Jason and Leslie White have known each other for many years. The first time he remembers seeing her, Leslie was dating the older brother of one of his childhood best friends, and it would be several years from that point before they would be interested in each other as anything more than friends. In January of 2013, Jason was hired on at Leslie’s parents’ sod farm. He took the job because they were very flexible with his hours; they allowed him to work on the days that he wasn’t traveling up and down the East Coast as an evangelist. After seeing Leslie again, the attraction between them was extremely strong, and they knew pretty quickly that this was “it.” They had met the “one” that God had for them, and they were married that same year, in November of 2013.
Looking back, thinking on what brought him to this time and place, Jason White continues to see God’s hand and favor on his life. Jason’s childhood was traumatic and painful in a lot of ways, and when he was young, he wasn’t even sure that he wanted to be counted among those called “Christian,” let alone pastor a church. Living with an abusive father and then an abusive stepfather, who was also a “pastor,” Jason had every reason to run away from God. Even so, His Heavenly Father pursued him and showed him kindness and patience; the Lord also brought mentors into his life who would love him well, a beautiful picture of His love. Jason’s story could have been one birthed of abuse and ending in tragedy or violence, but he went to the altar as a young teenager and the trajectory of his life changed in that moment.
Leslie’s upbringing was very different from Jason’s. She was the eldest of five siblings, homeschooled from middle school on, and lived in a loving home, where she was safe to enjoy a comfortable, fulfilling childhood. In 1993, as her youth pastor called everyone down to the altar, her independent streak kept her from leaving her pew to head to the front. She decided, “I’m not gonna do what everyone else is doing!” Yet, the Lord sought her out, and she came to know Jesus, praying the “Prayer of Salvation,” from her seat.
Pastors Jason and Leslie White
After they were married, the Whites served together in ministry from the word “go.” Pastor Jason stated that he couldn’t have imagined a better wife than Leslie. She is very talented in many areas, but Pastor Jason said that what he valued most about her is her prayer life: “I am the man I am today because of Leslie. She is exactly what I wanted in a wife. Other pastors I have known look for a woman who will benefit their ministry: a singer, a piano player, or whatever. I wanted my wife to be a prayer warrior. And she is!”
Jason and Leslie White had only been married for seven years, and just completed a renovation on a dream home in a dream location, when they heard the Lord tell them to put their home on the market. Leslie, the one who had been dreaming of this home in this town, had no idea what they would be doing next, and even so, they sold their home, packed up their two beautiful girls, Ava and Olivia, and believed the Lord would provide. He was calling them to Carrollton, Georgia. It wasn’t a call that would take them very far from where they were raised but just far enough that they would need to sell their home. After all, Freedom Point Church already had a parsonage in place for their pastors’ family.
Leslie, Olivia, Jason, Ava
Carrollton, Georgia is a city with a population of approximately 30,000, and the Mount Zion area, where the church is located, has the lowest average yearly income in the city at $27,000. Jason and Leslie were not dissuaded though. They were going to follow the Lord’s prompting. Through a series of events, some no less than miraculous, they found themselves at Freedom Point Church, on the westside of Carrollton, Georgia, in 2021. Freedom Point Church has been a part of the Mount Zion community since 1965; it was previously called the “Carrollton Pentecostal Church.” Bishop Tim Lamb, Superintendent of the LifePoint Conference, where the church is located, stated that the church has a good foundation because of the strong pastors who have come before. In fact, the pastor who was in place at Freedom Point before the Whites was the one who recommended them for the position, knowing that they would be an excellent fit.
As many churches did, Freedom Point struggled through the Covid-19 pandemic, coming out of it with just a dozen or so members. The Whites stepped in just after the tumultuous period, joining the LifePoint Conference and becoming first time lead pastors. Coming into the church, Pastor Jason said they treated it as a church plant, pitching their vision to the conference leaders and the core members. The Whites were so thankful when everyone “bought into the vision and the heartbeat.” Freedom Point Church has grown over the last three years, running around 120 on an average Sunday, more for holiday Sundays, and into the multiple hundreds for events held at a local park. Bishop Tim Lamb shared: “The Whites are doing a great work, a remarkable work! They have packed out their church building, and people are being saved, lives are being changed.”
A Sunday Morning Service at Freedom Point Church
Pastors Jason and Leslie lead busy lives, and they are both bi-vocational. White stated that it’s an impossibility to be a “part-time” pastor: “We work full-time at both places. God has truly blessed us in this time and been so faithful to keep us going.” The pastors still work together out in the country at Leslie’s parents’ sod farm. Leslie is the office manager and recently started homeschooling their oldest, while Jason drives the truck for deliveries. According to Lifeway Research, bivocational pastors are becoming more common, with at least 26% of North American pastors choosing to or needing to keep a secular job. Leslie mentioned that she gets asked quite frequently how she handles spending all day, every day with Jason, as they work, minister, and live together. She said: “It actually makes life easier. He really is my best friend. And what’s better than spending every day with your best friend?”
Freedom Point Church and the Whites are truly community focused. Every Friday morning, they share the gospel at the local middle school’s FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). There are usually 70-75 young people in attendance, learning about Jesus and enjoying some donuts before school. The church also utilizes a “sidewalk trailer” that they can move to different locations. This trailer is full of fun, with the attendees hearing a short Sunday School-type lesson, followed by games like basketball, corn hole, or anything transportable. Pastors Jason and Leslie like to take their trailer over to a local hotel that houses homeless families. This time is extra special, as they can engage with those who might not have the means to attend a traditional church.
The Whites’ favorite yearly event is their Easter celebration; each year, Freedom Point worships in a local park where they have a church service followed by a community egg hunt. Last year, they had 450 in attendance and 20,000 eggs to hunt. However, the true victory was when seven people gave their hearts to the Lord. In the fall, at the same park, Freedom Point hosts a trunk-or-treat; this year was another success with 575 people in attendance.
Freedom Point Church’s Easter Egg Hunt
Pastor Jason says they still “door-knock.” Once or twice a week from March until November, you can find the congregants of Freedom Point on the street, visiting homes, passing out cards that include the plan of salvation and a salvation prayer. There are 10,000 homes in Carrollton, and Pastors Jason and Leslie plan to have one of those cards, telling of the love of Christ, in every home in the city by 2025. They are well on their way to making it happen! On Thursday evenings, their mid-week service, they have rotating teams who cook and serve dinner for everyone who comes. They also run a van service to the inner-city apartments, with the van routes being responsible for one-fourth of their youth group.
The stories the Whites have accumulated about their church members, and the impact Freedom Point has had on their community, are astounding. One such example started in January of 2023. A couple who was living in a tent, steeped in addiction, and washing themselves and their clothes in the creek, flagged down the church van as it drove by. The driver stopped, welcomed the couple on board, and their journey to recovery and a new life began. Pastor Jason told the couple he would help them in any way that he could, but they first needed to get checked into rehab and then start applying for jobs. They were willing to put in the work, and soon, they were hired by a local restaurant. It wasn’t long before they had a stable home, were able to apply to see their kids every other weekend, and currently, they are just a few weeks away from completing their management training at that same local restaurant. God is transforming lives in Carrollton, Georgia!
Looking to the future, the Whites are dreaming of new ways to serve their community. Just recently, they added a recovery group on Monday nights at the church; the first meeting was on March 4, 2024. Since Freedom Point is already bursting at the seams, having reached max capacity in the building and the parking lot, Pastor Jason is praying for wisdom about adding another service and starting a building fund.
Similar to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor Jason wants to: “Follow Christ so closely that others aren’t afraid to follow me.” The Whites are certainly doing just that. As they reach out to friends, neighbors, and the whole city of Carrollton, they are making a difference, one individual, one family at a time.
