are friends and co-laborers sharing what we have learned and eagerly learning from others.
History
Scripture tells us to “restore” one who has fallen, to confess our sins to one another and to repent of our sin, to bear another’s burdens, to put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, and about a hundred related things. As elders, teachers and church leaders (and mates and friends for that matter) for many years we often felt desperately ill equipped to do that. Most people do too… maybe everyone does.
Freedom Prayer is a great solution to that dilemma. It focuses on how to be an effective emotional and spiritual “first responder” in a variety of settings where an individual needs insight, love, grace and truth from God and God’s people. Our flagship publication, Freedom Tools, presents our model that is both flexible and intuitive. Used primarily in churches, but accessible in small groups, other ministries and non-profits, as well as missions organizations and counseling, Freedom Prayer is often foundational in practically walking others into a healthier prayer life and personal discipleship.
For the past 20 years or so this approach, its principles and its practices, have been in development. We owe a debt of gratitude to the many, many who found certain keys or understandings that simply seemed to work or seemed to follow biblical precedent. We will not name names for fear of missing someone but each has pushed their piece of the puzzle to the middle for others to use. We have gathered up many of these pieces, tried them out, reshaped many, and fit them together.
Like tuning a musical instrument, we were looking for that balance that would offer effective freedom within a biblical framework, while also easily reproducible in a church or ministry setting. We believe that these tools in prayer are for every believer and have fine tuned them over the years in order to help transform a person, a relationship, a family, and church cultures. It is relatively simple to teach and get accustomed to and almost always becomes a passion for everyone who receives prayer and learns to pray in this way. Freedom is contagious as true transformation can only happen if the Lord is in it. Our favorite part is encountering Him in this ministry.
It is our hope and prayer that the resources on this site encourage you to pursue freedom for yourself, your church and your community. We believe in personal freedom first – there is no substitute for experiencing these things for yourself in an honest and humble way. If you do, you will likely find that your prayer life is deepened and that your identity in Christ is secure. You will probably also feel equipped and competent to help others. Most importantly, your awe and worship of a living and loving Father God will expand with every prayer time. It is why we are passionate about building healthy Freedom Prayer teams in churches from the ground up – to see the family of God whole, healed, and fitted with tools of reconciliation and restoration.
Meet Our Team
Jennifer Barnett
Executive Director
Jennifer has founded and led the Freedom Prayer teams at CrossBridge Community Church in San Antonio, Texas and at Ethos Church in Nashville, Tennessee where she currently serves. She is co-author of Freedom Tools, a lead Freedom Prayer trainer, and passionate about training church Freedom Prayer ministries and partnerships with non-profits. Invested in long term team building relationships and church culture discipleship, she can often be found speaking and advocating on behalf of Freedom Prayer.
Andy Reese
Founder
Andy is founder and president of Freedom Prayer. He oversees all aspects of the ministry and is the co-author of Freedom Tools, as well as the creator of the core pieces of the model. He is a lead Freedom Prayer trainer and popular speaker on the subject of freedom and inner healing. A Freedom Prayer board member, he currently serves on the Otter Creek Freedom Prayer team.
Franklin Bennett
Director of Operations and Advocacy
Franklin is the co-leader of the Otter Creek Church Freedom Prayer team in Nashville, Tennessee with a passion for introducing freedom into a variety of settings, including schools and athletics. He is a lead Freedom Prayer trainer and coach of new teams, as well as a board member.
Sarah Darden
Director of Team Education
Sarah leads the Freedom Prayer team at CrossPoint Church in Nashville, Tennessee and is a skilled trainer of new Freedom Prayer leaders and teams. With a role of walking relationally with new teams as they form and grow, Sarah mentors teams for successful ministry. She is also a lead Freedom Prayer trainer and coach.
Katie Arthur
Director of Special Projects
Katie co-leads the Freedom Prayer team at Brentwood Hills Church and serves as a Freedom Prayer lead. Along with training and coaching teams, Katie directs many Special Projects at Freedom Prayer, most notably in shepherding the Global Cohort and our international teams.
Chris Toriscelli
Coordinator of Freedom Stories
Chris serves on the Freedom Prayer team at CrossPoint and is a skilled Freedom Prayer lead and trainer. She gathers testimonies from around the world, and collaborates with the individuals to produce Freedom Stories, a beautiful snapshot of our community and freedom.
Jonathan St. Martin
Coordinator of Social Media
Jonathan serves on the Freedom Prayer team at Ethos and is a gifted Freedom Prayer lead and trainer. As Coordinator of Social Media, Jonathan designs both testimonies and events to give a solid picture of our ministry and activities.
Meet Our Pastoral Advisory Board
Dave Clayton
Dave Clayton is the lead church planter and pastor of Ethos Church in Nashville TN. He leads vision and teaching and has a deep passion for making disciples and planting churches. He is the Executive Director of Onward Church Planting and provides leadership to Awaken as well. Married to Sydney and father to three boys, Dave’s church is home to a large Freedom Prayer team that serves both locally and internationally.
Kirk Freeman
Kirk Freeman – A Texas native, Kirk spent ten years working in the Christian publishing industry prior to transitioning into the pastoral ministry. He moved to San Antonio to start CrossBridge in 2003. Kirk and his wife, Debbie, have three sweet daughters. Kirk pastors CrossBridge Community Church, which has had a thriving Freedom Prayer ministry for over 11 years. He often engages other pastors about the fruit of freedom prayer in a church culture.
Josh Graves
Josh Graves is the preaching and teaching minister for Otter Creek Church as well as an adjunct professor at Lipscomb University in Nashville TN. His work has been featured in several national news outlets and he has authored three books. Married to Kara with three boys, Josh’s church is home to a thriving Freedom Prayer team.