Deeper Life Deliverance Fellowship breaks ground on first independent building in Freeport

On September 14, 2024, Deeper Life Deliverance Fellowship, a Freeport-based Christian ministry, celebrated a momentous milestone as they broke ground on their first independent building, subtitled the City of Refuge.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held at 212 S. Ocean Ave., marked the culmination of years of planning and perseverance by the congregation, led by Overseer Regina Johnson.

The event was a pivotal moment in the ministry’s 26-year history. Overseer Johnson, who began her ministerial career in 1982, founded Deeper Life in 1998 with a vision to address the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional needs of her congregants.

“We’ve always had the desire to meet the needs of people who wanted to build their spiritual relationship with God,” Johnson said. “And God gave us the vision of Deeper Life.”

For 13 years, Deeper Life held services at First Presbyterian Church in Freeport, establishing deep roots in the community. Despite the challenges of sharing space and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry continued to grow and serve the community.

The church has been involved in food pantry services, clothing drives, and back-to-school giveaways, maintaining its mission of helping those in need.

The dream of building their own sanctuary began to take shape in 2015 when the church purchased the property on South Ocean Avenue.

The land was formerly home to the Hi-Hello Child Care Center, which the church operated until 2020.

In that year, Johnson felt it was time to close the daycare and focus on the new sanctuary.

After years of navigating the challenges of securing permits, financing, and managing construction logistics during the pandemic, the church has finally begun the building process.

The construction, which is expected to take 12 to 18 months, will cost approximately $1.2 million, funded by a combination of a loan and donations from Deeper Life’s congregation.

“Saturday September 14, 2024 was a day that will never be forgotten in the life of the Deeper Life Church Family.,” said Overseer Johnson. “The day was filled with Joy and great expectation of what is yet to come.

“This was a day that our church saw the manifestation of the promise of God being fulfilled for the building of the City of Refuge… we are looking forward to providing resource services for the community and working with our Freeport Officials to see how we can better serve the needs of our people through outreach services as well as their spiritual needs.”

“We are filled with excitement about the incredible work God is doing in our church and the mission He has entrusted to us for the community,” said the church’s Minister of Dance Abbie George. “The City of Refuge is more than just a church for individuals—it’s a church for the whole community.”

“Eyes have not seen... nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him,” quoted Elder Valerie Montgomery