Meta Makes Some Moves
To kick off 2023, Freedom Fellowships launched the Meta Sphere for its growing post-college fellowship groups. (For those who don’t know, “Meta” is a Greek prefix that means “beyond.”) When the sphere launched, it featured four fellowship groups, all of which had a mix of college students, young professionals, and young families. Earlier in the year during the Body Meeting, Greg Morscher noted that it’s been amazing to see so many post-college and young families involved at Freedom Fellowships.
“We’re fortunate to have a young adult focus and to have that kind of vibrancy.”
To end the year, the Meta sphere grew as two of its groups (Smash and Forge) split to form new fellowship groups!
Several new deacons have also been appointed and nominated for the groups. Here’s a look at some new fellowship groups and deacons stepping up in this sphere!
BASTION
Bastion, led by deacons Ian and Adi McCullough and Tommy McCartney, had its first meeting Oct. 10. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the McCullough’s residence in Kent, Ohio.
By splitting, members have been able to cultivate a more intimate environment as well as have more opportunities to step up and use their giftings to encourage one another. More people are getting equipped to step up and teach who never had the chance before, and teachings have been more discussion based. Everyone is playing a role in making every meeting awesome.
Bastion kicks off the night with food and prayer to ensure the Lord is involved during the whole meeting. Before the split, figuring out corporate prayer was challenging, but praying beforehand has drastically rejuvenated prayer as well as created awesome parenting opportunities with those who have kids. Adi and Ian’s toddler, Lukas McCullough, looks forward to fellowship group nights and puts his kids’ Bible along with one of his prized dinosaur books on the group’s stack of community Bibles for everyone to use.
As 2024 approaches, Bastion is looking forward to getting involved with the community by serving in ministries such as the Hospice ministry that is beginning to take off. If you would like to pray for this fellowship group, it is requesting prayers for members to recognize how the Lord has gifted them and that they would exercise that in the context of the group.
THUNDER
Thunder, led by deacons Logan and Jessica Tiller, had its first meeting on Oct. 10. The split group is meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Tiller’s residence in Kent, Ohio. The Tillers said meeting at their house has provided a more intimate environment with the smaller group. Families with young children have been able to bring their babies to some meetings instead of taking babysitting shifts every other week.
The more intimate environment has also created precious learning moments for children to watch their parents minister to the world around them. The Tillers said their son Cameron has periodically joined Thunder’s prayer meeting to pray with the group.
Since its kickoff, members have been encouraged to take ownership of their faith, meet the needs of their community and to raise up the next tier of leaders in the church. Before Bible teachings on Tuesdays, members who are able will meet early to eat dinner together and to pray for one another. As 2024 approaches, Thunder’s vision is to reach the community as well as for members to strengthen their relationships with Christ and with one another. If you would like to pray for this fellowship group, it is requesting prayers for Alec and Frankie Milnes, who have been nominated for deaconship, as well as for greater unity and community in the group as a whole.
SMASH
Smash had its first split meeting in early October, and the split has been great for encouraging believers in the group to step outside of their comfort zones! Greg and Lina Morscher along with Jordan and Bethy Yoerger serve as deacons in this fellowship group. The group meets on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Yoerger’s house in Stow, Ohio.
Bethy said she has noticed a lot of believers learning to take ownership of the group since the split.
“We’ve seen a lot of workers step up into the holes that were created from the split,” she said. “We’re slowly growing, but we seem to have good outreach opportunities. Because we are smaller, we are able to be more intentional and less diffuse.”
She added that the group hopes to keep growing in unity and that it could use prayers for endurance in the midst of any persecution as well as for people to stay willing to remain willing to step out in faith.
CFALLS
Splitting to form a post-college fellowship group focused in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has been both challenging and exciting for this new group. Nick and Anna Rajcsak serve as deacons in the group with Michael and Melissa Disantis helping on the leadership team. The group meets on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Rajcsak’s house in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
“Ministry has been exciting and challenging,” Nick said. “We have newer members that are really just getting started in their walk with Jesus. It’s been so encouraging to see people in their late 20s or 30s open their heart to the Lord and accept His free gift of grace.”
Nick admitted there have been challenges for members of the CFalls group as many are going through big life changes – changing careers, getting married, buying homes, having kids – and learning how to approach these big decisions with faith in Christ. He said, “The beautiful thing is that we can come alongside each other in these times and learn how to walk in faith.”
The group aims to love and serve people in and around Cuyahoga Falls and nearby neighborhoods. Nick said the group could use prayers for opportunities to get involved in the community and for unity among members of the group.