About LFM

How to Develop a Freedom Ministry

 

Jesus said "The truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

In order to gain our freedom we must know the truth.

One effective way to help more people to KNOW the truth 

is to establish a study group 

using The Freedom In Christ Small Group Bible Study DVD series.

There are 12 thirty-minute sessions.

The group could meet for 12 weeks

(or 6 weeks with two DVD sessions each week).
 

We would be happy to provide support to leaders

so that they could lead the study.

 

The group study can be supplemented

with reading two of Neil Anderson's books: 

Victory Over the Darkness

and

The Bondage Breaker

 

What could the study look like?

 

To build community the study group could begin with dinner at 6:00 pm. 

The evening session could be introduced at the dining table

with stories or a personal example.

After the meal the group moves to another room for the 30 minute DVD.

That is followed with a 10 to 15 minute discussion.

A short desert break could be provided.

If the group has decided on a 6 week format, a second DVD and discussion follows. 

After 15 minutes of sharing and prayer (men and women separately),

the evening can conclude at 9:00 pm.

Some groups may choose to extend the discussion or prayer time

and end at 9:30 pm.

 

Steps to Freedom

After the 8th session, participants are prepared to go through Steps to Freedom

by using the DVD guide (or by inviting us to lead the group through Steps).

Training is also available to leaders

who want to help individuals with Steps to Freedom. 

 

Anyone who wants to move toward a freedom ministry needs to

have a personal Steps to Freedom appointment with a trained facilitator

and after that be trained in leading others through a personal appointment. 

 

 

 A brief chronology leading to the birth of Living Free Ministries

In the 1980’s Dr. Neil Anderson was chair of Practical Theology in the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.  He began teaching the seminary students how to be free in Christ, a message that had birthed in his own heart through a series of trials.  The students eagerly brought this teaching with them into their pastoral work and at times invited Dr. Anderson to speak in their churches. 

In 1988 Freedom in Christ was established in the US, with Dr. Anderson as the founder.  From there it began to spread all over the world through others who wanted to be involved. 

In 1990 Dr. Neil Anderson’s groundbreaking books were published: Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker.   The Steps to Freedom were printed in the back of the Bondage Breaker.  The Steps have been revised and adapted in the years after that, but the basic content has not changed.

In 1992 Neil Anderson was invited to Winnipeg and among those who heard him were Ken and Carolee Neufeld, who at the time were serving as a pastoral team at St. Vital Mennonite Brethren Church.  Ken eagerly began to be involved, teaching the concepts and taking people through Steps to Freedom.  Also in 1992 a Freedom in Christ office was established in Regina by Robert and Grace Toews.

In 1993 Ken and Carolee moved to Moncton, New Brunswick with 4 of their children ages 12-23.  They were there to take on a one-year pastoral assignment with the Riverview Bible Church, a young Mennonite Brethren congregation.  During that year they hosted four Freedom in Christ video seminars with messages by Dr. Anderson.  Both Ken and Carolee gained wide experience in taking many people through Steps to Freedom. 

In 1994 Ken and Carolee officially joined the Canadian FIC staff, and were based in Manitoba.  Nearly every year they made a trip to Atlantic Canada, leading seminars in a variety of churches – Baptist, Anglican, Nazarene, charismatic.  They developed an 11-hour training workshop to train mature Christians to be effective in leading others through Steps to Freedom.   Right from the beginning almost every seminar was hosted by a group of churches in a community – thus bringing people together in the body of Christ.  Ken and Carolee did not receive income from the seminars or from taking people through Steps to Freedom.  This was the practice throughout the organization.  All staff chose to be on faith support.  Annually Ken and Carolee would travel to Regina for the staff retreat.  

The Gospel Mennonite Church, 3 blocks from the Neufeld home, generously offered office space in their facility in 1995.  This wonderful arrangement continued for about 10 years. 

In 1996 Ken and Carolee worked together with Dr. Anderson at a conference in Moncton, NB.

In 1997, at the prompting of a pastor in Summerside, PEI, Ken and Carolee began to augment the video materials with “live” talks. 

In 1999 Clay Bergen became the Canadian director of Freedom in Christ. 

In 2001 Ken and Carolee spent a month in Ghana, West Africa.  There they were invited to teach the freedom messages in a Bible School and in a church. 

In 2002 Living Free Ministries was incorporated in Manitoba with the blessing of Dr. Neil Anderson and FIC Canada.  The ministry of Ken and Carolee did not change.  With incorporation came the responsibly to receipt donations directly and to have a board of directors.   Their status is now Ministry Associates of Freedom in Christ. 

Ken and Carolee continue to do the work of Living Free Ministries!  They teach, take people through Steps to Freedom, develop new materials, pray with people and disciple them.  They met Dr.Anderson and began serving in October 1992.  At times they have taken interim pastoral assignments alongside their LFM responsibilities, but always they feel that helping people to be spiritually free is what God has called them to do.  

Statement of Faith

 

1.     There is one God, holy, all powerful, all knowing, everywhere present and eternally existent as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. Scripture is inspired by God and is the authoritative guide for faith and practice.
3. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh.  We affirm His virgin birth, sinless humanity, divine miracles, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, ongoing mediatorial work and personal return in power and glory.
4. The salvation of sinful humanity is possible only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, received by faith apart from works and is characterized by repentance, confession and forgiveness of sins and regeneration through the Holy Spirit.
5. The Holy Spirit, dwelling in believers, enables them to grow in godliness, free to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. The Church, the body of Jesus Christ, consists of all true believers.
7. Believers in Christ are equipped, through the truth of Scripture and their authority in Christ, to overcome the deceptions, temptations and accusations of Satan, the adversary of the Church.
8. Ultimately God will judge the living and the dead.  Believers will be raised to eternal life and unbelievers to eternal punishment.

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