the best letter ive ever received

Dear GroupOne Crew, Eleventy Seven, the Motocross team, Chaos on Wheels, King of Kings, Vertical Ministries group, sound/lighting/video gang, and all others who helped with the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Freedom Experience


First of all, thank you for making my first Freedom Experience a complete blast! All of you were such professionals and just so fun to be with! I fell in love with all of you.

I saw how incredibly hard all of you work to make this event happen—and also how hard Satan works to keep it from happening! I was worn out just watching everything you did. I knew it was very mentally and physically demanding, but I had to see a first-hand, behind-the-scenes view to truly know and appreciate the magnitude and complexity of it.

I loved spending quality time with you in the green room having dinner at 10 o’clock at night, after the show, knowing that you had early morning school assemblies the next day. I also saw the group who left at midnight following the last performance in order to make the long drive to the next venue.

One of my most outstanding memories was the precious gray-haired grandma walking as fast as her little legs would allow her to get a seat on the front row each night. I was unable to see, but she may have even made it to the mosh pit!!!

All of you have a God-given talent and it was so refreshing to see and hear you unashamedly give complete credit to the Lord. It was amazing to watch as you had over 4,000 people of all ages screaming, gasping, applauding, and mesmerized. Then it was even more astonishing to watch Brock bring the entire crowd to a total hush by performing the water coffin and the bullet catch. With the stage set, he was then able to present the gospel in his unique, anointed way—simple, yet profound. I loved the way he let them know that the Christian life puts them in the minority and that they may lose friends over it—and that many times they will have to stand alone. I then stood awestruck with the hundreds of people who chose to follow Jesus anyway. Powerful!

On our long drive back home, my sister and I both agreed that the lesson we learned from this event was not to “judge a book by its cover.” I had to ask God to forgive me for first seeing the wild hair and the tattoos instead of your genuine hearts and motives. He showed me very quickly that I was guilty of that. He then let me see first hand how the blue-haired, probably unchurched kids at the school assemblies immediately identified with you. He also allowed me to see them all three nights of the event. I saw the ones who looked “just like you” talking to you at the merchandise tables afterwards with total admiration and desire to be what you are. That is what FX is all about—reaching those who would probably not darken the doors of the church otherwise. I think my generation is guilty of wanting the kids to get cleaned up and then go to church. I think God’s way is, “tell them about Me, and I’ll do the cleaning.”

Thank you for treating my sister and me with such respect and acceptance. I also noticed how much respect you all had for Brock and Auny—and each other. The hotel manager voluntarily told me, not knowing who I was, how great your entire group had been. He said you were totally “different” from most groups who stay at his hotel. (I believe I recall Brock using the word “integrity” in conversations with you.)

Some things you were lacking: self promotion, jealousy, foul language, off-color jokes or remarks, complaints, idleness . . . .

In a nutshell, my sister and I both loved our little vacation with you. If you are ever in southwest Louisiana, please give me a call and I’ll treat you to some good Cajun cookin’.

Keep up the good work.

Love you all

Linda Gill (aka “Brock’s mom”)