Denton Freedom House celebrates 20 years of good works

By Abigail Allen

Editor & Publisher

Denton Freedom House celebrated 20 years of helping people turn their lives around through faith.

The jubilation was held Saturday at the men's campus in the Green Valley area of Aubrey.

"It's just kind of overwhelming today, connecting with a lot of the [people who] have been through the home over the years and just kind of reminiscing on the stories and God's faithfulness all of these years," Founder Jeremy Adams said. "… There's dozens and dozens and dozens of testimonies of God's transforming power around us—living miracles."

He, his wife Karen Adams and their children enjoyed interacting with the residents, alumni, volunteers and contributors who came out to celebrate the organization.

"It's just a celebration of all the successes, of all the lives that have been changed and all the families that have been impacted," she said.

That feeling is compounded by seeing alumni want to help other residents.

"That just makes them stronger in their walk," Karen said.

Chad Eskew, the organization's director of growth and development, is grateful for the impact DFH has had on his and others' lives.

"We've never changed our mission, which is to liberate the broken from the bondage of sin and addiction through the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and then to equip men and women to become prosperous disciples of Christ," he said.

There was a mix of familiar and new faces to those in attendance.

One of those newer faces, Stevie Honrud, is a resident who is in Phase 3.

Despite being young, his story is filled with sadness, rebellion and trauma that he feels his newfound faith is helping him work through and to move beyond.

"I used to kind of make fun of Christians, used to look down on them, but here I am, boldly calling myself a Christian and loving God and devoted to God," Honrud said. "My worst days here will never compare to my worst days there."

He shared how grateful he is for the impact the Freedom House has had on his life, including inspiring him to enroll in college and take the opportunity seriously.

Another face in the crowd was that of Melissa Barnett, a former resident who said that although she didn't complete the program, Denton Freedom House has had a dramatic and positive impact on her life.

Barnett met Jeremy while she lived on the streets in Seattle.

She credits him and the men who were accompanying him on that trip with saving her life, leading her to battle her drug addiction and helping her rediscover faith.

"I've been baptized, and I am clean almost four years now and I'm housed now," Barnett said. "I've been housed for nearly a year after 15 years of homelessness."

One of the volunteers, Joe Bruton, has been part of the Denton Freedom House since its inception.

"I can see God at work," he said. "When you see God's activity, that's your invitation to join him in what he's doing. … I started going over on Thursdays. That was 20 years ago. I'm still here on Thursdays."

His level of involvement has varied over the years, but his commitment to the work has not.

To be part of the effort means so much to both Joe and his wife, Amy Bruton.

Pastor Chris Walden of First Rock Fellowship was a member of the inaugural board of directors, on which he served for 12 years.

He and his wife, Heather Walden, have remained supporters of the organization throughout its existence.

"Something like that starts in a little house with just one [family] and a few board members," he said. "… To see what it is, with Zera [Coffee] and the food bank and all the things that have come out of it is pretty amazing."

Tim Eaton, a member of the board of directors, said he loves seeing the impact the program can have in people's lives when they follow what they are taught because it's not an easy fix.

"It's a lifelong battle," he said.

Denton Freedom House has plans to increase its food growing capability at the men's campus, in addition to other projects such as the continued expansion of the food pantry it took over and moved to a new location in Denton.

"When we took it over, we made the mission statement 'Eliminating the fear of hunger,'" COO Staci Schmidt said. "We don’t want anybody to ever have to choose between putting gas in their car or food on their table."

Denton Freedom House's CEO Alton Schmidt is excited about what is in store for the organization.

"It's important for people to see that the ministry is still viable," he said. "It's growing. It's bigger than it's ever been. [And] that they're a part of it, but their part is not over. We still have a lot of things to do, and they can be instrumental in sharing their story and how it's impacted their life and also finding a place to maybe serve again."