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CONNIE DREWFreedom Ministries of the Assemblies of God
LOCATION: 1002 E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa; 239-3442.
SERVICES: 10 a.m. Sunday school, 11 a.m. worship service and 6 p.m. evangelist service on Sunday; 7 p.m. Bible study and prayer meeting on Wednesday; and 7 p.m. youth outreach on Friday.
LEADERSHIP: Steve Austin, pastor.
HISTORY: Austin started the church as a Bible study in his living room in 1993 and later moved it to a shopping center on N 30th Street. In 1994, the church moved to its present location, a two-story building that is being renovated. The second level will include a classroom, shower stalls and a lounge area.
MEMBERSHIP: 150 members.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Its Homeless and Drug Rehabilitation Program provides homeless men with training and seeks to prepare them mentally, spiritually, socially, educationally, physically and emotionally to fit back into society and fulfill God's purpose for their lives. Participants are required to express a willingness to seek Jesus Christ and want to better their conditions. It also offers classes to prepare for the GED and teaches skills such as masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical. Housing is available for the men in a four-bedroom house near the church. It is set up to prepare them to make the transition into the church. It owns the "Little Angels Day Care Center" and has a school program for children in grades one through eight.
NOTABLE: Freedom Ministries has been "home" to 75 to 100 temporarily homeless men and women.
QUOTE: The motto of the church is "Jesus Will Fix It." All residents in its rehabilitation program are taught that "God loves them just the way you are, but he loves you too much to leave you the way you are."