Hello! I am Rev. W. Russell Freeman, Sr. I come to Little River UMC having served in the local church for twenty five years. I have served as a pastor, youth minister, and church planter. I felt the call to ministry at an early age proudly stating, “I am going to be a preacher when I grow up.” I pursued that call going directly from high school, to college, to seminary and then into the parish ministry. I was born in Virginia at the Norfolk Naval Hospital and moved to South Carolina at an early age. I consider myself a native of the Palmetto State.
I have served the United Methodist Church at the district, conference, and jurisdictional levels. I still believe that the local church provides the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. This only happens when the church is engaged in the community: around the corner and around the world. My philosophy for ministry is relatively simple, “Preach Jesus, Love People.”
It is with great excitement that my family and I begin our journey in ministry together with the people of Little River UMC.
Russell is a graduate of Wofford College and Emory University, Candler School of Theology. He is also graduate of The Royce and Jane Reynolds Program in Church Leadership. Russell is married and has three children.