April and her family left Columbus, Ohio, and moved to the Charlotte area in 2005 when her husband Dave jumped on the opportunity to open a Charlotte office for his Ohio-based company. After seeing Freedom House Church signs and finding Freedom House on the internet, a bumper magnet on a car at their daughter’s daycare finally spurred them to visit FHC. Although they had no family or friends in the Charlotte area, April and Dave quickly found family in a life group.

In an effort to get more plugged into the church, April and Dave began serving in the Reign Forest, our classroom for kids ages 2-3. Today, they both still serve in the Reign Forest, and April also oversees the Children’s Ministry.

April and Dave have been married since 1999 and have a daughter (Mia) and a son (Lawson).

Olan is the team leader for our growing missions program. He is the point of contact for the missionaries we support all over the world.

Olan is a Charlotte native and served a local ministry for 4 years. During that period he traveled on over 30 short-term trips to several countries in Central America. After becoming the youth pastor at his former church, Olan took fewer trips per year, but supporting missionaries was still his heart. Since joining FHC, Olan has helped establish new relationships with foreign missionaries we now support regularly.

Olan and his wife Tami have been married since 1999 and have two children.

Pristina is the team leader for "Bug-a-Boos," our kids' church class for infants up to one year old. She ensures the infants are learning, in their own way, who God is and how very much He loves them.

Pristina, her husband Jessie, and their two daughters moved to Charlotte from Beaufort, South Carolina, in 2003 due to her husband's military obligations as an active-duty marine. Being an active duty family, they moved around quite a bit and had been involved of various types of churches. When the Etiennes moved to Charlotte, they visited many different churches for about nine months before coming to FHC. The first time Pristina visited FHC with her two sisters and daughters (Jessie was in Iraq), all felt the instant connection and knew it was home for them.

After a few months at Freedom House, Pristina began serving in the nursery. Initially she volunteered because she felt her children were being served in the children's ministry and she wanted to reciprocate. But as she watched the vision of the children's ministry come alive, she felt a calling to be more involved. A year-and-a-half into the ministry, Pristina became team leader for the Bug-A-Boos.

Pristina says Freedom House is the first church she'd ever served where the nursery was not just a babysitting service! It was a place where even the precious little ones could learn the love of Jesus from the very start. "What an awesome privilege to be able to partner with parents and minister to the hearts of our babies, even before they could walk or talk.  And what a joy it has been to hear a one-year-old utter 'Jesus' or 'Bible.'"

Pristina knows that what happens in the nursery will give infants and toddlers a solid foundation for their Christian walk as her team nurtures them with Bible thoughts, stories, and concepts that will last a lifetime.

Tracie, her husband Derwin, and their (then) three children decided to move because Massachusetts was too cold and snowy! Derwin applied for positions in the southeast, and the one in North Carolina was the first to pan out. They moved to Charlotte in April 1999. One of Tracie's co-workers introduced her to Jesus, and Tracie gave her heart to Him just two months after arriving in Charlotte.

Soon after arriving at FHC in early 2003, Tracie volunteered to help with the PowerPoint slides for the Easter program. A year later Tracie was asked to join the staff as its publications director. It was an answer to prayer: Graphic design had always been a passionate hobby. With no training and little experience, she never dreamed anyone would hire her. Today Tracie oversees the design of all things print-related and many things screen-related.

Tracie and Derwin have been married since 1997, and they and their (now) four children have found their church home. They plan to be active members for the rest of their lives!

Pastor André--a musician and songwriter--is moving full speed toward what he believes to be a fresh move of God. One that will change the way we worship, pray and reach the lost. Pastor André leads FHC's worship team, instructing and encouraging the band and singers, and helping to usher our congregation into the presence of God.

Pastor André accepted Christ at age 11, thanks in large part to the faithfulness and prayers of his grandmother. During his childhood, his parents' divorce and the early death of his father firmly rooted Pastor André's faith in Jesus. He felt the call to full-time ministry at age 18, while doing what he felt was a horrible job leading worship in Nicaragua! But God was faithful to the call: Pastor André 's heart is to see the lost won for Christ in the areas of missions, worship and youth ministry. He's pastored and served in these areas since 1996, traveling to 12 different countries on 19 mission trips.

Pastor André has earned diplomas in practical theology and cross-cultural missions, and he is the founder of Knowing Him, a ministry purposed to reach and challenge old and young alike to live the Daniel 11:32 lifestyle.When long-time friend Pastor Troy Maxwell invited André and his new wife April to join Freedom House as worship pastor and pastoral assistant respectively, they eagerly accepted.

Pastor Jeff and his family (wife Diana, and children Nathan, Vivian, and Nicholas) relocated to Charlotte from Ohio in February 2003. At the time Pastor Jeff thought his job was bringing him to an unknown city, away from all his family and friends. However, it didn't take long for him to realize Charlotte, Freedom House Church, and everything that awaited him was part of God's wonderful plan!

Pastor Jeff serves as FHC's Life Group Pastor, he serves as part of the Pastoral Care Team, and he's responsible for coordinating the weekend services here at FHC. Pastor Jeff is passionate about the Lord and eagerly seeks God's next challenge in his life.

New York was becoming too cold for Vindra! Having grown up in the islands, warmer weather was beckoning. So in January 2004 she and her husband Rick, along with their two children, made the move to Charlotte.

God led them to Freedom House, and it's here He has allowed them to serve Him in ways they never dreamed of. God put a passion in their hearts to see children come to Him and see their lives changed forever. Vindra and Rick want children to know who God is and build their own relationships with Him.

At Freedom House Church, kids don't just go church; they are the church! It's Vindra's joy to show kids that following God is fun and that being His child is way cool! Besides being the lead teacher of the PromisedLand (our classroom for children ages 4 to 6), Vindra helps coordinate all our kids' church classes, making sure our children are being firmly grounded in God's Word.

Tami was born and raised in the Queen City! She's been married 25 years has two daughters, one son and one granddaughter.

Tami's neighbor walked her through the prayer of salvation when she was 6 years old, and Jesus became her best friend for life. Through all the trials of her youth--and there were a few--she could never get away from the call that was given to her as a child: to share about Jesus' love for everyone at any age. Today Tami wants to give others the same opportunity to know the love of a heavenly father who will never leave them.

Tami has served in children’s ministry for over twenty years. She has way too much fun getting to color, paint, and play with bubbles while sharing Jesus on their level! Tami has a deep-rooted love for her community, along with a big heart for children; she considers teaching them an honor. Tami's excited to see what the little ones will teach her next!

Makeda grew up in Brooklyn, New York, spending her summers with her father on the beautiful shores of Jamaica. (It's why she's a self-proclaimed beach snob today.) Makeda was saved when she was 12 and grew up in church, but her life didn't line up with the Bible. God spoke to her about her lifestyle, but Makeda wasn't listening. After graduating from Boston University, Makeda became a physical therapist.

In 1996, the ground was kicked out from under her. It was the most difficult year of Makeda's life, but it was a defining moment in her relationship with the Lord. The following year, she found her view of God was changing from religious to relational. Suddenly she saw things in the Bible she'd never noticed before. She began to realize God wasn't mad at her as she'd always believed.

Through a series of events Makeda moved to Richmond, Virginia, and began attending Faith Landmarks Ministries. Soon the Lord told her to work in the youth ministry, and there she met the youth pastors--Troy and Penny Maxwell. They saw a gift of administration in Makeda, and they asked her to be the administrator for the youth ministry--some 300 teens and 30 adults. During that time she also graduated from Bible school.

Eventually the Maxwells began talking about moving to Charlotte. They never asked Makeda to join them, but she prayed about what God wanted her to do. Three times the Lord distinctly told her to go with them. So she did! Once in Charlotte, Makeda worked full time as a physical therapist. But after about six months she cut her hours and came on staff--part time and unpaid--at FHC. Eventually she began receiving a salary, and she joined the staff full time in 2006.

Makeda's been saved a long time, but her most significant growth has been over the last five years at Freedom House Church. She's become someone she never thought she could be. She has no plans to leave Freedom House Church whatsoever!

Cliff was raised in and around the church his whole life. Both his mom and dad served at the church for more than 25 years. Cliff and his brothers, Chad and Clint, served in all areas of children, youth, young adults, and worship ministries. He recalls being the first ones there and the last ones to leave!

At 14, Cliff responded to God’s call to follow his dad’s footsteps: leading people into the presence of God. A few years later, Cliff started a worship band for the youth ministries at church. While obtaining a bachelor’s degree at the University of South Alabama, he continued to grow in his gifting to lead high-school and college students in worship.

During a season of fasting, Cliff could not deny that God spoke to his heart about moving to Charlotte. “I saw a young generation of worshippers being trained and sent forth into all the nations from Charlotte—I asked the Lord to send me.” In early 2005, Cliff made the move from Mobile to Charlotte, where he became the youth pastor at a local church.

A few short years later, Cliff transitioned into his role of leading Vertical Student Ministries, the youth ministry of Freedom House. He also met and married his beautiful wife Amy at FHC.

Besides leading the youth, Cliff assists the worship team by leading worship services and playing electric guitar. Cliff and Amy reside in the university area and can’t see themselves leaving FHC or Charlotte. They feel they have only just started this great journey! 

Clint has been around and involved in ministry since a very young age. His father has been a worship leader Clint's whole life, and his mother was a church administrator for many years.

God called Clint to ministry in his teens. From there, the Lord began to further develop him through things such as leading worship with his brothers Chad and Cliff, an internship with his youth pastor, and three years at the University of Mobile.

Clint moved from Mobile, Alabama, to Charlotte with his parents in 2005. Earlier that year Clint's brother moved to Charlotte to be a youth pastor. Soon after, Clint and his family also felt God calling them to Charlotte. Though they weren't sure why, they trusted God. "Now it all makes sense!" Clint says. He now serves as assistant worship pastor and leads worship for adults, youth and children. "God is doing so many awesome things at Freedom House," Clint shares, "and I can't wait to see what's to come!"

Michael moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Charlotte after earning his degree at North Carolina State University. He applied for and was awarded a position with a campus ministry called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and he was placed in Charlotte for his training. Since he was required to raise his own financial support, he transfered his then current job at Wal-Mart from Raleigh to Charlotte. One day while working, he met Pastor Penny Maxwell. Pastor Penny invited Michael to visit Freedom House Church. Since he was looking for a church, he visited Freedom House--and he knew it was where he would continue to fellowship!

Besides assisting the youth church, Michael oversees the pastoral care team and the greeter team here at FHC. He and his wife JaLaeh have a son named Noah. Michael sees his family being in Charlotte for a long time as they continue to be involved in what God's doing at Freedom House.

After graduating high school, Megan attended the Honor Academy at Teen Mania Ministries in Garden Valley, TX. She lived in Texas and worked on staff at Teen Mania for 4 years. She came to Charlotte when she received a job offer, and she decided to finish school at UNC.

As Megan and her mom were moving Megan's belongings to Charlotte, they saw a sign on 49 for Freedom House Church. Her mom told her to check it out, but Megan thought "Freedom House" sounded a little crazy! But she did eventually check it out a few months later, and she really connected with the vision of FHC. Megan got involved in LDGs and kids' church and the rest is history. She now serves as the assistant to Pastors Troy and Penny.

In an unusual set of circumstances that could have only been God-led, Debbie came to hear Lisa Bevere speak at a Freedom House Church event. There she found Pastors Troy and Penny Maxwell, whom she’d met four years earlier when the Maxwells were considering moving to Charlotte to start FHC. After finding them again, Debbie knew she wanted to check out Freedom House Church! She and husband Thurman had been searching for the place God wanted them since their move away from south Charlotte.

The couple visited the following Sunday, and Debbie was drawn in both by the “awesome teaching of the word of God,” and the atmosphere ushered in by the Praise and Worship team. Being a pray-er and worshiper, that sound ministered to Debbie and she knew she had found a church home.

Debbie has a background in administration and finance, and she has used her experience and gifts in ministry since the late 90’s. She and Thurman now live just around the corner from their grandson, with whom they spend as much time as possible!

“I am very thankful to God for reuniting us with Pastor Troy and Pastor Penny and for planting us at Freedom House Church,” Debbie says. She’s looking forward to having a part in the coming move of God as the vision of FHC unfolds and we impact this city for the Kingdom.

Thurman came to Freedom House Church with his wife Debbie in October 2006. They’d been searching for a church home, and they quickly knew this was where they belonged. Like his wife, Thurman enjoyed the teaching and the music at FHC—but the love of the pastors drew him in even more.  “There is a true freedom at FHC, freedom to be yourself and yet grow in God, freedom to worship, and freedom to serve.” Thurman soon joined the usher team and just helped out anywhere he was needed.  Soon the pastors invited him to join the staff.

Thurman is a former Marine with a background in sales, management and project coordinating. He has a passion to serve, and he has served in past ministry by heading usher teams, coordinating member services, and assisting the pastoral staff in various ways. Thurman enjoys sports, family (especially his grandson), and helping people. He loves to hang around with people who will stretch and encourage him in the things of God.

Thurman helps make sure things flow smoothly during services. You can usually find Thurman at a door shaking hands and hugging everyone who comes near!

“I am very grateful for our pastors, our church and the opportunity to be a part of the great things God is doing at Freedom House Church.”