Introduction & Mission
Our Strategy
Our Geography
Our Kids
Our History
Our Strength
Lessons Learned
Staff
Organizational Structure
Freedom Fire is a Christian missions organization dedicated to the advancement of God’s Kingdom and love in the inner city of Kansas City. Our mission is to know God and make Him known as we partner with others to strengthen the inner city by raising up leadership to guide the community spiritually, economically and socially.
Freedom Fire has been working primarily with youth and families from the federal housing developments just east of downtown Kansas City. Guided by missiological and sociological data, we originally made eight- to ten-year-old children our primary target. We now have expanded to include teenagers because the youth we started working with in 1997 are now teenagers. We also work with the parents and young adults of the community; however, eighty percent of our time and resources are directed to the youth. The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true when working in the city. Our goal is that the ministry will grow up with them, and they will become the leaders of Freedom Fire.
Central to this mission is the linking of the metro area church with the urban community. We are fostering a culturally relevant church plant, providing economic and educational programs. Our primary — but not exclusive — target area runs from 14th Street to the river, and from Prospect to Paseo.
We work with approximately 400 children on a regular basis. We estimate that we are reaching 30% to 40% of the youth in the immediate area. These children would be considered “at risk kids.” Over 90% do not have a father in the home, and over 80% have no church home. Fewer than 25% will graduate from high school. Out of that 25%, many will be well below grade level in their academic studies. All of the children we work with have deep needs that we are addressing in a strategic, holistic way.
Our ministry has expanded to include youth and young adults from the suburbs. During our peak seasons, one hundred and forty people come from the suburbs to volunteer and serve at Freedom Fire in a typical week. They are impacted as much as the youth from the city.
In the spring of 1997, Freedom Fire Ministries was born when Bruce McGregor went door-to-door in one of Kansas City’s federal housing developments — Wayne Minor. He signed up 100 youth to play baseball and be part of a Bible discovery group. He also recruited twenty coaches to help. Through the baseball program, many wonderful relationships were formed.
Freedom Fire also began a Friday Night Outreach in the open air for all ages. Scores of children come, volunteers lead a variety of games and present the Gospel. The evening ends with a dinner shared by all. During the first two months, approximately 70 children expressed faith in Jesus Christ for the first time. This outreach has continued to be fruitful with many more decisions for Christ.
As a natural extension of this evangelism, discipleship groups called Bible Clubs were formed. Many of the children who had made a profession of faith joined these clubs. No more than four children with one to two volunteer leaders are allowed in each club.
Our ministry has expanded into over 30 churches from around the metropolitan area. We have several camps, where we send over two hundred and fifty kids each summer. We have a mentoring program in the local public schools, tutoring focusing on literacy, adult fellowship groups, a variety of sports programs, and job training. We also have a recently remodeled apartment complex with select families from the projects moving into them.
The entire ministry is founded on prayer and nurtured by relationships. Through prayer, we recognize and acknowledge our dependency upon God to see lasting change take place. First and foremost, we place an emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Secondly, relationships with the children and people of the community are cultivated. The relational connection serves as the bedrock on which other significant aspects of the ministry are built. The staff and core volunteers of Freedom Fire believe we win a right to be heard by cultivating these genuine relationships. The success of the ministry is derived from these foundational principles.
We have born much fruit. This is reflected by the large number of conversions, over one hundred youth involved in small group ministry during the school year, and increasing numbers of urban youth hired for seasonal work on our ministry team. Leaders are being developed. Friday night outreach has been expanded to four different locations.
We have learned much along the way, often from our mistakes. Learning how to discipline and maintain order in our large gatherings has been a challenge at times. A number of the children are from dysfunctional homes, and this has created some unique discipline issues. There have been several times, especially during the first year, when we had to adjust our format and strategy for reaching out to the youth in a large gathering.
Our journey in this ministry has had bumps in the road. A few of our teenagers in whom we have invested have drifted away. These kids have been in our Bible Clubs; however, the influences of the neighborhood and poor family life are having a negative effect. We realize that we must invest in those who will be faithful, yet we hope that these kids renew their faith in Jesus. Fortunately, we have many youth who are doing well and are actively pursing Christ.
The staff of Freedom Fire has been able to persevere through the difficult times because they are motivated by a love for God, a compassion for others, and a divine call to ministry in the urban core of Kansas City. These three ingredients help produce the energy and focus for this ministry. Freedom Fire currently has two full time, three part time, and seven seasonal employees. The following is a brief history of the full time and part time staff at Freedom Fire.
Dr. Bruce McGregor, City Director: During his school days at Wheaton College, Bruce worked as director of Young Life in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. In 1983, Bruce moved to the inner city of Kansas City and began working with an urban ministry. That job led to a teaching position with De La Salle High School, an alternative school for urban youth. From 1986 to 1997, he worked with a suburban church as a teacher and pastor. As a pastor, Bruce led numerous mission trips. During this period, Bruce earned his Master of Divinity degree and Doctorate of Ministry, which focused on leadership development. He graduated summa cum laude. Bruce founded Freedom Fire in 1997.
Kevin Cacy, Community Ministries Director: Kevin first became involved in urban ministry in 1985 when he joined the Gospel All Stars Community Outreach. He worked with children and families in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, for the next two years. While returning to school and completing a degree in architecture, he and his wife Rebecca continued to stay involved in the inner city. This included having children from the city live with them. While working as an architect, specializing in low-income housing, Kevin actively served on the board of Are You Committed, a mentoring and job training program for inner city youth. Kevin joined Freedom Fire Ministries in April 1999.
William Palmer joined the staff as a part-time employee in 2001. He grew up in the urban core and knows the pressures and needs of the community well. Previously, he worked for The Sky’s the Limit camp and a local retirement home. His variety of skills and servant’s heart has helped strengthen the ministry of Freedom Fire.
Paul Brown became another part-time staff member in 2002. He and his family have lived in Wayne Miner – one of the federal housing developments that the ministry serves. Paul and his family have been involved with the ministry for over five years. Paul serves in a variety of functions, leading a weekly outreach with his wife, Tena, and serving as a community liaison. Paul and Tena have also served on the resident management council (an official position with the Housing Authority of Kansas City) which helps strengthen Freedom Fire’s role in the community.
Rebecca Cacy, Kevin’s wife, has been a part-time employee since 1999. She presently serves as our tutoring coordinator. Her social work degree from Kansas University, and her years of teaching in a home school setting have helped prepare her for this role. She plays a vital role in training and overseeing our tutors who come to serve on a weekly basis.
The organizational structure of Freedom Fire Ministries, Inc. consists of the Board of Directors, staff, and Board of Reference. The Board of Directors carries the legal authority of the organization. The staff carries out the practical outworking of the ministry. The Board of Reference does not carry legal authority; however, they are advocates for Freedom Fire and they provide advice as needed for the planning and implementation of the ministry.