Church Reaches out to Knoxville, Tennessee
This fall has been an unprecedented season of city outreaches by Pastor Travis Ballinger and the Freedom House Church of God in Knoxville, Tennessee. Each outreach has been to a unique segment of the city and has instrumental in helping hundreds of people.
As school began thisfFall the church sponsored a Book Bag Give Away. There were 500 book bags of school supplies distributed at the church and area inner city schools. At the church on that special Sunday there was also clothing distribution from the church’s Grateful Heart ministry and free hair cuts from the church beauticians. A few weeks later school supplies were also provided for the needy GED students at Pellissippi State Community College.
There were two Thanksgiving outreach events. The first was distribution of 100 Thanksgiving meal baskets, each for a family of four to the needy who came to church on that Sunday and also to inner city families with children. Also on that Sunday free haircuts and clothing were given to the needy on site at the church. The next evening the church sponsored the Thanksgiving meal at the University of Tennessee International House where over 150 students from 38 countries enjoyed a full traditional Thanksgiving meal on site at campus…some of them for the very first time. Weekly campus outreach takes place on campus at the University with plans to develop weekly Bible studies at one fraternity.
On Sunday, December 5th the church launched its inner city satellite outreach church at the Knox Area Rescue Mission. The Lord opened a door for the church to conduct the main Sunday morning worship service at the rescue mission every Sunday morning from 9 to 10 am. At the first service there were 46 who were ministered to in the KARM chapel downtown. There are plans underway to begin a children’s church there on Sunday mornings as well as ministering to the ladies at the mission.
God has inspired Pastor Ballinger and the church to adopt “Reaching To All People At The Point Of Their Need” as the mission statement for Freedom House for 2011. This Fall the doors have been opened…the first steps taken …and the foundation laid for a very exciting year of outreach ministry in Knoxville, Tennesee.
John Unthank, Associate Pastor
Freedom House Church of God
Knoxville, Tennessee
