Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Freedom Collective, a ministry based in Nashville, Tenn., will be ministering at Renewed Life Outreach Center on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. The church is located at 13752 W U.S. 90., in Greenville.
Freedom Nights were birthed in the heart of James Thayer through a long and winding road that eventually brought a radical transformation in his life. At 10 years old, Thayer, who was already diagnosed with clinical depression, had an encounter with the Lord.
He continued attending church for the next nine months, but saw no major changes. Soon, a minister with a prophetic gift began a church near his home. Thayer’s mother took him to a service, and he received prayer and got a message through the pastor. “You are going to be an evangelist,” revealed the pastor. The depression instantly left Thayer.
However, over the next 20 years, Thayer’s faith became more of a mental exercise. “I felt like I was learning scripture to argue with people,” remembers Thayer.
All of that changed on Sept. 9, 2021, when he happened upon a man ministering in a park. “I witnessed a genuine healing take place in front of me and another person was set free from demonic oppression,” said Thayer, who quickly approached the minister and asked for prayer. “He prayed for me to be ‘inconvenienced’ by the gospel,” stated Thayer.
From that time, Thayer prayed for many people, not always seeing results, but continuing with increasing enthusiasm. After months of seeing no miracles, he prayed for a man in church who was in need of healing. “I simply prayed ‘body be healed,’ and I immediately felt his muscles shifting under my hand,” said Thayer. “I also heard what sounded like bones cracking. He walked away totally healed.”
This experience, and others, made it clear to Thayer that he had been ignoring the Holy Spirit, something he didn’t intend to continue. Freedom Nights were born out of prayer and worship gatherings, the first of which saw six miracles and one demonic deliverance. Salvations and baptisms would follow at future events.
The ministry began growing to the point that Thayer left his video production company to minister full time. In the last four years, there have been 40 events held and 14 cities in Tennessee will hold events this year. The ministry has trained 55 evangelists, equipping them in spiritual warfare and evangelism.
A team of five will make the trip to Madison for the upcoming service. Everyone is invited to attend and bring those facing needs of any kind. Freedom Collective is excited to see God move in our community in a powerful way.