Outreach
Reach Rockford
Reach Rockford oversees local ministries and partnerships that address our region’s spiritual, social and material needs. This has included everything from hosting a community forum on fighting human trafficking and sexual exploitation to the daily support of organizations like Rock House Kids, the Rockford Rescue Mission and many others. Additionally, the Reach Rockford team administers First Free Rockford’s Jeremiah Fund, which offers “no strings attached” grants to inspire our congregation to pursue the welfare of the Rockford area through the work of local nonprofit organizations.
Urgent Needs
Angel Tree – Nov. 23 – Dec. 7
- Sundays, Nov. 23 & 30: Take a tag off the Angel Tree in our lobby (don’t wait—they go quickly!). Use the information on the tag to purchase a Christmas gift for the child on the tag.
- Nov. 24 – Dec. 7: Bring your wrapped and tagged gifts back to church.
- Saturday, Dec. 13: Angel Tree children and families will be pickup their gifts at First Free Rockford between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers are needed for a number of dates and roles. Please call the church for more info on getting involved in one of these areas.
We are looking for volunteers to help at the following times:
Sat, Nov. 15 – 9:00 AM Help write Angel Tree tags (300).
Sun, Nov. 23 – before & after services: Help put tags on trees in lobby and record tag info.
Sun, Nov. 30 – before & after services: Same as above.
Tue, Dec. 9 – 9:00 AM at church: Help organize gifts by code number and bag them.
Sat, Dec. 13 – 9:00 AM–1:00 PM: Help distribute gifts to families via drive-thru at church.
Here are the local ministries currently supported by Reach Rockford
- Carpenter’s Place
- Haven Network
- Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford
- Rock House Kids
- Rockford Rescue Mission
- Rockford Reachout Jail Ministry
- Stateline Youth for Christ
How can I help?
These local organizations frequently need volunteers. Click the links above to learn more about the current volunteer needs of these organizations. You might also consider volunteering on the Reach Rockford team! As a volunteer with Reach Rockford, you will help…
- Participate in monthly team meetings
- Connect with local ministries and partners and updating the church
- Organize and run quarterly church-wide drives
Contact Pastor David Creek at davidc@firstfreerockford.org to learn more.
Jeremiah Fund
The Jeremiah Fund Grant is a “no strings attached” grant of $750 which must be applied for online at First Free Rockford website. Any qualifying organization will be considered for a grant, upon submission of the online application.
The Jeremiah Fund Grant Committee retains the right to interpret or alter these Guidelines on a case by case basis.
Jeremiah Fund Grant Guidelines
General intentions/requirements
- To support and enhance an ongoing relationship between the applicant and the organization – it is not intended for sponsoring a onetime event within the organization or fund raising.
- To enhance the Christian witness of our church member as he/she serves in the ministry/service of the non-profit.
- An organization will only be considered for two grants per 6 months.
- A church member may only apply for one grant per 6 months.
- If a group applies for a grant, at least one member of the group must meet the requirements of an individual requesting a grant as per outlined above.
The individual requesting the grant must:
- Be a member of First Free Rockford.
- Volunteer 20 or more hours per year in the ministry/service of the non-profit, excluding serving as a board member.
- Agree that the grant will enhance their Christian witness at the non-profit.
- Agree to deliver the check in person.
The organization receiving the grant must:
- Be a 501c3 Non-profit organization which is Christian in scope, or morally positive and spiritually neutral.
- Serve the greater Rockford community.
- Have a direct impact on humanity and effect positive change in human lives.
Global Outreach
First Free Rockford currently partners with 30 career missionaries both in the U.S. and globally that, together, reach 5 continents. Our Global Outreach Team and missionaries focus on equipping national leaders and aiding them to minister effectively in their own cultures. Our goal is to see people reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Our Three Pillars
We emphasize three “pillar” ministries to the missionaries we support:
- Evangelism – Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who haven’t yet heard, and those who have heard but have not yet responded. This is paramount, and the primary ministry focus for many of our missionaries.
- Church Planting – Encouraging, supporting and helping to enable healthy churches to reproduce themselves, thus multiplying the church’s effect in spreading the gospel and building the saints. Evangelism is paramount, and the primary ministry focus for many of our missionaries.
- Theological Training – Aiding national pastors and other Christian Leaders to attain formal biblical, theological and leadership training and experience.
Tabitha Centers
First Free partners with churches in DRC and ReachGlobal Africa to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to women in Kinshasa caught in sex trafficking or other cycles of poverty and abuse.
How It Started
Moved by the plight of Kinshasa’s abandoned girls—many surviving through prostitution or gangs—Claudine Selenga began a small neighborhood Bible study in 2012. Seeing their desperate need for hope and practical skills, she shared her knowledge of sewing. What started as a simple gathering grew quickly into the first Tabitha Center, offering young women faith, safety, and training as an alternative to life on the streets.
How It's Going
We’ve funded more than 200 Tabitha Centers, where Christian women from Kinshasa provide Bible-based literacy training to teen girls, helping them establish healthy life patterns. Women and teens also are taught sewing, cooking, hair dressing, cosmetics and other skills that give them an economic alternative to selling themselves. Our partnership includes funding the Tabitha Centers (Bibles, training materials, teaching supplies) and sponsoring young women so they can afford the small tuition to attend and ultimately graduate.