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jim_and_laura.jpgJim Freeman 

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Age: 41, Birthday: June, 1967

Married 19 years to Laura 

Children :Whitney, Josh, Caleb, Jacob

I've been working with youth and their families for 14 years; 10 of them here at the Church at Braden River.  My wife and I have been in this together and it is our life.  There is nothing more satisfying than to see "our kids" grow up, graduate, get married and start their own families.  Our goal in ministry is to receive graduation and birth announcements from the grandchildren of the teens who are with us now.  Ministry is about doing life together.

Favorite TV:  MASH, Book Notes, Connections 3, Junkyard Wars (man, I miss that show)

Favorite Books:  Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Practice of the Presence of God, Generations The History of America's Future, Society of Mind, Reality Theory

Favorite Movies:  The Magnificent Seven (The Seven Samurai), Princess Bride, Guns of Navarone, True Grit, Lord of the Rings

Favorite Bands:  Eagles, Billy Joel, NewsBoys, Switchfoot, Chicago, Skillet, ReliantK, SuperChic, Cars, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Delirious

Favorite Food:  Meat on a stick

Favorite Candy: Twizzlers or Skittles

Favorite Sports Teams: Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, Arsenal, Cruz Azul


ed_and_karen.jpgEd Moss

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God has blessed me with an awesome, amazing, compassionate, joyful, righteous,beautiful, intelligent, spectacular, wonderful, sensational, marvelous, terrific, groovy, understanding, tolerant, patient, continuously perplexed and forgiving wife. Karen is a people person who is compassionate toward everyone. She is my best friend. She is my inspiration.

God has entrusted us with three boys: Ryan, David and Jonathan. They are my favorite sports companions and friends. I'm their #1 cheerleader unless I'm on the other team. I am so proud of each of them and it's an honor to be their dad.

We are blessed with two daughters. Alyssa is our youngest and my favorite person to spoil. Emily is our new awesome daughter by marriage to Ryan. We love Ryan almost as much as we love Emily.

Education:  Manatee High School, class of 76;  Bachelors from Southeastern University; Master of Divinity from Columbia International University.

Favorite Activities: I grew up on Anna Maria Island, FL and like being on the water, whether boating, swimming or scuba diving. For a change of pace, I enjoy canoeing, hiking and camping.

Favorite sports to play:  soccer, football or anything I'm playing with my sons.

Favorite Team:  Tampa Bay Bucs.

Favorite Music: songs which are creative and different in almost any style. Favorite style: Jazz. I like beating on stuff while people are trying to perform music.

Favorite Movies: I like comedy and action movies. I think the only movie I've desired to see a second time is, "It's a Wonderful Life," which I like seeing at Christmas time each year.

Philosophy of Life:  Life is about relationships; tight relationships with God and with one another.  Everything else is a tool to enhanse relationships or remove what hinders them.


dee-031608.jpgDr. Dee Bissel - Fresh Start Ministries

Dr. Dee Bissell heads up our Fresh Start Ministry  she is the co-founder of Ephesians Life Ministries, Inc., an award winning program. She was a board member, director emeritus and a nationally certified chemical dependency counselor. Her B. S. degree came from American University in Washington, D.C., as did her Master's in Criminology. Her training in chemical dependency was accomplished at Johns Hopkins University, School of Mental Health in Baltimore, Md. She has done training in Family Systems and holds a Doctorate in Biblical Counseling from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Dixon, Mo.

Dr. Bissell has been in the field of substance abuse and counseling since 1976. She was with the Ephesians Program from 1978 until she retired in 1995. 

Dr. Bissell had polio at four months old and is now suffering from Post-Polo Syndrome.
In April of 1997 her son took his life. With faith and her training she has been able to share her struggle in poems and seminars. She has produced a booklet entitled "Good Grief" and a self-published book dedicated to her son entitled "No More Tears." She also wrote and Self-published a book called "The Touch of The Masters Hand - Healing From Life Dominating Problems." Her testimony was written up in June of 1990 in Decision Magazine.

In February of 2001 her husband of fifty three years passed away. She has a daughter, who is a clinical psychologist, and lives in the Maryland area. She was also blessed with two grandchildren from her son's marriage. She now lives in Florida with a dear friend who helps her out.


Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 November 2009 )