Church History

On December 31, 1979, Brother Freddie Filmore, Sr., at the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, along with his wife, Sister Eva Carroll Filmore, resigned membership in an Independent church. Having to depend on the Lord for daily direction and strength to glorify God in the midst of persecution and misunderstanding, Brother and Sister Filmore sought the more to know God and be found in His perfect will.

In the Spring of 1982 Sister Sara Hammock opened the doors of her home in Apopka, Florida for bible study on Thursday nights. After several months at that location God spoke to Brother Filmore that He would expand the bible study beyond that home. It was later that the bible study was moved to the home of Brother and Sister Kerry Holmes. The attendance continued to grow until there were approximately thirty-five (35) adults and children meeting there. Included in that number were 19 that were saved in January and February of 1983. With God adding to the group so rapidly, a building was sought in which to meet.

The Masonic Hall at the corner of Central Ave. and Michael Gladden Blvd. was obtained as a meeting place in March 1983 where we met on Thursday night and Sunday morning. Brother Filmore was asked to pastor this young and eager flock and God was sought through prayer. An affirmative answer was given. God continued to add to the flock. Additional members joined the fellowship while some left.

Upon approval of a variance by the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment, 2.4 acres of land was purchased from Miss Mildred A. Board in November 1984. Plans were drawn, a building permit was issued on April 3, 1986 and construction of our new edifice began. God had spoken to the Pastor to "pay as you go" for the building. The financial structure of Freedom Ministries did not change. We operated solely on tithes and offerings. There were no solicitations, fundraisings, selling of dinners, etc. God began to touch hearts, and unsolicited help (labor, material and money) came forth. God spoke a word "when the building is completed, everyone will know that it was God and not man that built the building". In the meantime, God added Minister Ferry Holmes and Minister Melvin Birdsong as Associate Ministers. Later, Minister Jerome Boyd, a Naval Company Commander assigned to Orlando Naval Training Center, was added as an Associate Minister.

On March 8, 1989 Freedom Ministries was issued a Certificate of Occupancy and we held a "Jubilee Service" on March 17, 1989. Our first Sunday Service was held March 19, 1989, on Palm Sunday. We proudly did it God's way, "DEBT FREE". On April 30, 1989, we celebrated Freedom Ministries' 6th Church Anniversary with a membership of 83. Many lessons were learned in building trust, patience and Christian character. We give God thanks for the faithful believers that endured the building process to the praise and glory of God. To whom much is given much is required. We feel that we are without excuse, for God has demonstrated His faithfulness to His Word and specific instructions to a local body of believers that we should never doubt him ever.

In January 1995, we began another "Pay As You Go" project, by God's leading, by contracting to start the process to build a Multi-Purpose Facility that will house a gymnasium with showers for men and women for basketball, volleyball and perhaps some weights; additional classrooms presently to be used for Sunday School expansion, and office space for the Pastor, Associate Ministers, Finance Office, Music Room, Conference Room and Church Secretary space. The gymnasium will be used also minister to the community as well as the members of Freedom Ministries. God has allowed us to make known our plight to the community, but the guidelines of the first building remains intact, namely, tithes and offerings, along with those that God has ordained to bless the ministry through giving. In the meantime, God added Elder John Thomas, Minister Ferry Holmes…

To date, January 1, 2007, the Multipurpose Facility project has not yet begun but we are yet believing God for the project. However, in May 1996, God opened the door for us for a weekly TV Broadcast (A Call To Freedom) on WACX Superchannel 55 and TV9 in Tallahassee and for several years we were blessed to broadcast on Dominion Sky Angel.

We no longer broadcast on Superchannel 55 and TV9, but we have been blessed to air weekly in Iceland and 80 nations on Gospel Channel Europe. As of 2004, we no longer broadcast on Dominion Sky Angel but God blessed us with our three-camera broadcast that we send to Omega TV in Iceland.

It is our prayer at Freedom Ministries that we will continue to seek the face of God that we may walk in obedience to His perfect will for us as individuals and as a body. May we continue to spread the love of Jesus in a tangible way that those that are in darkness may see the light and come to it and be saved, sanctified, and filled with the blessed Holy Ghost, so that others may be discipled for the Kingdom of God. It is our intent to allow God to fulfill His Word concerning this ministry; that it will be multi-racial and multi-national ministry. This God has shown is happening through the TV Ministry. God will continue to perform it. As we celebrate our sixteenth year of ministry, may we begin to walk in the completeness of Kingdom Living as ambassadors for Christ and all the fullness that it promises to Kingdom citizens.