I love Jesus, my wife Nicole, and our three amazing kids—Samuel, Emma, and Wilson. I'm a husband, father, and pastor—in that order. Our family is multi-ethnic through the beautiful gift of adoption, and I’m a passionate advocate for adoption and orphan care. More than anything, I love making disciples who make disciples.
I’m Eric Echols, the Lead Pastor of Freedom Bible Church in Evans, Georgia. My calling is to preach Christ, shepherd the church, and equip God’s people to live out the gospel with boldness, clarity, and love. My ministry is shaped by Reformed theology, rooted in the historic truths of the Christian faith.
I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation and the heartbeat of the Church. My aim is to help believers grow deep in doctrine and wide in disciple-making, so they may glorify God and joyfully obey His Word in every area of life.
Whether I’m preaching a sermon, writing a book, or coaching leaders, I’m committed to helping people mature in Christ. I preach expository messages that seek to rightly divide the Word of truth, always pointing to Christ as the center of Scripture and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.
In addition to pastoring, I serve as a leadership coach, church consultant, and ministry strategist. God has given me a love for building healthy teams, cultivating gospel-centered churches, and raising up leaders who will serve the next generation with faithfulness and vision.
I’ve had the joy of co-authoring Turbocharged!: 100 Simple Secrets to Successful Preschool Ministry. I am also the author of The Passion: Exploring the Final Week of Jesus’ Life in Mark’s Gospel to help believers journey deeper into the wonder of Christ’s suffering and victory.
I’m a relational communicator who loves sitting across the table with a cup of coffee and talking about life, leadership, and the gospel. I’m energized by being outdoors, reading good theology, watching college football (go Dawgs!), and spending quality time with my family.
You can listen to my most recent sermons or connect with me on Facebook and X. I’d love to encourage you as you follow Jesus, deepen your faith, and live for God's glory.
Scripture References: Mark 1:1
Mark’s Gospel is a fast-paced narrative focusing on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Over and over, this book pushes the reader to action as it forces us to examine Jesus and His purpose on earth, and moves us to evaluate our own relationship with Him and our purpose as His disciples here on earth. We have broken down the entire Gospel of Mark into three separate teaching series.