BELIEFS
What is the Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s word. In its’ original form, the Bible is inerrant, God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired. It remains relevant, true and consistent.
What we believe about God
We believe that God is a good Father who loves His children. We believe in the Trinity-God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit- as three distinct persons in one entity. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was crucified, died and rose to life so that we could receive everlasting life. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He left his Spirit with us, abiding in us as our comforter and teacher.
What is the church
The local church is for the local gathering of the Body of Christ- equipping those who participate to learn about discipleship and spiritual truths while allowing for a chance to meet and build community with other believers. We believe the local church is both an emergency room for the spiritually hurting and an equipping ground to send out local believers to carry out the mission of God. As a local body, we realize that we are part of a much bigger picture-the global church. We partner with various local and global denominations and organizations who exist to help the lost and hurting.
Participating in Timeless Celebrations
Baptisms– We believe that baptism is a public expression of a private decision to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. After you have made the decision to say ‘yes’ to Jesus, we invite you to participate in water baptism through full immersion. We do this by lowering you into the water, representing the washing away of dead things and raising you up out of the water, which represents being raised to new life in Christ.
Child Dedications– This is a moment for children to be dedicated unto the Lord. During a child dedication, parents make a public covenant to raise a child in the ways of the Lord. In addition, family members, friends and our congregants make a public covenant to participate in teaching the child in the ways of the Lord.
Communion– If you have accepted Jesus, we invite you to remember Him by participating in communion, commonly known as ‘The Lord’s Supper’. We participate in communion by the partaking of a bread as a representation of the Body of Christ, which was broken for us, and partaking of juice as a representation of the Blood of Christ, which was shed for us.
Being Naturally Supernatural
As believers, we are invited into a lifestyle where the supernatural things of God become naturally a part of our daily rhythm. When we surrender full control to the Holy Spirit, who is alive inside of us, He equips us with spiritual gifts through the baptism of the Spirit. We believe that all spiritual gifts listed in scripture are for today and are to be used to equip the local church for evangelism. Our posture toward the public expression of spiritual gifts is one of invitation and not obligation; where anyone who desires to do so will experience the freedom to operate in the full power of God.
God's relationship to humanity
Our purpose is to have a relationship with God-to worship and serve Him only. In the Garden of Eden, the enemy tempted us to fall into temptation which separated us from unhindered relationship with God. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s redemptive plan to restore man back into relationship with Him. This resulted in God sending His Son, in human form, to walk among us and to become the ultimate sacrifice for man’s sin. Through the acknowledgement and acceptance of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, man is granted eternal salvation.
WHY WE EXIST
“CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE SEE GOD”
…to the un-churched, “God is crazy about you”
…to the churched out of church, “Relationship not rules”
…to those close to God, “It gets even better”
HOW WE DO IT
Encounter the Good News
Experience Life in the Spirit
Express the Ministry of Jesus
THE HILLS WE DIE ON
G.R.A.D.
GENEROSITY
Generosity – We believe in God’s Word and so we believe in tithing – if it works for your house, then it works for the House of God, so we tithe 15% of all that we receive. Radical generosity opens the floodgates of Heaven to pour onto earth. Giving generously in time, resources, and love is what we do.
RELEVANCE
AUTHENTICITY
DIVERSITY
OUR STAFF
Freddy Villarreal
SENIOR PASTOR
My wife Jen and I live in Yorktown, VA. We are the proud parents of: Kyle (and his wife Jenny), Parker, Elias, Kaelin, and Ty. And we have the amazing pleasure of being grandparents to three amazing grandkids!
In October of 2004, I had the privilege of joining alongside 26 other people to start Freedom Life and have been here ever since. My passion is to empower and equip other leaders for Kingdom impact, so the majority of my time is spent developing our staff across all of our campuses. In addition to serving at FLC, I also have the honor of serving as Senior Associate Pastor at my mentor pastor’s church, The Chapel, a multi-campus church located in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
When I am not at the church or the office, I am probably hanging with my family, at the gym, watching TV or reading something.
Random Facts: I have never broken a bone in my body. I currently have four tattoos. Nothing annoys me more than the sound of people chewing food. I am afraid of birds.
Cheryl You
NORFOLK CAMPUS PASTOR
Born and raised in Singapore, I’ve lived in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area since 2016 with my husband and three kids. For over 20 years, I’ve been on the adventure of following God’s call: I’ve led worship ministries and been involved in various levels of church leadership and have taught in churches and conferences in Asia and the U.S. I have a M.Div. from Regent University and am currently working on a D.Min in Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience from Western Theological Seminary.
A self-professed charismatic-contemplative and theology-nerd, I’m happy getting lost in some academic book, but also being out paddle boarding on the Bay or making things with my hands. I love pouring into emerging leaders, especially leaders who don’t know they are leaders yet, helping them to lead out of a deep sense of knowing they are beloved by God so they can lead with integrity, compassion, and longevity. Other things that get me excited: empowering women, building community, theological education, and helping people mature in holistic spirituality.
My desire is for the Church to live into her witness of the Kingdom and experience a revival of radical love for God and others.
Brian Greene
WORSHIP PASTOR
Picture it: Sicily, 1912. Okay, maybe a little later and somewhere totally different. I was the kid that could be found sitting directly behind the drummer at every church service. At an early age I watched my parents serve our church faithfully, which is how I developed a passion for serving God and His people. All throughout school I was involved in every music-based program available including several audition-only ensembles ranging from city to statewide. While developing my craft at school, God was shaping my heart for ministry at church. Over the years I’ve been blessed to share the stage with a host of gospel greats and countless local legends. In 2015, I accepted the invitation to begin serving at Freedom Life Church and I’ve been having the time of my life! In 2017, I met the love of my life and we’ve been happily married since 2018 and look forward to all that God has for us in the future. I am deeply passionate about helping others develop a lifestyle of worship, both musically and not. I don’t believe you have to be musically gifted to be a devoted worshipper.
Random Facts: I love traveling, but I don’t like road trips. I love new clothes, but I don’t like shopping. I love to eat but I’m a very picky eater. I love music but I can’t dance.
Josh Gatling
WORSHIP MUSIC DIRECTOR
Born and raised in Newport News, Virginia, I am a third generation musician who has been making music from the early age of 4. Maybe even earlier! My family and church family did an amazing job of exposing me to music in its ability to help set and change atmospheres and so much more that I immediately wanted to do everything I could to give this gift back to the Lord. I attended Heritage high school, the former Thomas Nelson, community college, and Berklee College of music. Musically, I gained so much experience in the church and also in various musical environments that have helped me become the musician I am today with a great resume of various Artist worked with and projects worked on. I am super passionate about sharing my gift with others so that they can share their gifts as well. I have been in music ministry for over 10 years but when I take pride in the most is my beautiful family, which is my first ministry! I am a proud husband And father of five amazing kids.
Fun facts: I play about nine different instruments and I am a huge Star Wars fan, always ready with full Jedi apparel.
Nyle Rivera
Production Tech Director
Adlai Muniz
Social Media Manager
I was born in Anaheim, California, but raised in Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, Mexico where I lived for the first 15 years of my life until 2018 when my family and I felt the calling from the Lord to leave our home in Mexico and move to the United States. Since then, we have been part of the FLC family at the San Antonio campus where I served as the worship leader. In the summer of 2023 God gave us a new assignment and moved us to the 757 area serving at our church following the Lord’s calling in my life to share Jesus through the lifestyle of worship.
Fun facts: I am a whole heartedly matcha lover, specially when you mix it with lavender. My favorite flowers are tulips which are also one of the flowers of April, my birthday month. Now last but not least, I love cleaning and organizing things/spaces.
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Phone: 757-864-0460