Freedom Session is divided into three 9 week segments, each with a user-friendly Participant's Guide.  A typical Freedom Session meeting begins with a practical large group teaching (taught live or by Ken & Bonnie on DVD) and then separates into gender specific small groups to discuss what was just taught at a deeper level.  Then, during the week, participants complete an "On Your Own" homework assignment to further apply what they're learning. (see Session 02 Participant's Guide sampler).

The following graph explain the process and emotional experience of the 12 Step journey through Freedom Session.

If you are interested in taking Freedom Session as a participant:

1. Open and print off the Session 02 Participant's Guide Sampler and then listen to the Session 02 audio teaching.  You can fill in the blanks as you go.
2. Then complete the Further Reflection questions on page 23 of the Session 02 Participant Guide Sampler and look over the small group experience discussion questions on page 24.  This is why we recommend you find a Freedom Session community or invite a few friends to join you on the journey.  You've been hurt in the context of relationship.  Your healing will best come in the context of relationship.
3. Finally, take the time to complete the homework questions on pages 25-27.  This will give you the full Freedom Session experience, at least for one session.

You can also watch the Session 02 DVD sampler (what you would receive if purchasing Freedom Session on DVD) but we've only included a short segment.

If you are interested in starting a FS Ministry in your area:

1. Open and print off the Session 02 Participant's Guide Sampler and then open the Teaching Scripts Sampler and compare.  You will notice 3 unique teaching aids:
   • A Director's Briefing (pages 2-3).  This is for you.
   • A Facilitator's Briefing (pages 20-21).  You would photocopy this for each facilitator in advance of the session to help them prepare.
   • A color coded script for those teaching live.  The code is explained on Session 02 Teaching Script Sampler cover page.
     
     Please note: Teaching Scripts, Director & Facilitator briefings, PowerPoint support and other soft copy resources are all included in the FS Director Kit.
2. Watch the Session 02 DVD sampler and follow along in your Session 02 Participant's Guide and Teaching Script Sampler.  This will give you a pretty good overview of the teaching whether you run it via DVD or teach live.
3. Finally, you can skim through the Session 02 audio teaching, and skim over the rest of the Participant's Guide Sampler, comparing the Small Group Experience (page 24 in the Participant's Guide Sampler) with the Facilitator Briefing from pages 20-21 in the Teaching Scripts Sampler.

In 2001, the church where I [pastor ken] came on staff had just experienced an incredible growth wave over an 18 month period.  The new people coming were not healthy Christians from other churches.  They were hurting, some were internally bleeding under the scars of undealt with sexual abuse or neglect.  Many were enslaved to pornography and various forms of immorality.  Some were suffering through broken marriages.  Others will simply broken themselves.  And all were desperately hoping that the message of freedom in Christ that they heard about on Sunday mornings would be true in their lives as well.

We soon found out that we couldn't handle the counseling load following messages that dealt with the real issues of life.  We tried various approaches to help people find freedom, but discovered their issues were most often only a symptom of deeper and often buried wounds from people's developmental years.  We needed something that probed deeper into the hearts of those who came seeking help.  Long story short, in fall of 2003, Freedom Session was written.  And as people began experiencing the healing/freedom Jesus promises, the ministry began to grow.  Eventually other churches began asking to start Freedom Session in their churches so we published the 1st edition of Participant's Guides and teaching DVDs in 2005.  We've learned a few things over the years and released an updated and re-filmed version teaching in fall 2009.

Freedom Session has developed a reputation of being one of the most extensive (toughest) Christian 12 Step programs available.  We have also seen many find lasting freedom and healing.  In my opinion, there are four reasons for this:

1. Freedom and healing is God's idea, not ours.  The power we rely on is that we've kept true to God's Word and not compromised the teaching of Jesus to be politically or recovery culture correct.  Just to be clear:  programs like this don't heal anyone - Jesus Christ does.  The role of Freedom Session is to lead you on a journey of uncovering the wounds Jesus wants you to bring to Him.  We have no doubt He will heal you.
2. Freedom Session is transferable. Our goal in publishing Freedom Session was to make it "dummy proof" - like the digital cameras available today.  We have personally invested time and money into the 2009 edition so that anyone who is truly authentic, loves broken people and believes in the healing power of Jesus Christ can run the program via DVD even if they don't have a teaching gift or recovery background.  At the same time, those who have a teaching gift and/or experience in recovery ministry can teach the program live - teaching scripts, PowerPoint and briefings are all available.
3. Freedom Session is pastor and user friendly.  I [Ken] am a pastor and I know how important it is to have a program that is solidly biblical and trustworthy, that won't lead volunteers in and over their heads.  During our re-writing, I kept in mind that many of the volunteers facilitating the program will still need a measure of healing themselves.  There is a measure of "safety" built into every session, especially in the small group discussion.  In the Facilitator Training we emphasize that the role of a facilitator is not to counsel or fix but to lead participants through the program as written in the context of community.  In this way, Freedom Session actually becomes one of the most effective "leadership training engines" in the church.
4. Freedom Session is designed for those who actually want to become well. Regular attendance and weekly homework for each participant is expected.  Those who want to "play at recovery" or remain encased in a victim mentality sometimes drop out but those who are willing to put a little effort eventually complete the program and experience permanent life change.  Those who drop out often return the following year after seeing the difference Freedom Session has made in the lives of their friends.

If you are considering running a Freedom Session ministry in your church, click on Pastor to Pastor for a personal message from pastor ken.

Growing Up: Ken grew up the youngest of three boys in a lower middle class home in central Canada.  He had a good childhood until age 12 when his family moved cities mid-way his grade 7 school year.  His first day of school, everyone seemed to want to beat up the new kid, and since he was slight in stature, he made a conscious decision to protect himself by becoming a leader among them.  In his own 12 year old words:  I'll never become stronger than them;  so I'll become "badder."

He began hanging out with kids older than he, joyriding in stolen cars, breaking into schools and houses, vandalism and drugs.  Fortunately for Ken, he didn't like the drugs - he felt out of control.  But the peer pressure was heavy and so he attempted to "rise to the top" by selling drugs.  He actually sold as little as possible but as much as necessary to keep up his image.