2024 Annual Business Meeting

Order of Service:

Call the meeting to order:

Voting members to be seated in the center sections

We will conduct our meeting according to Robert’s Rules of Order

Approach the mic and announce your name for our minutes

Address all questions/comments to the chair

Opening prayer: Alex

Worship: Steph

Scripture reading: (Isaiah 43:19)

“Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.”

I believe . . .

The Lord is doing a new thing at Freedom Christian.

The Holy Spirit is going before us to prepare the way and open the doors for ministry.

The Spirit of the Lord is bringing His breakthrough for those who have been in the desert.

The rivers of the Holy Spirit are flowing in dry places to restore the joy of the Lord.

Roster report

Motion to receive and close the roster

Motion to adopt the Order of Business

Reading of Minutes: Sandro

Motion to receive the minutes as presented

Financial Report: Rob

Motion to receive the financial report as presented

Qualifications of Deacons: Greg

Bylaw Requirements for Board Members

ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS

SECTION 2: OFFICIAL BOARD: The Lead Pastor and Deacons shall constitute the Official Board.

SECTION3: DEACONS: There shall be a Board of Deacons consisting of seven members.

The Deacons shall be men of mature Christian experience, attitude and behavior (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:3; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:1-3). A Deacon shall be not less than twenty-one (21) years of age, shall have been a member of this Assembly for at least one (1) year, shall not be an employee of the church, and shall not be the spouse of a Pastoral Staff member. They shall give their tithes to the Assembly and cannot hold ministerial credentials. Due to the high priority the Scriptures place on marriage, an individual who has been divorced and has a former spouse still living shall not be eligible to serve as a Deacon unless the divorce occurred prior to his conversion (2 Corinthians 5:17), or for the scriptural causes of a former spouse’s marital unfaithfulness (Matthew 19:9), or the abandonment of the believer by the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:10-15).

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

SECTION 2: BOARD OF DEACONS:

The Board of Deacons is chosen to serve the Assembly and therefore shall act in an advisory capacity with the Lead Pastor in all matters pertaining to the Assembly in its spiritual life and in the ministry of its ordinances. They shall act in the examination of applicants for membership, and also in the administration of discipline.

A majority present at any meeting of the Board of Deacons shall constitute a quorum, provided all the members have been notified to be present.

They shall disburse all funds of the Assembly derived from tithes, offerings and all other sources. They shall be the custodians of all real and chattel property of the Assembly. In the event the Lead Pastorate is vacant, the Board of Deacons shall serve as a Lead Pastoral Nominating Committee. The Board of Deacons may elect its own chairman to serve until the Pastorate is filled.

Women serving on the board: (the process)

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS The bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the membership of the Assembly in attendance at the Annual Business Meeting or Special Business Meeting called for that purpose, provided due notice of such proposed change shall have been made at all the services on at least two Sundays immediately prior to the date of the meeting; announcement to be made by the Lead Pastor or the Secretary.

Write a motion as an amendment to the bylaws.

Once written, have a few other members sponsor the proposed amendment by signing it.

Present the proposed amendment to the board for consideration and discussion.

After discussion at the board level, the proposed amendment will be added to our next business meeting for consideration by the membership.

If approved by the membership, the proposed amendment will go into effect and the language of our bylaws adjusted to reflect the approved amendment.

Pray over election

Vote on 2 Board positions:

4 candidates:

Jeff Day

Dave Delia

Greg Doherty

Joe Kalamajka

Casting of ballots:

Please cast your votes for 2 board candidates.

Lead Pastor Report:

2024 Lead Pastor Annual Report (live presentation)

Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the people, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

As I reflect on this past year, the scripture verse from Isaiah reminds me of our calling to live Life on the mission of Jesus.

I believe it is truly time for us to “arise and shine.”

We have been called “for such a time as this.”

And we respond to God’s call with a firm and continual “yes” in trusting obedience.

We know that “with the calling comes the enabling.”

We have continued to pursue our dinner church vision.

The Life on Mission classes held on Wednesday evenings have instructed and equipped us to use the very method Jesus used during His earthly ministry.

We have extended our outreach to the East Village and Rudgate Manor communities, where our summer block parties re-established relationships with these two communities.

We are continuing to build on the momentum our block parties generated as the Lord provides open doors of ministry.

I would like to express personal appreciation to many individuals.

First of all to my wife Kelli who has faithfully supported every step forward.

We have been blessed this past year to purchase a home in Macomb, and believe God has placed us in our neighborhood to reach people for Jesus.

Kelli is especially gifted in hospitality and giving. God uses her to reach people for Jesus in loving and practical ways.

We have added two pastoral staff positions in the past year.

Pastor Alex and Paige Brotnov, our newly appointed Associate Pastors, have seamlessly integrated into Freedom Christian.

Pastor Alex is providing oversight to our Adult Discipleship, Missions, and Community Outreach departments.

Pastor Dawson and Clair Wilmoth are serving as our new children's pastors.

Dawson and Clair are quality leaders who are investing in our kid’s, equipping them to serve as leaders for Jesus.

We have also welcomed Steph Meininger as our worship leader at both campuses.

Steph's willingness to take on this responsibility came after Ryan Reed’s decision to release his position of worship director at SHC.

We greatly appreciate Ryan’s leadership, and are very thankful for Steph’s willingness to say “yes” to Jesus.

I want to express special appreciation for all our faithful staff and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

Pastor Larry Clair, is serving as our Executive Pastor,

He is overseeing our facilities, finances, and HR needs.

Pastor Larry’s leadership has ensured the smooth functioning of our operations, enabling us to effectively fulfill our mission.

Josiah and Bre Harris have continued to make a significant impact in our Student Ministries.

They are providing an environment where young hearts can go deep with Jesus.

James and Hannah Hess have continued to lead our Young Adults Ministry with passion and vision.

They are creating a vibrant community where young adults can grow in their faith and strengthen relationships.

Jenny Clair provides excellent leadership as our Women’s Ministry Director

She has brought a renewed sense of purpose and empowerment to our female members, guiding them in their faith journey and encouraging spiritual growth.

We are truly blessed to have such dedicated individuals serving alongside us, and we are grateful for their contributions being done at Freedom Christian.

We also extend a heartfelt thank you to

Mike Soroka for his exceptional leadership in our technical department.

Mike has played a pivotal role in driving forward our technical improvements.

Mike has transitioned to pursue opportunities with our dinner church vision,

I am deeply grateful for his dedication and the positive impact he has had on our technical team and church family.

Diane Terrien and Katelyn Sherman dedication and commitment in our front office,

serving as the backbone for all Freedom Christian activities.

Their tireless efforts and exceptional organizational skills ensure the smooth operation of our church's administrative functions.

Their professionalism and efficiency make them invaluable assets to our church family, and we are deeply grateful for their continued service and contributions.

Teisha Delia and Julie Hess serve with continued dedication in our Finance Department,

Their hours of hard work form the foundation of our financial operations,.

Teisha and Julie uphold the highest standards.

Their contributions are deeply appreciated.

We celebrate the faithful service of

Brandon Cross, who continues to lead our Washington Township congregation with unwavering dedication as campus pastor.

Brandon's leadership has been inspiring and nurturing for our WTC congregation.

His passion for ministry, coupled with his genuine care and compassion for others, has deeply impacted the lives of those he serves.

The list of those serving at Freedom is extensive, with individuals serving selflessly in our café, nursery, kid’s ministry, student ministry, safety team, connection team, video operators, sound technicians, live stream team, social media team, and many more.

It is impossible to list all those who tirelessly dedicate themselves week after week.

Your commitment to Jesus and Freedom Christian does not go unnoticed, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your invaluable contributions to our church family.

Thank you for being the heartbeat of our community.

Reflecting on this past year, I must mention our church board.

These men are a pleasure and privilege to work alongside.

They continue to serve our church family, and truly have a heart to impact our community for Jesus.

I am thankful every day to be a part of such a quality and dedicated team.

Their love and support are a source of strength for Kelli and me.

We are also pleased to announce that Tim Nelson has graciously accepted the board's appointment to fulfill the remainder of Ron Reed's term.

We love Ron and Liz and respect their decision to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives.

Debt Free Celebration:

As you heard moments ago in our Financial Report, we are so thankful for God’s blessings and enabling to pay off our SHC mortgage.

Mark your calendars for a special celebration service on Sunday, April 21, where we will be joined by Pastor Aaron and Jeff Hlavin.

We will celebrate with one combined service at our Sterling Heights campus starting at 10 a.m.

5/10 Initiative:

As we look ahead, I am thrilled to once again share the visionary initiative for Freedom Christian known as the 5/10 Initiative.

This strategic plan aims to plant 5 dinner churches within the next decade, each grounded in three foundational values.

First and foremost is Spirit Empowerment, acknowledging the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives for the benefit of others.

Additionally, we commit to maintaining an Outward Focus, aspiring to be a church that significantly impacts our community with the love of Christ.

Lastly, the initiative embraces the principle of Life on Mission, recognizing that every individual within our congregation is uniquely called to participate in the mission of Jesus.

This visionary path underscores our commitment to growth, outreach, and fostering a community deeply rooted in the power of the Gospel.

Together, as we embark on the 5/10 Initiative, we anticipate impactful ministry and growth for Freedom Christian.

In conclusion,

the light of Jesus continues to shine brightly through the collective efforts of our church family.

Together, we have made significant strides in fulfilling our mission to reach the lost and transform lives.

Let us look forward to the coming year with anticipation, trusting that God's light will continue to guide us.

Respectfully submitted,

Pastor Bill Best

Board election results

50% +1

3 ballots normal/4th if needed, eliminate lower name

Prayer over newly elected board members

Acknowledge Rob and Doug’s service on the board

Motion for adjournment of meeting

Closing prayer: Scott

Dismissal