About Courageous

Our Pastors

Dave & Saz Thomas

Dave, Saz, and their four children moved to Charleston with a bold vision: to see God move in a fresh, powerful way in the Holy City. Driven by a deep passion for people, community, and the transformative power of God, their dream has flourished and gathered momentum, ultimately leading them to launch Courageous Church in 2024! They are adventurers at heart—active, energetic, and committed to investing in the next generation. And of course, they can never resist some good ole Southern BBQ. With both having over 15 years of ministry experience, Dave and Saz are hungry to see God do something new and powerful, all while continuing the legacy of faith passed down by the heroes who have paved the way before them.

Our Legacy

Courageous Church Charleston officially launched in 2024, but it is part of a church with over 35 years of rich history. As a new location of Freedom Church, a global movement based in Hereford, England, Courageous Church is rooted in a legacy of faith, creativity, and a heart for people.

Freedom Church, led by Senior Pastors Gary and Heather Snowzell, began in 1988 with a small team in rural England. Over the years, it has grown into a vibrant international community with locations across the globe. Gary and Heather’s passion for the gospel, deep love for the church, and unwavering commitment to God’s vision have been the driving force behind the church’s expansion.

Now, Courageous Church Charleston carries this legacy forward, embracing the same bold faith, dynamic leadership, and heart for reaching people with the message of Jesus. As part of the global Freedom Church movement, Courageous Church is excited to continue making an impact locally and beyond.

OUR DNA

  • CHANGELING

    We are on a constant journey of transformation and personal freedom to become more like Jesus. We refuse to get stuck in our ways, taking individual responsibility for our learning and growth.

  • EVERYTHING IS A GIFT

    We intentionally celebrate and give thanks. We shake off complacency and entitlement to overflow with gratitude for God, our lives and one another. Practicing thankfulness gives us a joy that will sustain us.

  • FIRST AND BEST

    We will serve God and our church with all that we have, giving sacrificially to the one who gave us everything. We won’t just go through the motions or do the minimum. The best of our talents, time and resources will be used for the kingdom.

  • HEART AND SOUL

    We take personal responsibility for the vision and unity of our church. We are committed to making God’s kingdom the central cause of our lives, no matter the cost.

  • LIVE FULL DIE EMPTY

    We are adventurers who take risks and grab life by the horns. Our joy stands in opposition to lifeless religion. Dancing and laughter mark our lives, and we are determined to release all our potential before we die.

  • PUNCHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT

    With audacious faith, we set impossible goals, take bold, confident steps and watch our God move. We are giant-killers who refuse to limit the Holy Spirit.

  • RAISE THE NEXT

    We lovingly disciple, we release leadership, we inspire kingdom influencers and plant new churches. We share the truths and opportunities given to us, changing the world through a legacy of multiplication.

  • RELENTLESS REACHING

    We persistently share the hope and salvation of Jesus with our family, friends and communities. We won’t stand by and be silent about the truth and love God has for this world.

  • RELEVANT TO OUR TIME

    We will share an ageless message that engages the next generation and is easily understood by unchurched people. We will adapt our methods and lay down our preferences for the times and cultures we are called to reach.

  • WARRIOR POETS

    We reflect the creator by embracing and expressing creativity. The colour of our lives becoming a revolt against the mundane and ordinary. We communicate the Gospel with the life and vibrancy in which it was intended.

  • WE WILL ELEVATE

    We freely give honour to everyone: women, men, all ages and all races. We reveal God’s value for each person by opening our homes and our lives. We honour leaders who serve us. We honour God when we build a culture that honours people.

  • WILDFIRE

    Expressing outwardly the work that God has done inwardly, our faith and love will not be contained. We have a contagious passion for Jesus that is raw, real, and unapologetic.

Our Beliefs

  • God is the creator and ruler of the universe. There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal.

    I John 5:7 / Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19 / Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6 / Hebrews 3:7-11 / Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22 / Psalm 90:2 / 1 Peter 1:2 / 2 Cor 13:14

  • Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

    Matthew 1:22,23 / Isaiah 9:6 / John 1:1-5, 14:10-30 / Hebrews 4:14,15 / Romans 1:3,4

  • The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under his control daily.

    2 Corinthians 3:17 / John 16:7-13, 14:16 & 17 / Acts 1:8 / 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16 / Ephesians 1:13 / Galatians 5:25 / Ephesians 5:18

  • The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

    2 Timothy 3:16 / 2 Peter 1:20 & 21 / 2 Timothy 1:13 / Psalm 119:105,160 / Proverbs 30:5

  • People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates us from God and causes many problems in life. People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

    John 3:16 / John 14:17 / Romans 6:23 / Romans 8:17-18 / Revelation 20:15 / 1 Corinthians 2:7-9

    Genesis 1:27 / Psalm 8:3-6 / Isaiah 53:6 / Romans 3: 23 / Isaiah 59:1-2

  • Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment anyone receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

    Romans 6:23 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / John 14:6 / Titus 3:5

  • Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation.

    Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21

  • The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23

  • Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

    Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6

  • We believe in the Biblical example of marriage between one man and one woman as a covenant bond. Because God our Creator established marriage as a sacred institution between one man and one woman, we adhere to the traditional definition of marriage for all of human history.

    Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 7:2, Mark 10:6-9, Genesis 2:24