Across The Nation
Freedom Nights: Hosted by Foundations Church in Williamsburg, Virginia
During the month of July, members of Foundations Church, an Open Bible church in Williamsburg, Virginia, gathered each Wednesday evening for powerful teaching, worship, and prayer. They were rewarded with salvations, baptisms, and rededications.
The city of Williamsburg is known internationally as the premier center for the preservation and interpretation of American colonial history. A destination for tourists from all over the nation, the city celebrates the Fourth of July in a big way. The Governor’s Palace is decorated, and people dress in costume to participate in patriotic festivities such as the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a torchlit procession of the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, patriotic sing-alongs, and a huge fireworks display above the Governor’s Palace.
Michael Hines, the church’s lead pastor said, “We have a tradition of doing Freedom Nights in July because we live in Williamsburg, the cradle of the American Revolution, and we also want to celebrate our freedom in Christ rather than just our national freedom. We noticed how many churches shut down for the summer and pastors disappear when in fact people’s lives don’t shut down and their bandwidth for leaning into the things of God increases.”
Michael and Bonni, his wife and the church’s co-pastor, capitalized on the “freedom” theme and planned services around topics such as freedom from pride, freedom from fear, freedom from prayerlessness, freedom from sickness, freedom from silence (encouraging people to talk about Jesus), and freedom from hypocrisy. On Freedom Nights the church combines their regular midweek small groups, youth group, and community events and meets outside on a couple’s farm in the countryside. A simple stage made from pallets illuminated by a string of lights serves as the backdrop. The church uses the couple’s pool for baptisms.
The first night fewer than a handful of people had signed up, but by the end of the four Freedom Nights some 31 people chose to get baptized. Nearly a third of them were folks who had given their lives to the Lord during the COVID-19 lockdown or immediately afterwards, another third were people rededicating their lives, and another third were people who’d just never yet taken that step of obedience.
Several folks came from other states as far away as Maryland, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania to support friends or family who were being baptized or, in one case, to be baptized.
On the night Michael and Bonni spoke on freedom from hypocrisy, a girl who had grown up in the church and came from an amazing family came up to Bonni shaking, saying she had thought her good works would get her to heaven. Bonni led her to the Lord. Several others came to faith in Christ as well.
Anther amazing story revolves around a gentleman around 45 years of age. About six months prior the parents of this man had asked the Hines to pray for their son as he was in the hospital. As they were leaving the hospital room, Bonni told Michael the gentleman was one of the angriest men she had ever met. However, someone invited him to a small group that met on the Hines’ screened-in porch during COVID lockdown and he came. He was still angry, still wasn’t saved.
As the group went through Francis Chan’s study on Mark, the gentleman desperately wanted to hear God’s voice for himself. One night this angry man got saved. Two weeks later he was sitting in the small group when he heard God speak to him about his life. He was so overcome with emotion he ran out of the house, and then returned to tell the group what had happened but was so overcome he ran out of the house again. God had revealed Scripture to him that addressed an issue he had wondered about his whole life. Everyone rejoiced with him as he was baptized during the Freedom Nights. Bonnie said, “Never would I have guessed he would be on my screened porch accepting Jesus. It gives you hope! It is not impossible for anyone to accept Christ.”
Life “happened” to me when my first husband died. After walking through my own grief, the Lord allowed me to walk alongside many others who were also grieving. Doors continued to open in this area, and when the opportunity arose to serve with Marketplace Chaplains, I felt a confirmation from God that this was where He wanted me. I started as a chaplain shortly after applying, and two years later I was offered the job as Director of Operations for a new team formed in South Florida.
Marketplace Chaplains is a ministry that stands out from others due to how it was formed and its core reason for existing. It was formed by a former military chaplain, Lee Strickland, in 1984. After his experience of being served by chaplains in the military, Lee desired to provide a similar service for his community through this unique ministry. Marketplace Chaplains has teams made up of male and female chaplains who each assist in the care of the employees within companies throughout the United States and Canada. Relationships within these companies are built through routine chaplain visits that happen weekly, bimonthly, or monthly. These regular visits help the employees become comfortable with the chaplains so that when a crisis happens, they are more likely to call for help. Chaplains are available to the employees 24/7, assisting with bereavement, funerals, suicide prevention/support, and family crises.
Marketplace Chaplains has teams made up of male and female chaplains who each assist in the care of the employees within companies throughout the United States and Canada.
A few years back, a leader of one of the companies I serve called in a panic when one of his employees was sobbing, having discovered that her healthy, 40-year-old husband had died suddenly in his sleep. The leader asked me, “What do I do?” He had offered her condolences and covered her flight home to begin arrangements, but despite this, he shared that such a tragic situation made him feel helpless and weak. I reminded him that when we feel weak, the Lord promises to be our strength. I also let him know that in times of tragedy it is often not what we say but simply our presence that God uses. As I spoke, I realized that all I had walked through in my own grief had helped me support this leader through this huge trial.
There are challenges with being a Christian chaplain in spaces that recognize all faith traditions. I remember a particular moment when I was in training at the hospital when the program’s director insisted that the name of Jesus could not be used to close a prayer without the patient’s consent. I wrestled with this concept, even wondering if this limitation was God telling me not to serve in this type of ministry. Later that day, I was making my rounds on my assigned floor in the paralysis unit, which serves patients with injuries impacting their ability to walk. I entered a male patient’s room, greeting him with a simple, “Hello, sir, how are you?” In an extremely loud and animated voice, the patient responded, “There you go!” Assuming I wasn’t welcome, I responded, “I’m sorry, sir, I’m not sure I understand you. Did you want me to come back a different time?” To which he responded, “How can you leave now? You just brought the Holy Spirit in here!”
I was shocked; I knew that a greeting was all that I had spoken. I hadn’t offered prayer or said anything about God. This man hadn’t even seen my badge of chaplaincy when he made this statement. In this moment I saw the power of God’s presence in my life. I was able to see that when I support and serve patients or employees in secular spaces, Jesus goes with me whether I mention His name or not. God can and will use me in this role as a chaplain, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in the marketplace.
I realized that all I had walked through in my own grief had helped me support this leader through this huge trial.
For those who sense a calling to serve as a chaplain or who simply want to learn more, Marketplace Chaplains is often looking for men and women who sense the call of God to impact their community outside of their church. Visit this website to search for jobs and learn more about this amazing way to transform lives: www.mchapcares.com
About the Author
Kwabea Francis
Kwabea Francis serves as Executive Director of Operations with Marketplace Chaplains and is an ordained Open Bible minister. Her heart is to share the love and purpose of God with those she ministers to as a chaplain, preacher, and teacher of the Word of God. She attends Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, Florida. Kwabea earned her Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and is a graduate of the University of Florida. She and her husband have five sons and three grandchildren.
On September 19-21, pastors from around the country gathered for the 2024 Open Bible National Hispanic Conference, held in Antioch, California. Attendees of the conference numbered close to one hundred and represented nineteen different Open Bible churches. Templo Santo Community Church was the hosting church for the conference, and our theme was “CHANGED: Transformed to Transform.” We were blessed with the presence of powerful speakers: President Michael Nortune, Dr. Nicholas Venditti, and Pastors John Mendez, Michael Zakarian, and Caleb Plummer.
The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.
The conference started with a welcome dinner where pastors and leaders were able to reconnect with old friends and connect with new friends who were first-time attenders. We had a powerful night of worship during which President Nortune spoke a prophetic word about entering a new season. God has opened a wide door for Open Bible, and new opportunities are on the horizon for our ministries.
Throughout the following days, we heard challenging messages on embracing our vision (Dr. Venditti), navigating culturing changes (Pastor Mendez), loving and embracing the next generation (Pastors Zakarian and Plummer), and depending on the presence of God (President Nortune). In addition to these incredible sessions, we had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of San Francisco and the surrounding areas.
In our closing session, Pastor Mendez encouraged us that we were chosen for this time in history. The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.
As we concluded with a time for more fellowship, here are a few of the things we heard people saying:
“This conference exceeded my expectations.”
“I felt the love and unity within the Hispanic Ministries.”
“The messages were relevant for our time.”
“Best conference ever!”
We look forward to what God has in store for Open Bible’s Hispanic Ministries. We believe that a door has been opened for our dream to come to life – having a Hispanic ministry in every state in this nation.
About the Author
Jorge Navarrete
Jorge Navarrete was appointed as the senior pastor of Templo Santo Community Church in May 2002. Prior to that, he served as youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, member of the Board of Elders, and as church administrator for Templo Santo. In May 2017, Jorge was appointed to serve in his current role as Director of the Hispanic Ministries for the West Sector. Pastor Navarrete also works for the Supreme Court of California as the Clerk/Executive Officer. He has served in this role since 2016.
There are over 10,000 homeless citizens in Lee County, Florida, but thanks to a creative nonprofit idea and a fully sponsored shower trailer, Open Bible Community Church (OBCC) has found a unique way to serve them.
Located in North Fort Myers, OBCC is pastored by Joe and Pat VanEst. When Hurricane Ian hit their county in 2022 and homelessness exploded, pastors Joe and Pat responded by founding “Hope Ambassadors,” a nonprofit designed to empower individuals through disaster relief and ongoing rehabilitative efforts.
Beginning by providing food and hygiene kits to homeless communities, the team soon realized there was a need for showering facilities. Through a string of miracles and one philanthropic donor, a shower trailer was purchased, and Hope Ambassadors now owns the only shower trailer in Southwest Florida. Housing two rooms and ten total shower units, the trailer visits two homeless communities twice a week and has already provided nearly 500 showers to families in need.
“This has totally changed the thinking of our church,” says Pastor Joe VanEst. “We are building relationships with these folks, and it’s only a matter of time until we can share Jesus with them.” Already, the church has seen growth from visitors who have come to church after using the shower trailer.
Hope Ambassadors is quickly building relationships with other local nonprofits that provide services like haircuts, food, and clothing. Future dreams include creating a commercial kitchen that would create nutritious, freeze-dried meals for hungry families. Hope Ambassadors’ mission statement is “To heal communities in the spirit of unity,” and thanks to God’s grace and provision, they are well on their way.
“This has totally changed the thinking of our church”
