David Goodwin

David Goodwin is probably a familiar face to you. He has been blessing Freedom Church with his keyboard talents on the worship team for many years. In fact, David's very first service at Freedom was also the first service for Pastor Kendall and Starla. At a time of meet and greet after service that day, David felt a sincere kinship with Kendall. David had recently moved back to Texas and was looking for a church home. The mission of our church, Helping People Find Freedom, was something he embraced and felt personally.

David had been living in Iowa since the age of 9. David's dad, who is the only other pastor he has ever had, passed away a few years before his move to Texas. David had stepped up to handle the business of the church for several years. He found himself broken and worn down, his heart filled with sadness and hurt. He had a longing to reconnect with his family in Texas. Strengthening family relationships and being welcomed with love and warmth by the Freedom family made him very aware of God's shepherding hand over him through difficult times. He is walking in freedom!
He feels blessed to be part of an amazing worship team and compliments Jacob for leading the ministry to this awesome place of strength and health.

When he is not working or leading in worship, David enjoys international travel. He has experienced many countries and cultures, loves the water, and regularly scuba dives on his travel adventures. He also enjoys being in the kitchen, describing cooking as a gratifying creative outlet. Thank you, David, for blessing our church with your gifts! We love and appreciate you!

April Mathews

April Mathews, along with her husband, John, and daughter, Eden, has been attending and serving in our church family for 12 years. We are so thankful for her commitment. She believes in staying rooted in church, in relationships, and giving of her time and heart. April is a proponent of “Attend one, Serve one.”
Strong connections to Freedom Church and in the church body are a big part of April’s story. This is the place she met John, built many strong relationships through small groups, and even had her wedding in the home of a small group host.

She fondly remembers joining with the church in evangelism and prayer with Revive Texas a few years ago, and how that called and pushed her out of her comfort zone. It was a challenging, humbling experience that built significant spiritual growth in her, and she is so thankful for the experience.

Whether it was through a difficult season in her life years ago, or through steadfast belief and prayer more recently, April has seen that God is always watching and always walking with her. Thank you, April, for your faithfulness to the Lord, His people and our church! We love you!!!

Holly Dorn

Holly Dorn is a longtime member, familiar face around Freedom Church, and recent college graduate. Congratulations, Holly! She is currently working as an ICU nurse with a goal to work in the children’s ICU in the future.

Holly is actively involved in the young adults' ministry, as well as serving as a volunteer on the media team and in the youth ministry. She is committed to being a part of the lives of the girls in her middle school group and walking with them, hoping to nurture them well. She has spent many years volunteering in different areas of our church, and we are thankful for her willingness to serve.

Holly has a powerful testimony of freedom and deliverance from anxiety. She says that anxiety ruled her for many years until one summer at youth camp when she leaned in and strengthened her personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. God became more than a comforter to her – He completely healed and restored her.

In her spare time, Holly enjoys photography. It's a fun hobby as well as a side business. She also loves spending time with her dog, Lulu.

Freedom Family, how can we pray for Holly? We can partner with her in prayer for wisdom and clarity on her career path. Thank you, Holly, for all you do here at Freedom! You are impacting lives, and we appreciate you!

Angela Holmedal

Angela Holmedal and her family moved to the Dallas area from Canada when her husband, James, was relocated with work. She did not know anyone in the area, but she knew immediately that she wanted a place for the kids to connect in a church so they would have a home base. They arrived at Freedom Church in 2009, when it was called Christian Life Assembly. Angela's family is deeply rooted and planted here, and so much of her life has been connected to Freedom. In fact, she considers our church to be a lifeline for family emergencies, celebrations and milestones.

Transition from Canada to the U.S. was a very difficult time for Angela, as she felt like she had no identity. She had left behind everything she had ever known, and now life in the U.S. was completely new and she felt herself struggling to find her identity. Putting all of her trust in God to work it out is what carried her through. Angela comes from a strong, supportive family and was committed to creating a strong family of her own. As a mom of three, she stayed focused on making the move smooth and stable for her kids. Being a full-time stay at home mom was never something Angela had a desire to do, but once they moved, she felt God call her to dedicate herself completely to that role. God filled her heart with the prompting to pour into her children, her family and other families as well, leading her to volunteer in the Children's Ministry each week at Freedom.

The entire Holmedal family has a heart for Kid's Ark in Honduras, a mission that Freedom Church supports. The Holmedals have gone on several mission trips there as a family. They are such blessings to the kids in Honduras, and they are equally blessed by the friends they have met there – it really has been an honor for them to love the folks in Honduras and share a portion of their lives with them.

We are so glad that God brought you to North Texas, Angela. Thank you for all the seeds you have sown in your family, at Freedom Church, and in Honduras. May you reap a harvest in the days to come! We love you and your entire family!

Ron Wilkinson

Ron Wilkinson is steadfast in his faith and a committed servant at Freedom Church. You can find Ron leading small groups, helping hands-on with the seniors groups and initiatives, serving as a deacon, and overseeing usher responsibilities. With an evident heart to serve, he also facilitates volunteer work at the Ronald McDonald House three Saturdays a month, serving breakfast to families of terminally-ill children. Additionally, Ron stays quite busy with household management, handling finances, part-time work and participating in other volunteer opportunities.

Ron and his wife, Joanne, have been a part of Freedom for almost 20 years now, and what a difference he has made in the ministries of the church and the lives of others! Ron recalls retiring in 2016 from a stressful job with plans for a sabbatical. His retirement turned out quite differently than he expected – different in a good way. God walked with Ron through this time of stress and helped him re-prioritize his life and become more involved in church, which turned out to be a blessing for him and us. Then, in 2017 Joanne had a major car accident with several broken bones. Through the changes that had taken place the year before, God enabled Ron, as a retiree, to be his wife's primary caretaker. The next year, Ron had back surgery which limited his mobility. Looking back, he can now see the awesome plan that God was leading him through.

Thank you, Ron, for how you put others first – in the church and outside the walls of Freedom. We appreciate you and love you!

Kiko Nobak

"I count my blessings every single day," says Kiko with a heart full of joy. Kiko was born and raised in Japan. She moved to the states 51 years ago. She has many fond memories of her work at the Army headquarters, marrying in California and meeting a dear friend in California who became a trusted support. When Paul and Kiko moved to Texas, Kiko was welcomed into Paul's family and made an instant connection with several family members. They introduced Kiko to church and to Christ. A desire was created within her to learn more about God and about his Word, and even when her husband did not share the interest, Kiko stayed committed. She knows now that God was working on her and in her heart for many years, even when she was not aware. Kiko has been attending Freedom, once known as Christian Life Assembly, for 30 years!! It has been 17 years since she retired from work, but she has not slowed down. Greeting at church, small group commitments and regular exercise all keep her busy. Let's all pray for Kiko, specifically that the Lord will continue to guard her mind when the enemy tries to attack her with worries and fears. She knows that "God will see her through." We love you, Kiko! Thanks for making Freedom your home!

Kat Caldwell

Kat Caldwell is a joy to know. She and her husband, Ignacio, have been attending Freedom Church since 2015. They moved here from France and they lived in Madrid prior to that. So much of the population of France is agnostic, but in 2010 Kat remembers looking for the realness of God. Online sermons and devotionals were a part of their lives, but Kat knew she wanted to be involved in a church once they moved to the U.S. Finding a local, neighborhood church was important. Looking back now she sees that God moved them to Texas because God knew they needed a church to grow in. Her spiritual walk has grown so much while here. This is the first time they have been able to spend time with friends that talk about God as being a part of their lives, that pray before meals, and that supported them when going through difficult times. None of this was available in France. She is so thankful for her time, here and the relationships that have been created.  

When asked who has made an impact in her life, Kat says that Tracy Edwards has been an anchor for her at a time that she was feeling a bit lost in life and motherhood. Tracy walked with her in friendship and prayer, and helped her to transition her mind and rearrange her way of thinking.   

Kat is a writer, publisher and a podcast host, sharing her creativity and faith with the world. Look for Pencils & Lipstick on your podcast list, and listen for some good messages.  

How can we partner with Kat in prayer? She is currently seeking clarity in her business as she is learning and growing in the process of building. She also asks that we cover her family in prayer as they approach an upcoming move to Washington, DC. Finding a church is so important to them as they walk in this new city and new season. Kat and Ignacio, we're so glad you made Freedom your church home here in Texas! We are excited for your move but sad to see you go! We love you all! 

Debbie Dornan

You probably know her smile. Debbie Dornan has been a committed member of Freedom Church for many decades. Debbie began volunteering as a nursery director in 1984 and has progressed in the Children's Ministry here since then. She says that she has always loved kids, even when she was a young girl. She has now raised three boys of her own and currently has three grandbabies with another on the way. They all bring her so much joy! "Life is what you make it" is something Debbie believes and walks out. No matter what, she is committed to pulling herself up from difficult situations and being an example to others. She remembers being made fun of as a child, but can see now that though it was not easy, the result was that she became more sensitive to kids and their unique needs. She gives her heart and her very best effort to love them and help them. We are so thankful to have Debbie as the director of Freedom Church's Mother's Day Out program. When Debbie was asked who has radiated love and beauty in her life, she declares "THIS church." She has received much love and support from the church body through the years. Thank you, Debbie, for all the seeds you have sown in the children of this church AND the community. Our church wouldn't be the same without you!

Ben Titus

Ben Titus says his eyes have been opened to how great our lives are and how blessed we are. He wholeheartedly believes that we should never find ourselves complaining. If we are complaining then we are not realizing how good we have it and might be taking things for granted. This is such a positive mindset and perspective. His mentality shifted a bit after his first back surgery several years ago. Ben experienced complications and challenges. He is now happy to be recovering from his second back surgery, which was successful. He has started back to work and is progressing well.  

Ben, along with his wife, Bina, and daughter, Jordan, have been attending Freedom Church since 2011. Ben and Bina are both children of pastors and both grew up knowing about Jesus. Ben remembers many restrictions and critical concerns focused on appearances in his younger days at church. He appreciates the relaxed and welcoming spirit that Freedom Church has. Ben desires to grow his friendships to a deeper level and desires a true connection within the relationships at church. He is a great listener and enjoys encouraging and helping others.  

How can we pray for Ben? Ben is ready for a new job. He has a strong financial background, is good with numbers, and has years of experience in the financial realm. We can partner with him in prayer about this, as well as connect with him if you happen to know of any specific job openings. While he is recovering and walking through rehab, and while he is feeling the need to find a new job, Ben is staying focused on the goodness all around him and walking in contentment. Freedom Church, let's surround him and his family in prayer during this pivotal time in their lives! We love you, Titus family! 

Mary Olumesi

Mary Olumesi and her husband, Taiwo, have called Freedom Church their church home since September 2016. Mary was born and raised in Nigeria before moving to New York in 2004. After school and college she moved to Dallas in 2014 for residency with work. Looking for community, they visited churches in the area for several years. A friend of Taiwo's from years back had also moved to Dallas and invited Mary and Taiwo to Freedom Church one Sunday for their baby's dedication. Mary felt welcomed and that Freedom was the right place for them.

Mary has been a pharmacist for over seven years, and she currently works as an in-patient pharmacist at UT Southwestern. She has a precious 2 1/2 year-old son named Elijah. She enjoys watching him grow daily, and he is now learning to have conversations.

Mary grew up learning about the Lord and understanding at a young age that God REALLY loves us, even if it doesn't feel that way at times. When she looks back, she is so grateful to see God's goodness in all of the seasons of her life, though she could not see it while she was in the middle of challenging and difficult times. Seeing God's blessings has shaped her life and she is "still learning now how to be patient and stay steady and faithful."

Chris, Mary's dad and pastor, strongly influenced her life. He spent much of his time on his knees for his kids, and she knows she was privileged to see that – a quality and habit that she now hopes to emulate in influence and faith. Thank you, Mary, Taiwo and Elijah, for making Freedom your church home!

Mollie Wilson

Since she was a young girl, Mollie Wilson has always wanted to serve in ministry. She has given so much of her time and heart to serve others. For many years, Mollie was a house parent at Pleasant Hills Children's Home. She was being filled up, blessing others, and content to stay. This was a position for an unmarried person, and Mollie had full belief that she did not want to nor was she going to be married. God had a different plan. Mollie's parents had been steadily praying for God's will to be done in their daughter's life. She recalls, with much joy, that when she met her husband, Matt, she immediately recognized that he was the most patient person she had ever met. They recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary!

Mollie's continued prayer is to mentor, connect with, serve, and lead children and teens. Mollie serves weekly in Freedom's youth and children's ministries, as well as heading up the Timothy Team. She adamantly believes and walks out the motto "Attend one, serve one." This way she can be spiritually fed before going to lead.

Mollie loves to bake and she's turned that zeal into a holiday business. The word around town is that her cookies are delicious!

Please keep Mollie and Matt in your prayers. Matt recently tore his ACL and had surgery in November. Please pray for Matt's smooth recovery, as well as relief from all challenges that go accompany surgery and recovery...emotional challenges, pain, extra help needed, and financial strains. Thank you, Mollie, for pouring into our children and teens! You are a great example, and your fervor and faithfulness are a blessing to Freedom!!!

Kuzi Sikazwe

Kuzi Sikazwe shares his testimony with gratitude and appreciation for all that God has done for him. When Kuzi first came to America from Zambia, he lived in an immigration detention center. This is where he gave his life to Jesus and was baptized. Once released, he visited Freedom Church, listening as Pastor Kendall preached a sermon that Kuzi felt was meant especially for him. He immediately became engaged wherever he could in the church, assisting and serving. Through much prayer, setbacks, determination and more prayer Kuzi received his permanent residency after 10 years of going through the process. He never stopped believing, knowing that God was with him the whole time.
Kuzi is newly married to Valerie. They desired to have a wedding ceremony in his home country with some of his family. With no explanation other than absolute blessings, he was able to take Valerie and his 2 children to Zambia for their first visit. This was Kuzi's first time to see his mom in 12 years, and other family members in the past 20 years! He says that somehow God provided the financial ability for this trip — he still cannot fully explain it. He has been faithful to tithe and knows that his obedience has seen and blessed.
Washing and detailing cars is a hobby for Kuzi. He takes pride in the work he does, spending as much as five hours on a car if needed. He does this at no charge for people, just sharing his passion as a way to give to others.
Kuzi and Valerie would appreciate the Freedom Church family lifting up their new marriage in prayer, as well as the handling of their finances. They desire to be good stewards with all that God has given them. We're so glad that the Lord brought them to Freedom!

Darlene Beck

Darlene Beck has been ministering into others' lives for many years. She joined her first small group in 1967, where she was introduced to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. She became captivated with learning more of God's word and the work of the church, and she has never looked back.

Darlene and her husband, Ed, were high school sweethearts and now celebrate 61 years of marriage which has produced three grown children, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She thoroughly enjoys spending time with them and loving on them. Darlene has selflessly given her time through the years serving and mentoring in the Children's, Women's and Senior's ministries. She is involved in small groups, administrative roles, and on the prayer team. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening...some years it's vegetables, while some years it's beautiful flowers.
Darlene has walked through cancer, financial troubles, marital struggles, crises that involved her children, and other trials. She happily proclaims that she has had peace through all of the challenges. "Jesus has never failed us on any of these areas and I have found all the answers to LIFE in God's word," she says. Darlene prays scripture into every situation that she faces, abiding in Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Thank you, Darlene, for your faithfulness to the Lord and Freedom Church! We appreciate you, who you are and all you do!

Crystal Rhiner

To see Crystal Rhiner's smile and to hear Crystal talk is to be impacted with her confidence that God is good! "I just love God, I love my husband, I love people!" she says and beams while she says it.

Crystal started attending Freedom Church in 2012. At the time, she was not living her life fully devoted to God. She knew something was missing; she knew her heart needed to belong to God. Once she found fellowship with people in the church, she became connected, committed and ALL IN! Crystal jumped into a women's group, she and her husband joined a small group, she began serving, and her spiritual growth and heart for others began to flourish even more.

Crystal currently works in the healthcare industry. She really enjoys her job. It has taught her how to walk through challenging times and transitions in her own life, giving her ability to help family members. Colleagues know her for her prayers, encouragements, ability to speak with others and her "daily dose."

Crystal shares two prayer requests: Strength for her daughter Jasmine as she navigates a difficult transition and for God to work in a current foster-to-adopt situation for her son, Steven, and his wife, Lisa. Freedom family, let's believe with her and support her with our prayers!

Kelli Hare

Kelli Hare in a self-proclaimed planner, planning her life the way she wanted it. That is until God changed her heart! Kelli has a wonderful testimony of how the Lord released her from her own plans and helped her submit to God's plan. She remembers the sermon preached by Pastor Kendall in April 2012 that spoke so clearly to her about giving up her dreams so that she could take on God's dreams FOR her. When Kelli shares her testimony she is full of joy and contentment. She knows and loves that God in in control!

Kelli and her husband, Brian, came to Freedom Church in 2012 when a friend invited them to attend a service. They had a desire to find a new church home, and they both fell in love with the people and church immediately. Their three sons plugged in quickly as well. They all serve in multiple ways including Royal Rangers, Mpact Girls, Junior Bible Quiz and Freedom Kids. Thank you all for giving your time, energy and love to serve others.

Another area of ministry they know God has led them to is fostering children. They have welcomed and loved several treasured children into their home. The life of foster families can be filled with so many emotions as well as challenges. Kelli says it has been a difficult process at times, and there were times when she and Brian weren't on the same page, but through prayer and faithfulness they have continued to walk in God's plan.

Please keep them in your prayers as they are currently walking in a foster situation with a precious boy who they are hoping to adopt. They are doing the hard work and loving well. What a blessing they are to Freedom and all who know them!!

Dwayne Holder

Dwayne Holder is proud to say that he is SOLD OUT for the Lord. From early in life, Dwayne knew of the Lord but was not walking with the Him as he grew into adulthood. Looking back, he can see how the enemy planted seeds at an early age to pull him away from other believers. After living with addiction and the reality of an inferior spiritual, physical and emotional condition, he reached a point of desperation as everything slipped away. Once Dwayne reached his lowest, he asked God to reveal himself, and he vividly remembers the moment of coming home and Jesus shining on him. He knows that he is 100% healed!! Dwayne has a strong belief that there is ALWAYS something new to be learned, and he is in a continual process of learning as he consistently walks with the Lord. He has learned that the Bible is not just stories to him anymore but a roadmap for his life. Learning to be dependent on the source and not resources is also high on his list.

Dwayne owns his own roofing business and leads with service, compassion and transparency. He is always open with his customers about his beliefs and relationship with God. He has seen some very lean seasons in business but knows that "He always provides." Recently, Dwayne taught the "Freedom from Addiction" class at church. He is currently enrolled at SAGU, studying in the addictions counseling program. He is also the President of the board of PRG Services, a non-profit organization offering social, academic, and life skills training for underprivileged children.
Make sure you say "hello" and get to know Dwayne and his family – you'll be glad you did.

Cindy Walsworth

Cindy Walsworth joined us at Freedom Church in 2014. We are thrilled that she and her family made their transition to our church. They were connected, involved and loved at their previous church. After walking through some really tough times in 2014 and with both of their children already being involved at Freedom on Wednesday nights, Cindy and Ty made a prayerful decision to commit to a neighborhood church. She expressly wanted to be involved in a local church so they had a place close by to invite friends to worship with them. Cindy stands on her belief that marriage is the backbone of families. She and Ty are consistently proactive in strengthening their marriage as well as leading others. At Freedom, they currently facilitate a small group that focuses on marriage. Cindy also volunteers in the cafe at Freedom Youth, is a middle school volunteers, serves at kids camp AND in the Children's ministry. She is passionate and involved in political and local issues as well. Cindy and Ty teach their children, Zoe and Eli, via homeschool, own a marketing and branding agency (Culture Red), and Cindy freelances as a writer as well. That is an impressive list of working to serve the Lord and others! Cindy is one of three girls and credits her mom for teaching her the discipline of daily devotions from a young age and establishing an emphasis on relationships. The hand of God has been present in Cindy's life many times, and she can see it clearly as her family has overcome both physical and emotional struggles these past few years. As their church family, we can lift them up in prayer now while they are continuing to navigate challenging circumstances – striving to walk in unity, harmony and love as a couple and family. God is faithful!

Charolette Barnes

Caregiver. This is the perfect word to describe Freedom's own Charlotte Barnes. Charlotte realized early in her life that caring for people filled a place in her heart, and she feels honored to care for others. Her mom modeled this by working at a nursing care facility, and Charlotte was able to help and able to grow to know patients on a personal level.
Years later, while working as a teacher, Charlotte was introduced through a bereavement support program to a nurse who saw a strong faith in her and asked Charlotte to share her faith with others. This was one of the first steps in her walk in the role of a spiritual caregiver. She remembers her first patient well. He was angry at God and resentful at events in his life, but she leaned into him consistently and spoke truth to him. She was able to see him renew his relationship with God before going to his heavenly home. Since then, Charlotte has continued to walk hand-in-hand with people who are stuck in grief.
Charlotte believes that we are to bloom where we are planted. and she stands strong in her faith that God will always meet us where we are. She is so thankful for her son, Tedrick, and grandson, Gabe. They bring so much joy to her life. She fondly remembers Ceola Williams, a very important person in Charlotte's life. They would visit for hours at a time, and Charlotte says, "Ceola was full of wisdom" and made a lasting impact in so many ways. Amazingly, Ceola lived to be 108!
Thank you, Charlotte, for your engaging smile and your "Amen"-ing from the front row! We are so glad you are a part of our Freedom family!

Peter and Priya

Peter and Priya, and their son, Evan, have truly experienced the power of God in miraculous ways. They moved to Texas from India for Peter's work, specifically a project in Austin. Once that was finished, he was transitioned to DFW. As soon as they settled in, they were looking for God to guide them to the right church – and that's when they found Freedom Church.

Looking back, they have no doubt that this is where God wants them to be. Peter can point to a specific series Pastor Kendall was teaching, "How to be prepared to walk through challenging situations," which directly impacted their family for their unforeseen, upcoming struggles.

Priya was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Obviously a huge shock, followed by feelings of chaos, they quickly told the enemy to "get lost" and stood on their knowledge that God can do ALL things. They had already walked through a personal miracle, the miracle of their son. Their faith was solid. Priya went through many radiation treatments, chemotherapy and surgery, holding tightly to prayers of her family and small group. As others spoke healing over Priya, she FELT the healing in her body. She is now cancer free!

There is such depth and promise in their story, she has written a book to share with and bless others. It is written in English and they are translating it to their native language, Tamil, so that it can be shared with so many others in their homeland.

Peter, Priya and Evan are full of joy and peace! We celebrate with them the miracle of life their family has experienced! They are especially thankful for their small group at Freedom, and we are thankful for their commitment to faithfully volunteering in Freedom Kids!

Jason Winland

Jason Winland has been attending Freedom Church with his wife, Stefanie and 2 daughters for several years. Jason credits his parents for being instrumental in his desire to be involved IN church. After several years of being disengaged with a church family, he visited Freedom and says he knew immediately that this is where he and his family should grow and serve.
Jason had many successful years in accounting, and still spends some time in the field. He took a step into a brand new direction last June. He quit his accounting job and took a "leap of faith." He began to build his new business, CBD Relief, located in Coppell. He has a desire to not only help people but also to educate, so that people can make clear, positive decisions for themselves. Congratulations to Jason on his new endeavor!

Jason serves in Freedom Kids on Sunday mornings. He also regularly attends Freedom Business Networking Group and says that is one of the best hours of his week.

Jason is close to both of his parents. He speaks complimentary of his dad, Norman, who has been a strong influence in his life. Norman has walked by faith and been able to lead by example.
Jason and Stefanie love to travel and make it a priority. When asked about his favorite travel destination, his answer is Fiji.

Thanks, Jason, for all you are and all you bring to Freedom! We are grateful for you and your family. Jason's prayer is for the Lord to bring good, dedicated people into his business as he wants to build his staff well. Join us in praying for Jason's new business as he seeks to grow and hire like-minded staff.