Team Spotlight: Guest Central by Marni Arnold

In having the privilege to sit down with Patty MacManamy, it was evident her heart is for connecting with people to help foster an atmosphere that encourages people to grow into their God-gifted potential. Declaring her heart, she expressed, “I love seeing people connect and develop.”

What better place for to serve than in Guest Central–Freedom House’s new connection hub for newcomers. With our church’s focus on “equipping people to experience Christ’s freedom in their everyday lives,” it’s no wonder leadership honed in on Patty’s strength: connection.
Though Guest Central is fairly new to the scene (it kicked off during the fall of 2013), the concept of this team truly reflects the heart of Freedom House. With a emphasis on connection with people, and a heart focused on “loving people and wanting to give people and opportunity to learn about Freedom House,” Guest Central’s success is being found through the high-touch approach: Not only intentional connection at our church’s entrance, but also through personal contact outside of Sunday mornings with new people.

This high-touch approach, focused on a mindset of excellence, emanates from Patty’s heart to truly serve others and help them feel warmly welcomed. She focuses on two intentional questions: “What do we want others to take when they first come in [to Freedom House]? How do we host them?”

In her own words, her desire and that of the Guest Central team is to, “make people feel important.” It’s evident Patty sees people as God does: important. She truly wants to see the mission and vision of Freedom House lived out through Guest Central, with a consistent focus on not only connecting people with other people, but above all, with God.
As a wife of 32 years along with her husband John (and serving in ministry for this length of time as well), Patty has enjoyed living out the vision for connecting with God’s people–all while raising five children who are also very active in ministry locally and around the world. Along with leading Guest Central’s team, she’s also a full-time nursing student, relishing in being a grandmother to two, and serving in other areas of Freedom House such as the events, production and creative teams, and she also hosts guest speakers.

Interested in connecting with first-time guests? Learn more about volunteering!

New Faces: Haley Johnson (By Michelle Houts)

Say hello to Haley, a new face at Freedom House. You will find her on Sunday mornings sitting in the front row with a headset on, or helping out as a stage hand. Even though she’s new to Freedom House, she has already become a volunteer on the production team!

Born and raised in Charlotte, God has smiled on Haley since the beginning. Born with health problems, the prognosis was that she would be paralyzed. Her grandmother called a local radio station for prayer. After two and half weeks of therapy, the threat of paralysis was gone.
She has four younger brothers on her mom’s side, and two older sisters and a younger sister and brother on her father’s side. Even though she didn’t meet her father until she was seven, Haley grew up feeling like part of “one big happy family.” Her relationship with her father was off again, on again. Growing up she heard derogatory things about her father, leaving her with mixed feelings towards her him. She said a sermon by Pastor Troy Maxwell about forgiveness at an Encounter that led her down the path to forgiving her father.

Haley was involved in a different ministry when she discovered Freedom House. She was becoming discouraged because she felt that church members behaved one way Sunday and differently the rest of the week. At Freedom House, she feels everyone is trying their best to improve themselves spiritually every day. She had gone with members of her former church to the Music Factory where Freedom House was doing a live recording. She vividly remembers Lesley singing “Won Me Over,” and she was won over. Haley says, “Freedom House makes me feel at home. They are there for me.” She feels many of the pastor’s messages talk directly to her. Many messages have helped her to make positive decisions for her life.

For instance, at an Encounter, Pastor Clint Pugh was talking about forgiving yourself for something that was done to you and is not your fault. She knew this message was for her. The following Sunday at church, she wanted to be prayed over with other individuals with physical ailments. Haley wanted to be prayed over for her TMJ. But when Pastor Troy got to her, he called over Pastor Penny Maxwell who prayed over her for healing in a relationship. Haley had been in an abusive relationship for the past couple months. The prayers gave her the strength to forgive herself and end the relationship.

Haley is passionate about helping people. This was the reason she started a career in nursing. However, she was unhappy with the fact that patient symptoms were eased by medications instead of the root of the illness being sought. So she switched her major and colleges. She started helping people improve their health before they get sick. Haley’s enthusiasm will lead her to success while helping people improve their physical well-being.

Haley’s favorite quote is: “You will never find happiness if you do not conquer your own doubt,” and she is certainly succeeding in finding her happiness. She feels the love at Freedom House where everyone, including Pastors Troy and Penny, are honest and upfront about going through rough times and having faults. “One of the main things I love about Freedom House and the leaders is they all celebrate where you are and where you are going instead of dwelling on where you have been.”

What’s your story? Is Freedom House making a difference? Let us know.