50 Presbyterian Churches That Have Played A Role In My Life

(PC stands for Presbyterian Church)

Steele Creek PC, Charlotte, North Carolina—the ancestral home of the Freeman family where my grandfather grew up and where several generations of my family are buried.

Southwood PC, Talladega, Alabama—the church my father was serving when I was born and where I was baptized on Jan. 1, 1961.

Third PC, Staunton, Virginia—my father’s second pastorate.

First PC, Memphis, Tennessee—my father’s third pastorate, and the church where I was confirmed as an active member.

Whitehaven PC, Memphis, Tennessee—the church my mother’s parents and aunt and uncle attended for years. I visited often while we were living in Memphis.

Fountain City PC, Knoxville, Tennessee—the church my Freeman grandparents attended after he retired from the ministry and where my grandfather’s funeral was held.

First PC, McAllen, Texas—my father’s fourth pastorate, and the last congregation of which I was an active member before I became a minister.

First PC, Greenwood, Mississippi—the final church my father served as an installed pastor. I was never a member there, but have visited often and preached there on at least two occasions.

First PC, Oxford, Mississippi—the church where my mother has been a member since my father’s retirement. I have attended there several times and we had one of the best crowds ever to see a performance of my play “Sanctuary (Psalm 84)” there.

First PC, San Antonio, Texas—I was a youth advisory delegate to a meeting of the Presbytery Del Salvador at this church, and later attended worship here occasionally while in college. The pastor at that time was a good friend of my parents.

Crestholm PC and

Highland Park PC, San Antonio, Texas—two churches I served as youth director and church secretary soon after I graduated from college.

Ginter Park PC, Richmond, VA—located very near the campus of Union Seminary. I attended worship there my first week as a student.

Amity PC, Charlotte, North Carolina—the church where I served as intern during my first summer in seminary. It was a very good summer.

Third PC, Petersburg, Virginia—a congregation which participated in the “adopt-a-student” program with Union Seminary. I was matched with them and had the chance to preach there.

First PC, Roanoke, Virginia—my aunt was a member of this congregation and I had the chance to preach there as part of a ministry team during my second year in seminary.

Montrose PC, Richmond, Virginia—I preached here about four Sundays the summer before Debbie and I were married.

First PC, Richmond, Virginia—the church I normally attended during seminary and where I had the opportunity to fulfill the requirements for my Intro to Pastoral Care class.

First PC, Dallas, Texas—Debbie’s brother Bill was pastor there for over 20 years and Debbie worked as interim youth director there the summer before we were married. I had the chance to visit a few times.

Good Shepherd PC, Bartlesville, Oklahoma—the church that Debbie’s dad organized and served for over 30 years and where she and I were married in 1988.

The Old Parish Church, Church of Scotland, East Kilbride, Scotland—the congregation that Debbie and I served during my intern year and our first year of marriage. She was actually ordained by then and the first woman to serve the church as a minister.

Buena Vista PC, Buena Vista, Virginia—Debbie had served as a summer intern there and when we returned from Scotland she became their interim pastor for about a year.

Fairfield PC, Fairfield, Virginia—located near Buena Vista. I served this congregation as temporary supply pastor near the end of my last year of seminary.

Berryville PC, Berryville, Virginia—a congregation with which Debbie and I had contact during my last year in seminary.

Central PC, Pine Bluff, Arkansas—the church Debbie and I served as co-pastors from 1990 until 1995. I was ordained there and our children were both baptized there as well. Later, in 2008, I returned to serve the congregation as interim pastor.

First PC, Morrilton, Arkansas—the church where Arkansas Presbytery met the day I was approved for ordination.

Faith PC, Pine Bluff, Arkansas—a predominately African-American congregation where Debbie and I have each preached a number of times and where I briefly served as moderator of the session.

Dollarway PC, Pine Bluff, Arkansas—a congregation that closed while Debbie and I were pastors of Central in Pine Bluff. Many of the members joined Central and are still integral to the life of the congregation today.

Westover Hills PC, Little Rock, Arkansas—the congregation that Debbie and I served next as co-pastors from 1995 until I left in 2008. She remained there until 2010 as pastor. Our daughter was ordained as a deacon there.

First PC, Helena, Arkansas—Debbie and I administered communion during a meeting of Arkansas Presbytery at this church.

First PC, Ft. Smith, Arkansas—Debbie and I preached a dialogue sermon at a meeting of presbytery at this church.

Black Mountain PC, Black Mountain, North Carolina—my grandmother Freeman was a member of this congregation late in her life and her funeral service was held here.

First PC, Batesville, Arkansas—my father served as interim pastor of this congregation and we had the opportunity to visit them there a number of times.

Woodlands PC, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas—I moderated an administrative commission of Arkansas Presbytery in relation to this congregation.

Westminster PC, Hot Springs, Arkansas—I moderated a meeting of Arkansas Presbytery in 2003 at this church. I later briefly moderated the session there.

First PC, Benton, Arkansas—I also moderated a special meeting of Arkansas Presbytery at this church.

John Calvin PC, Tulsa, Oklahoma—a congregation that my father-in-law served as interim and which I have attended a number of times.

Westminster PC, Tulsa, Oklahoma—a congregation that my father-in-law has served for several years as stated supply.

St. Andrew’s PC, Little Rock, Arkansas—another congregation that was closed. The majority of members came to Westover Hills while Debbie and I were there and helped to bolster that congregation at a crucial time.

Central PC, Ft. Smith, Arkansas—once upon a time Debbie and I interviewed with a committee from this congregation. It did not work out, but years later a group from Westover Hills performed by play, “Sanctuary (Psalm 84)” for their congregation, after which they staged the play themselves.

First PC, Conway, Arkansas—I’ve moderated the session and preached here. We also performed “Sanctuary” here on one of our tours.

Third PC, Rochester, New York—though I’ve never been there, members of the youth group performed a staged reading of my play “Sanctuary”.

Trinity PC, Starkville, Mississippi—also hosted a performance of “Sanctuary”.

Evergreen PC, Memphis, Tennessee—another host of a performance of “Sanctuary”. This during our second tour.

Second PC, Nashville, Tennessee—hosted a performance of “Sanctuary” on the same tour, but we had one of our worst crowds ever there.

First PC, Las Vegas, Nevada—the most successful performance of “Sanctuary” ever was held here. The cast and crew were from Little Rock.

Belair PC, Pine Bluff, Arkansas—yet again, a congregation that was closed but in this case actually merged with Central PC in Pine Bluff while I was the interim pastor there.

First PC, Pine Bluff, Arkansas—the second congregation I served as an interim pastor from 2009 to 2010. A very enjoyable time.

First PC, McGehee, Arkansas—I briefly served as moderator of the session of this congregation while serving as interim pastor in Pine Bluff.

First PC, Searcy, Arkansas—my third interim pastorate and the one I am serving at present. A very faithful congregation with good members and, I am certain, a bright future.