When I sat down with Pastor Robert White in the Fort Worth, Texas area, I already knew he was a sharp leader. We had been working together through Church Candy, helping him and his team build systems to reach more people.
What I didn’t know was how far-reaching their impact would become. In just two years, Freedom Church grew from 160 attendees to over 1300. Behind each number was a person they had connected with, someone seeking a place to belong and grow.
The Birth of Freedom Church
Robert planted Freedom Church in 2013 after his pastor encouraged him to take over a struggling congregation of 12 people. “I gave that church a proper funeral,” he told me, and from there, launched a new church with a vision to reach Northeast Tarrant County.
One early naysayer told him, “There’s no African American church that survives in the area where you are.” He remembers that vividly. “That was my first word of encouragement.”
The Early Challenges
They had 213 people on launch day. The next Sunday? 65. And the week after that? 50. “I was like, we’re going to close so fast,” Robert said. They struggled, especially with raising up mature leaders from a congregation of new believers.
Fast forward to 2020, and they were around 350 before the pandemic. After reopening, only 40 people returned in person.
Stretching for Growth
I asked Robert what changed. His answer was both spiritual and strategic. “Stephen Chandler told me I was thinking too small. He pushed me to launch a second service.”
That push came with a deeper focus on structured outreach and team collaboration.
“We were doing all we could,” Robert says. “But we needed help to reach more people.”
So they built systems, empowered leaders, and committed to inviting their community with purpose.
Real Results and Real People
Robert also pointed out how the Dallas-Fort Worth area is growing fast. “People are moving here from California, Chicago, Houston—you name it,” he said. “Many of them had churches back home. Now they’re looking for a new one here. We want to be that place where they can connect and grow.”
“We went from 165 people to over 1300 in under two years,” Robert said.
Newer churches can see big results too—Pastor Josh Koskinen told me they launched with 710 people on their first Sunday by combining strong planning with personal outreach.
One of my favorite stories he shared was about a woman who discovered Freedom through one of our ads. She visited, joined the Next Steps class, and today, she’s part of the team helping others take their first step—the same one she took.
“Every week, people tell me they saw an ad on Facebook or Instagram. One lady was out Christmas shopping and told me, ‘You’re that pastor who’s been inviting me to church online.'”
Pastor Brandon Holmes in Waco saw similar connections using “Coffee With a Pastor” ads to start conversations before ever inviting people to a Sunday service.
Their guest list kept growing, but the stories behind those guests showed something deeper—people getting connected, returning regularly, and taking active steps in faith. “We had 352 salvations last year, and baptized 165 of them,” Robert said. This year alone, over 40 people have been baptized by February.
That kind of momentum mirrors how Sherman Dumas drew 300 guests on launch day through focused Facebook outreach and a strong follow-up process.
Systems That Stick
When I asked how they retain guests and help them stick, Robert was clear: “We don’t drown people in info. We drip it. We built systems for first-time guests, and plug new people into teams quickly, especially those who came through ads.”
He also dropped a gem for pastors: “You can be saved and not free. We wanted people to live free.”
Advice for Pastors
Robert shared a powerful analogy from Scripture that stuck with me. He talked about John the Baptist, saying, “People make a connection with a person long before they make a connection with the principle. Even John had disciples following him before he pointed them to Jesus. That’s our job, too—to point people to Christ.”
As for advice to other pastors, Robert kept it practical:
– “Know who you are.”
– “Stop trying to be another church.”
– “Build a team.”
– “Grow within your lane.”
He emphasized the value of consistency, community, and knowing your purpose. Growth needs clarity and teamwork. No one can lead a thriving church alone.
Robert highlighted the importance of delegation, saying the right team can multiply a leader’s impact.
The Numbers Matter
I asked him if he worried about people criticizing big churches.
His answer: “There’s a book in the Bible called Numbers. Jesus knew the numbers. And if 2.7 million people are in Tarrant County, and there are only 1,200 churches, we all need to step up.”
What’s Next?
So what’s next for Freedom Church? More space. They’re outgrowing their current building and praying for the next step.
Final Word
If you’re a pastor wondering how to grow your church without gimmicks or hype, Robert’s story is proof that it’s possible when you combine the right heart, the right systems, and the right partnerships.
Robert encourages pastors to assess their current reach and evaluate how prepared they are to meet new people seeking community.
One way to do that is by running a simple coffee campaign—here’s a guide on how to grow your church through coffee meetings and turn casual conversations into committed connections.
If your church is growing and you’re planning your next step, schedule a quick call with us.
About The Author
