Sometimes the answer isn't no. Sometimes it's not yet.

As we enter September 2026, that's where we find ourselves with Freedom Preschool. Our original goal was to welcome children in Fall 2026. We worked hard toward that goal, but an unexpected C.U.P. issue changed our timeline.

The good news is that the setback appears to be temporary. Through the help of experienced experts and the cooperation of city officials, Freedom Church now has a relatively straightforward path toward the approvals necessary to move forward.

We anticipate receiving the go-ahead in the coming weeks.

More than 70 families have already expressed interest. We've met excellent potential leaders. We've worked through unexpected challenges. And through it all, the vision has only become clearer.

To the families who have been waiting patiently: thank you. To those who have prayed for this new ministry: thank you.

We're not quite ready to give you the first day yet. But we're getting closer.

The delay is temporary. The vision remains. And we can't wait to welcome you.

Although we encountered an unexpected obstacle, we have great news!

And the news was encouraging. We found a pathway toward approval should be relatively straightforward.

We are especially grateful for our city professionals working with us throughout this process. We also believe the positive relationship Freedom Church has developed in our community over many years matters.

Freedom has sought to be the best possible neighbor: to serve our community, partner with others, welcome people through our doors, and invest in the city around us.

So, while the preschool won't open on our original schedule, we're powering through. God is good!

We're over 70 interested families. What a blessings to have this. Granted, lots of questions to answer, so we added the FAQ. Keep the questions coming - we want every family to know Freedom Preschool is the best choice for their children.

Every big project has moments when the path forward isn't quite as straightforward as you hoped. ForFreedom Preschool, that moment came early in July.

As our team worked toward a Fall 2026 opening, city authorities alerted Freedom Church to a potential issue involving the Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.) associated with the property.

We immediately began investigating. Unfortunately, what initially appeared to be a potential expiration was confirmed: the existing C.U.P. had expired, creating an additional approval step before the preschool could open.

It was not the news we wanted. After so many weeks of planning, recruiting, building excitement, and hearing from dozens of interested families, we suddenly faced an obstacle that could significantly alter our timeline.

But setbacks don't have to become stop signs. Freedom began working with experts who understand the city's approval processes and could help identify the best path forward.

The vision for Freedom Preschool hasn't changed;  only the schedule had.

We cannot do ministry alone. I have lead private Christian education long enough to know that the people around us make the difference. The experts among us know how to get it done right.

Sometimes, the experts just want to lend a hand because they love what they're doing. I just had that kind of visit with an excellent leader in the preschool world, who brought clarity to many facets of starting a Christian preschool. Freedom is about getting the right things right, and Erika's wisdom and experience was a Godsend, jumpstarting the paperwork process that lies ahead.

Erika - you are a blessing to our ministry and to the many parents and children who will choose Freedom Preschool. Thank you.

Sometimes you launch something with hope. And sometimes the community responds with enthusiasm. When Freedom Church opened the interest list for Freedom Preschool, we hoped families would be interested. What we didn't anticipate was just how quickly the response would come.

More than 50 families have already joined the interest list.

Behind every registration was a family: a mom wondering where her child would spend their days, a dad looking for a safe and nurturing environment, some hoping to find a school where education and character development could grow through a Biblical lens.

Those families reminded us why this ministry matters. Freedom Preschool isn't simply about filling classrooms. It's about creating a place where families feel welcomed and supported.

The interest list was an early sign that this vision resonated. It also gave our team even more motivation to move quickly: open in Fall 2026 and begin serving families as soon as possible.

A preschool is ultimately about people. The classrooms matter. The curriculum matters. The facilities matter. But none of those things matter as much as the people who will welcome children and their parents each morning.

So as Freedom Preschool began taking shape, one of our most important priorities was finding the best preschool director.

We wanted someone who understood early childhood education, cared deeply about children and families, could build and lead an exceptional team, and shared the heart and mission of Freedom Church.

As word spread about the opportunity, we were encouraged by the quality of candidates who expressed interest. Many excellent candidates emerged.

Throughout May and June, conversations continued. Resumes were reviewed. Experiences were discussed. Visions were shared. In June, Freedom Church met with several potential directors as we continued discerning the best path forward.

We weren't simply hiring someone to administer a preschool. We were looking for someone who could help build a ministry.

What might God want to do here?

For Freedom Church, that question has been at the heart of the vision for Freedom Preschool—a place where young children can grow, learn, discover, and experience the love of Jesus from their earliest years.

With an ambitious goal: to open our doors in Fall 2026, we knew an aggressive timeline would require an incredible amount of work. There are facilities to prepare, programs to develop, staff to recruit, licensing and city requirements to navigate, and countless details to consider. We already have the vision: Love Jesus. Serve People. Adopt the City.

And almost immediately, something remarkable happened. As soon as we opened our preschool interest list, the response was far greater than we anticipated. More than 50 families signed up, expressing interest in being part of this new ministry.

The dream was no longer just an idea. Freedom Preschool was becoming real.