JASON AND MONIQUE COWART, Lead Pastors
For over 20 years, Jason has been engaged in ministry, from worship to college to youth, and most recently in executive roles as NextGEN and North Campus Pastor at New Covenant Church in Longview, Texas. From the moment God called him to ministry in 1999, he has known God has called him to church planting, stepping into this role as a sixth-generation church planter.
A graduate of the International College of Bible Theology (BS Theology) and of East Texas Baptist University (BA Religion with emphasis on Pastoral Ministry), he has the training and experience to lead, yet even more importantly, he and Monique have been given a mandate, a call, to lead a life-giving, Spirit-led church in the Greater Houston Area.
Monique is a stay-at-home-mom and graduated Magna Cum Laude from East Texas Baptist University (’09) with a BS in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Religion. Jason and Monique have been married since 2007 and have three children, Vivianne, William, and Audrey.
OUR GOVERNANCE
Our governance is designed to create a balance of authority, responsibility, and accountability. In other words, we are structured to allow those who are responsible to lead, to have authority to do so, along with the accountability that ensures they lead with integrity.
1. WE ARE STAFF-LED
The Pastors and Lead Team of Freedom Church oversee the day-to-day ministry and operations of the church. The team serves the church and are responsible for the equipping of volunteers and spiritual development of the attendees.
2. WE ARE PROTECTED BY OUR PRESBYTERY
The Presbytery are members and pastors of Freedom Church who provide counsel and accountability to the Lead Pastor and are charged with protecting the church through wisdom, prayer, and guidance on spiritual and moral matters. They are all ordained pastors and, along with the Lead Pastors, serve the church in the highest level of spiritual authority in our church.
3. WE ARE STRENGTHENED BY OVERSEERS
The Overseers are made up of two unique groups, the Board of Directors and churches and/or organizations who are willing to provide protection to the church in two main ways. The Board is tasked with fiscal and operational oversight, and not only operate as the corporate board, they serve the church by assuring compliance with the church’s management policies and procedures, by approving the annual budgets, and other major financial commitments of the church. The churches and organizations that serve as additional oversight have no authority over Freedom Church, including the pastors, elders, and Board, however they are a resource of wisdom and guidance should Freedom need external input. They also may be called in to help in accountability matters relating to the Lead Pastor if requested by the Presbytery or Board Members. Current Church/Organization Oversight includes New Covenant Church, Longview, Texas, and Next Level Relational Network, Fort Myers, Florida.
PASTORAL/ELDER TEAM
Jason and Monique Cowart, Lead Pastors
Marvin and Gwen Cowart
Chuck and Deborah Ruppert
Tony and Alexis Alberti
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jason Cowart, CEO
Marvin Cowart, Chairman
Chuck Ruppert, Board Member
Dustin Aaron, Board Member
Greg Neail, Board Member
MINISTRY LEADERS
Tony Alberti – Worship
Rachel Dugat – Kid Min
Edgar Vasquez – Youth
Gwen Cowart – Women
Brandon Browning – Men
Deborah Ruppert – Connect
Riley Browning – Hospitality
Gwen Cowart – Mentoring
Shelby McGinnis – Events and Meetups
Aaron Dugat – Security
Mona Ward – Intercession