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Thursday 6:30pm - 7:30pm Sunday 10am - 2pm

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Freedom Connection

Freedom Connection Lifegroup Our desire is to be a community church that brings Freedom to ALL people for Jesus every day. Pastor Lenny Johnson and Rev.

Freedom Connection is a Christ-Centered, Spirit-Filled, Bible-Based, Open and Affirming church for the straight and LGBTQ+ communities. What makes this ministry special is that Jesus is in the center of it. Not only do we focus on the Gospel of Jesus but we also understand that we live in a real world. We understand that people have been previously hurt by the church, have past traumas, addiction

s, suffer from codependency, been discriminated against, etc., and this can destort your perception of life and even Jesus. We encourage you to throw out what you think you know or have learned in the past and start a new and fresh relationship with Jesus at Freedom Connection.. Let us help you learn how to heal past hurts and teach you how to love yourself, have healthy relationships with others, and most of all, fall in love with Jesus again. Ryan Hildebrand's Testimonies:

God has blessed FC with two devoted servants to guide us. We are grateful for them, and would like to share their history and testimony of how they came to be our leaders. Lenny was raised in Granite City, Illinois by his mother and father and has a younger sister which you will often see around the church. His first church experiences were through yearly vacation bible schools that he attended thanks to relatives and family friends. At the age of 17, Pastor Lenny gave his heart to Jesus and continued to be heavily involved in a variety of Pentecostal churches such as UCPI, Foursquare, Assembly, etc. Ryan was raised in Louisiana, Missouri by his mother and father and he has one older sister. He spent his entire childhood attending Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS) where his family was very active. He was very active in the Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ (O.A.F.C.), which was a youth witnessing training ministry of the LCMS. While in his early 20's, he attended a small Southern Baptist church. In December 2001, God created a way for these two men to meet. Believe it or not, they report it was love at first sight! They quickly knew that they were each other's life partner, soul mate; lobster if you will... They began a life together and have walked hand in hand since. The couple wanted to formalize and strengthen their commitment to each other thus becoming united in a covenant marriage on May 20, 2006. As soon as Civil Unions were legalized in Illinois, they renewed their vows and had their civil union ceremony on June 10, 2011. When marriage was legalized, it was converted to a marriage certificate. Their family is made up of seven children and four grandchildren. As you can imagine with all these kids and grandkids, their life is pretty adventurous! Life wasn't always this simple and their journey to each other included previous marriages. Lenny married a woman with three children in 1999 and fathered Karmyne in 2000. In late 2000 and the early part of 2001, Lenny began dealing with the understanding that he was gay. After disclosing this to his wife, they decided to separate and later divorce. This situation caused him to be disenfranchised from the local assemblies he attended. Unwelcome, hurt and conflicted by what he had been taught in church and who he was Lenny stopped attending church. Ryan also married a woman with a three year old son in 1999 whose father was a Southern Baptist minister. Their marriage later ended in divorce. As often happens in these situations, Ryan also quit attending church. After their divorces, both Lenny and Ryan took time to reflect on and deal with the years that they struggled trying to make themselves into what the world wanted them to be. They decided to stop playing God and allow Him to be in control, so they finally allowed themselves to be what God created them to be. With Jesus being such an important part of their lives, they longed to go to a church where they could be accepted as they were, two gay Christian men. They attended a couple of gay accepting church services, but didn't quite feel at home. In 2004, their prayers were answered! God opened the door for them to go to a church that believed and taught that Jesus does not make mistakes, that salvation is not contingent on gender, race, age or sexual-orientation and the only thing that separates us from the father is not accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." The two men jumped in with excitement. They have since served and studied under two ministries from 2004-2009 as God prepared them for the calling that was placed on their lives. In May 2009, Jesus asked them to step out along with two women to birth a ministry that He placed on all of their hearts; which was Light of Love Fellowship in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2013, Jesus called Lenny back to his home town of Granite City to create a new ministry geared more towards families and reconciliation with Jesus. That is when Impact Family Worship Center was birthed. Pastor Lenny’s background:
· May 2009, General Licensing and Ordinations by Light of Love Fellowship – St. Louis
· September 2010, Associate License with Reconciling Pentecostals International Fellowship
· September 2011, General License with Reconciling Pentecostals International Fellowship
· September 2012, General Ordination with Reconciling Pentecostals International Fellowship
· February 2013, elected to the Board of Presbyters of Reconciling Pentecostals International Fellowship
. January 2024 The Lord lead Impact365 to start fresh with a name change to better identify with the mission of the church Freedom Connection

It is their prayer that this testimony of their lives shows the realness of who these two men are and their undying love to serve others as the Father has called them to do so.

08/13/2025

Morning... As I was walking and talking with Jesus and telling him all about my worries 😀 and list of chores for the Lord to do for me. Can you relate? This is what I felt the Lord spoke to my heart. 🙏😊😇

🚪 No Way Around — Only Through

Ever notice how we pray for God to get us out of stuff… and then get upset when it’s still there? 😩 Maybe it’s not going away because God’s plan is to take you through it, not around it. 🤔🙏😇

David 🪖 fought the giant 💪😊😇

Jonah 🐋 had to go to Nineveh 🙏😊😇

Israel 🌊 walked through the Red Sea 🙌😊😇

Jesus ✝️ went to Calvary 🙏😊😇

Paul 📜 asked for strength to face daily challenges 💪😊😇

James 1:12 (NIV)
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life the Lord has promised to those who love Him." 🙏😊😇

💭 Life Check: What’s one thing you’ve been asking God to remove… that He might be asking you to walk through with Him instead? 🤔🙏😇

What's a situation in the Word where someone had to go through the obstacle and not around it? Post in the comments!!

🙏😊😇

08/05/2025

time today reminded me of a Word from the past: "It’s just a boat ride." 🌊🙏😇

Sometimes turbulence is part of the ride. 🌊🙏😇

Maybe that’s why Jesus was asleep on the boat — He understood that turbulence isn’t the end, it’s part of the journey. 🌊🙏😇

So don’t let what was meant to teach you end up tormenting you just because you didn’t plan for the storm. 🌊🙏😇

Ride it out. He’s still in the boat. 🌊🙏😇

We Are One in the Spirit (Lyric Video) // Sounds Like Reign

07/27/2025

📖 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

❓ Who’s someone different from you that adds something special to your group?

🔥 Challenge: Celebrate someone’s uniqueness today with a compliment.

🎶 Song for today: https://youtu.be/bh6H_P5QG6w?si=Vqz7E4fRlGnRT7ri

📍 FC Lifegroup – Edwardsville
✝️ Christ-Centered • 🕊 Spirit-Filled • 🌈 Affirming • 🏠 House Church
🙌
🤖 Created with the assistance of AI

We Are One in the Spirit (Lyric Video) // Sounds Like Reign ★ Free Downloads & CDs available at https://www.SoundsLikeReign.com★ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - LINKS BELOW... ★ Patreon - https://goo.gl/mkfhZF Donate - htt...

07/25/2025

📖 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

❓ Who’s someone different from you that adds something special to your group?

🔥 Challenge: Celebrate someone’s uniqueness today with a compliment.

🎶 Song for today: https://youtu.be/CFGcxD3r-Tw?si=hOwc4tRXUPoQdjsj

📍 FC Lifegroup – Edwardsville
✝️ Christ-Centered • 🕊 Spirit-Filled • 🌈 Affirming • 🏠 House Church
🙌
🤖 Created with the assistance of AI

Jireh | Elevation Worship & Maverick City

07/24/2025

📖 Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

❓ How can you help someone feel connected today?

🔥 Challenge: Invite someone to talk, share a snack, or walk with you.

🎶 Song for today: https://youtu.be/mC-zw0zCCtg?si=hcqHLuCOhnBvwNmD

📍 FC Lifegroup – Edwardsville
✝️ Christ-Centered • 🕊 Spirit-Filled • 🌈 Affirming • 🏠 House Church
🙌
🤖 Created with the assistance of AI

Jireh | Elevation Worship & Maverick City The official video of "Jireh" from the album, Old Church Basement, by Elevation Worship and Maverick City, feat. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine. Available ever...

07/22/2025

📖 Romans 12:5 (NIV)
“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

❓ Do you realize how needed you are in your group?

🔥 Challenge: Offer to help someone today — even with something small.

🎶 Song for today: https://youtu.be/bh6H_P5QG6w?si=x1wazQld23Ay-OD9

📍 FC Lifegroup – Edwardsville
✝️ Christ-Centered • 🕊 Spirit-Filled • 🌈 Affirming • 🏠 House Church
🙌
🤖 Created with the assistance of AI

Build Your Church | Official Lyric Video | Elevation Worship & Maverick City

07/21/2025

📖 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

❓ Who helps you feel included? Did you tell them today?

🔥 Challenge: Say “thank you” to someone today — in a text, a note, or a hug.

🎶 Song for today: https://youtu.be/CFGcxD3r-Tw?si=4Okvfa7BerLQ9xGI

📍 FC Lifegroup – Edwardsville
✝️ Christ-Centered • 🕊 Spirit-Filled • 🌈 Affirming • 🏠 House Church
🙌
🤖 Created with the assistance of AI

Build Your Church | Official Lyric Video | Elevation Worship & Maverick City The official lyric video of "Build Your Church" from the album, Old Church Basement, by Elevation Worship and Maverick City, feat. Naomi Raine & Chris Brown....

07/20/2025

🌟 Getting ready for our 2nd Freedom Connection LifeGroup – Edwardsville! 🏡✨

This isn’t just a gathering—it’s a MOVE of God.
We are a Christ-centered, Spirit-led, affirming home church where everyone belongs—all ages, all backgrounds, all people. 💜

At Freedom Connection, we:
🍽️ Eat together
🙏 Pray together
🎶 Worship together
🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ Walk the mission of Christ together

We believe in freedom, we live in unity, and we grow as one family—together in Jesus.

This is Freedom Connection.
This is family.
This is home.

07/13/2025

🌞 Happy Sunday! Next week we have our home life group again but here is today's truth.

On my morning walk, this truth hit me again:
Listen to it. Give it. Let it go.
Simple words, but life-changing when you live them.

🎧 Listen to it – Acknowledge the feeling or situation. Be honest with yourself. (Psalm 46:10)
🙌 Give it – Don’t try to fix it. Hand it to God. (1 Peter 5:7)
🌬️ Let it go – Don’t carry what God already took. Walk in peace. (Isaiah 43:18–19)

It’s not easy—but nothing good is.
💥 Freedom starts when we stop fighting what’s not ours to carry.

🕊 “Fight the good fight of faith…” – 1 Timothy 6:12

I appreciate my assistant ChatGPT!! It's nice when you struggle with arrangement. I can give it my thoughts, ideas, concept etc and ask it to arrange it for me. When we learn to embrace new things we can become better and not bitter.
Process for peace
🎧 Listen to it
🙌 Give it to God
🌬️ Let it go
💥 Real strength is surrender.

06/22/2025

I did it and achieved a tad bit further. 💪🎉🥳 I usually run right at 3 miles, and today I did 3.26 miles. 🏃‍♀️👏👍 Not bad for really not feeling it today, lol. 😂🥳🤩 I encourage you to share your physical health progress: the good, the bad, and the ugly. 💯🙌👏 Who cares who may see it or what they might think? 🤔😎🤯 Do it for the one drawing encouragement silently in the shadows, for watching you to fuel their desire to tackle hard things. 💖🌟💪 It's not about pride; it's about taking others with you on your journey. 🤝💖🌟 We don't do this because of past hurts. 💔😥😔 However, it's time to be harnessed from hurt and healed from hope! 💖✨🙏 Now to Walmart ;) # 🥰🌟🙌

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Granite City, IL
62025

Opening Hours

Thursday	6:30pm - 7:30pm
Sunday	10am - 2pm

Freedom Connection

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