The Story of Set Free Community Ministries

In October 1999 Reginald (Reggie) and Anna Robbins accepted the call to serve at the Memorial Drive Center and Sanctuary Family Shelter. We were, and are presently, commissioned Church and Community Missionaries with the North American Mission Board, and I, Reginald, serve on the staff of the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association, and I serve as the Pastor and Director. Anna serves at my side as the Minister of Music.

Our task was to strengthen the present ministry programs, develop other programs that would meet needs of the surrounding community, and start niche congregations.  So before we did anything we sought the Lord in prayer for guidance in all of this, and we enlisted the help from those godly men and women who were serving here even before we arrived.

During one of our services a heavy burden was on my heart as I saw hurting men and women come to our services.  Some came at first just to get in out of the cold in the winter and to get relief from the heat in the summer, to get a meal and to receive free clothing, as these are provided following each of our services. Then many began to come back because they saw that someone really cared for them and wanted to help. We then saw that they needed more. Many were struggling in life due to various addictions, homelessness, and a lack of direction in life. They needed more than just a few words, once or twice a week, more than just a smile, a plate of food, a blanket and a pat on back saying, “See you next Sunday!”  They needed more!  We knew just where to go for help.

We, the ministry team and I, along with other saints, started to pray, asking The Father for guidance. We knew The Father had a plan and the plan became very plain to me when we were invited to travel to Yucaipa, California, with a group of representatives from various Atlanta Metro Baptist Association Churches. We went there to meet Pastor Willie Dalgity, Pastor of Set Free Christian Fellowship, S.B.C., to see how that church was intentionally reaching out to the often times forgotten ones of the streets--the drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, gang bangers, and the homeless.  This was a church going out and taking the love of Jesus to them. They were, and still are, growing as they are literally seeing multitudes turn to Jesus.

Well, I was there for less than one day when I knew The Father was telling me what we needed to do.  We did not need to go back to Atlanta to form a prayer group. We have been and are praying. We did not have to check with a committee to see if this could be done. My committee had already spoken and said go for it! Our committee is God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. We saw where God was working and joined Him in His work here in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.

Today, going on ten years now, we are known as Set Free Community Ministries and are still a part of the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association and are in a partnership with the other Set Free Churches of Metro Atlanta and North Georgia churches. Over the years we have seen thousands come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord of their lives. Many have been delivered from their addictions and are now living the life God has intended them to live.

We are need the prayers and financial gifts of the Saints as we carry out The Father's plan to reach the “least of these.”  We want our "light to so shine" before men, women, boys and girls, so that "they will see that light and glorify The Father in Heaven.”

May God bless you richly!

Reginald and Anna Robbins