Freedom Collective Ministries bringing a series of 34 outdoor gospel crusades to 14 cities across Tennessee, including a two-day event scheduled for Cookeville Friday and Saturday.
Freedom Collective Ministries Evangelist James Thayer said the “Encounter the Way 2026” tour aims to address a pervasive feeling of hopelessness and rising rates of depression and anxiety in society. Thayer said the ministry believes every person is searching for an authentic encounter with their creator to find reconciliation and a sense of purpose.
“It’s more like a corpse coming alive than it is about becoming a better human being,” Thayer said. “And if our hearts can become changed by putting our faith in him, we can finally become the kind of men and women that he has, that we’ve always wanted to be.”
Thayer said the outdoor format provides a neutral ground for individuals who may feel uncomfortable entering a traditional church building. Thayer said the events feature worship services and a team of trained evangelists who minister to attendees.
“We see people freed from things like panic attacks and suicide ideation,” Thayer said. “We see people’s bodies healed. We see people healed of things like autoimmune disorders and things that have plagued them even since childhood.”
Thayer said the ministry is currently working with approximately six churches in Cookeville that have expressed interest in participating.
“We partner with these churches also because when we leave a city, we don’t want to leave people as orphans,” Thayer said. “We want to plug them into local churches so they can continue to be discipled, which basically means they can continue to learn how to walk with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to transform them.”
Thayer said the ministry also collaborates with Burn 24/7, a Nashville-based organization that leads extended worship sessions lasting four to eight hours. Thayer said the ministry is seeking additional financial donations to add more dates to the tour and keep more people on the road.
“We measure our success by our obedience to the Holy Spirit,” Thayer said. “So if God tells us to do something and we do it to the best of our ability, we believe we’re successful whether or not the numbers on a worldly standpoint reflect that.”
Thayer said the “Encounter the Way” theme is based on the biblical description of Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. Thayer said the ministry believes the nation is currently on the cusp of a spiritual revival.
“I think most people right now when they think of the church, they think of it as a set of rules and regulations and behavior modification to become a better person,” Thayer said. “But that’s not what Jesus preached. He didn’t bring a new religion. He brought a kingdom. And he wants us to come alive.”
