I met Rev. Freeman about 11 years ago. I was lost in life and not sure what I wanted out of my life. I was always getting in trouble, had lost my families trust, and felt like I didn't have a purpose. I felt like my life had no meaning at all. Rev. Freeman was a friend and very patient with me, he never gave up on me. For about two years I talked with him quite a bit but I never really listened to what he was saying. I just knew when I wanted to talk he was there, whether it was the middle of the day or 2:30 in the morning. In 2000, I had hit my bottom and he was there for me. He was willing to listen and show me the way to God. Since 2000, Rev. Freeman has shown me how to follow God's will and have a relationship with God. Not only has the Rev. told me how to follow God, but has led by example.
Since 2000, my relationship has gotten even stronger with God. I have gotten married, had two awsome little boys, and become a man with a purpose in life. I literally owe my life to the Rev. and God, without them I don't know where I would be or what I woud be doing. I thank God on a daily basis for putting the Rev. and his family in my life. Thanks to them, I can now be the husband and father that God would want me to be.
In God's Love,
Matt Reed
I met Rev. Freeman in 1999 during my senior year of high school. Not very often can you call a pastor your best friend, but Rev. Freeman is someone I respect and look up to. He has been a father figure in my life, and has completely poured his knowledge, wisdom, and guidance into me. Because of him, I accepted Christ at 2:30 in the morning walking down my street, and my life has never been the same since. I am now happily married and have Rev. Freeman to thank for helping me to become the man I am today.
Sincerely,
Ryan Mennenga
I am pleased to write about how the ministry of Rev. Robert K. Freeman has impacted my life.
Ten years, ago when my two children were quite young, I was separated, and later divorced, from their mother. At the time I was separated, my best living option was in Kewanee, about 45 minutes from their home just south of the Quad Cities. By the time the divorce was final, giving me the opportunity to relocate closer to my children, I was involved in a business endeavor that precluded such a move. For all practical purposes however, my influence on my children was severely diminished the day I was sent packing, and living closer to them wasn't going to do much to change that.
Realizing this, I prayed to God that He would place in the lives of my children people who would impart to them on a regular basis the kind of things I would have had circumstances not been what they were. Aware of the issues often arising in male children raised in female single-parent led households, I prayed in particular for godly men to be involved in the life of my son - men who would serve as role models and help him to develop into a godly man himself. God answered my prayer and many people from the church and community have taken an active role in the lives of my children. I am pleased to say that with their help and God's help, my children have entered adolescence (in the case of my daughter) and entered college (in the case of my son) as young people who love the Lord and know who they are in Him.
Of all the people the Lord used in responding to my prayer, I am especially grateful to Rev. Freeman. A little over two years ago, my son was at a crossroad of sorts. He was beginning to drift away from the church, bored and disillusioned by his involvement in so many "church" experiences that, aside from an opening and closing prayer, were indistinguishable from the activities rest of the world. Then one weekend, a friend invited my son to participate in a youth activity at Geneseo First United Methodist Church, where Rev. Freeman was pastor. My son spoke with excitement about the experience, elated to be around other teens who were alive and enthusiastic about Christ, and meeting a pastor who had a way of seeing and unlocking the potential of young people.
My son was hooked, and for the next year and a half, drove 45 minutes one-way several times a week to attend the church's youth activities and Sunday worship. One of the experiences my son benefited from, and one he speaks of most fondly, was Discipleship, in which Rev. Freeman was involved in teaching older kids to lead younger kids, employing the model Christ used in the training of His disciples. Through this experience, my son grew immensely. He became less self-centered and developed personal relationships with the kids in his group. He also developed a strong personal relationship with Rev. Freeman who encouraged my son and helped him realize his gifts and his potential. More importantly, my son has developed a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
About the same time my son was introduced to Rev. Freeman, I moved to South Carolina. Last May, I came back to Illinois to attend my son's high school graduation. I had the opportunity to attend services at Geneseo First UMC and after the service was privileged to meet and to thank the man who had such a positive influence on my son. I can see why my son was drawn to Rev. Freeman. He is alive in Christ and shares it with others. I'll never know the degree to which Rev. Freeman changed my son's life for the better, but I can say with some certainty that he would be lacking in some important ways had Rev. Freeman not been a part of his life.
Though he is now in college and Rev. Freeman is no longer at Geneseo First UMC, my son speaks often and fondly of Rev. Freeman. They remain in touch with each other and get together occasionally for lunch. When I take stock of the many things I am grateful for, I always give thanks to God for bringing Rev. Freeman directly into my son's life and indirectly into mine. May the Lord bless Rev. Freeman, his family, and his ministry!
Sincerely grateful,
Greg Engstrom
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What I remember most is one October night about 7pm when you lead me to Christ. It was in your room at the end of the hall. I keep trying to remember why I went to your room, but that was the beginning of the turning point of my life, even though I had no true knowledge of it then. At that time, the seed had merely been planted.
There were times where we were so bored that we didn't know what to do. Thank God you had an open Door policy. We were mere high school kids away from home for the first time. You keep us active. I can remember you going to the mall with us a few times, or just sitting in the hall talking with us until about 11:30pm. I also remember that you never stayed up after 12am. The one thing that I remember most is your humor. You were one of the most comical, energetic, and happiest people that I had ever met.
God Bless
Raymond Hodges
Myrna Hodges
Being a disciple is being a protégé. Being a protégé means that you are willing to help you instructor to fulfill his goal in order to help fulfill your own. I believe that haven been a disciple I have really learned how to become closer to God in a new and real way. I feel that I am a stronger and more independent individual having been living with God on a day to day basis. Now being in the Navy and away from any form of comfort I still feel at home talking and being with God. He has been my moral and physical support through my journey so far and I have been happy even though I am away from every one I love. He is my connection to everyone. Being a disciple is something that you go through and it affects you for the rest of your life. I don't know where I would be without the things that I have learned and without God by my side.
Chaz Augustine
I met Rev when I was 17 in 2000. Rev was the craziest guy I had ever ran across. We had a one on one conversation about a year later. He introduced me to the idea that God loved me no matter what kind of life I was living. I then wanted to know this God he spoke of. I accepted Christ on August 5, 2001. After that Rev and Felecia guided me on my path as a young man and a Christian. I Thank God daily for Rev and Felecia's availability for His purposes. I am now married, in college, and Discipling others who seek to know God more.
Mike Wooton
