The new sign was officially installed last Wednesday, but Set Free Ministries has been settling into its new offices for the past few weeks.
Pastor Wade Lang and ministry members moved desks, chairs and supplies into 115 East Main, the former Haas Bakery building. Portable office walls were put in place, a meeting place was created and the front windows were decorated.
“The office space is needed because we do not have a church building,” Pastor Wade said. “We are without a church home.”
Pastor Wade said their original intent was to move the Set Free church into the former Pix Theater building. That plan hit a snag when Pastor Wade was told an elevator, as well as a sprinkler system, would need to be installed before the building could be used. “The costs of these two items alone could total over $150,000,” Pastor Wade said.
“This building is God-given, but it is not a church,” he stressed. “There is no worship at the building.” 
Rather, Pastor Wade explained, the space is being used as office and meeting space for Set Free Ministries.
He said a men’s Bible study group meets at the new offices on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. The women’s Bible group meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.
“Souled Out,” a Set Free youth group meets every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous members meet on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
In addition, a food shelf will be housed in the building as well as the Set Free hygiene ministry that provides body hygiene products.
The new office and meeting space will help organize the ministry not only locally, but also for area Set Free interests, including the ACTS Treatment Center in Gaylord where Pastor Wade serves as chaplain. “I counsel alcoholics and addicts scripturally,” he explained. “(Alcohol and drug addictions) are a physical manifestation of spiritual illness.” 
In January 2010, a new treatment center will open in Fairmont. The Set Free Life Recovery Center will be a 30-bed Christian-based residential treatment center. Pastor Wade will serve as lead chaplain.
“It’s possible (the Main Street Set Free office) could be used as a satellite treatment center,” he said. “We are prayerful for that.”
Pastor Wade said regular hours for the Set Free building on East Main will begin soon. Those hours will be posted on the front door. “We will also have a small Christian gift shop,” Pastor Wade said. “We will offer Christian T-shirts, Christian books, Christian jewelry, etc.” 
For the time being, the new location for the Set Free office will serve a purpose for the ministry, but Pastor Wade and his church members are still looking for a building to call home. “We are a group that needs the support of the greater community of churches,” Pastor Wade said. “Set Free is the ministry that deals with the homelessness and other humanitarian issues of our area. If the town could see the hurt, they might start to see that our mission is needed desperately.”
More information on Set Free Ministries can be obtained by contacting Pastor Wade at (866) 304-5264 or 794-KING(5464).