GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Assembly Church recently celebrated their Relaunch Sunday and first service as Freedom Church. 

A week before the relaunch all plans were in place, the new signage was up, and the renovations were almost complete. Relaunch Sunday turned out to be an amazing event.

"Today is the day we became Freedom Church. What an incredible service. What an incredible community. What an incredible God we serve!" said Lead Pastor Dolan Cochrane. Regarding the name change, Lead Pastor Sara Cochrane explains that they have been wanting to change their name for a very long time.

"We always believed that the name 'Assembly' did not speak to who we are, why we are here, and what we are trusting God to do through the church. We needed a name more meaningful. About two years ago the name 'Freedom' came to mind as it would immediately tell people what the church is all about. All our ministries are about freedom and our main verse that speaks into this is Galatians 5:1 which reads: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

Cochrane emphasises that they did not rebrand just for the sake of rebranding.

"We want people to come here and experience God's freedom from hurt, guilt, fear, anger and loneliness. Christ sets us free, but then we have a lifetime of finding freedom and as our relationship with Him grows we find real freedom."

Cochrane further explains that they are still part of the Assemblies of God. "We are still the same Christ-centred church that seeks to lift the name of Jesus and see people's lives transformed through connecting people to people and people to God; it is only the name that has changed."

'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'