United Institutional Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Johnny R. Freeman
Senior Paster
Reverend Freeman is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. He accepted Christ at the age of 7 and was baptized at the Fayetteville Street Baptist Church (now First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church) of Raleigh. During that time Reverend Freeman served as a Sunday School Superintendent as well as a Junior Deacon.
Reverend Freeman acknowledged God’s call at an early age and preached his initial sermon in 1981 while a student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University of Greensboro. Upon the completion of his studies at North Carolina A&T, Reverend Freeman was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Counseling and Social Work.
Recognizing that the call to preach the gospel is above all a call to preparation, Reverend Freeman continued his formal education for the ministry by attending Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, where he obtained the Master of Divinity Degree. He was ordained in 1985 by the Wake Baptist Association of North Carolina. Reverend Freeman is also a graduate of Howard University School of Divinity where he received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in 1995.
Reverend Freeman loves the Lord and has endeavored to equip himself well in order to serve the spiritual needs of God’s church. His ministerial service includes service as an active duty Army Chaplain where he served men and women in uniform all over the world. He also served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his exemplary service in providing worship opportunities, spiritual enrichment, prayer and comfort to soldiers in hostile territory.
Above all, Reverend Freeman is a man of God. He currently serves as Pastor of United Institutional Baptist Church of Greensboro, North Carolina and has led this historic congregation since 1995. Reverend Freeman is actively involved in denominational as well as civic and community work. He has served as a planner/coordinator for the General Baptist State Convention Congress of Christian Education and has been a featured instructor for associate ministers and biblical studies. Reverend Freeman also served as the Moderator for the Rowan Baptist Association, the oldest and largest Missionary Baptist association in North Carolina comprised of more than one hundred churches. His civic and community service includes an organizer for the Underground Railroad to the Polls voter registration and transportation to the polls project, Board of Directors for the East Market Street Redevelopment Corporation, Family Advocacy Council and the United Community Development Corporation a 501c3 initiative organized through United Institutional Baptist Church during his tenure as Pastor.
Reverend Freeman also organized a fundraiser for the United Negro College Fund through community churches in support of Bennett College a historically Black college in Greensboro and his church won honors as “Church of the Year” for their continued support for the Greensboro N.A.A.C.P. His most recent appointment is Chairman of the Membership Committee for the Greensboro Branch N.A.A.C.P.
Reverend Freeman is married to the Doctor Felicia McGhee Freeman. Dr. Freeman recently earned a Doctor of Educational Leadership, Summa Cum Laude, from High Point University, and has plans underway to open a Christian school. They are the proud parents of two sons, Brandon Rayjon, and Desmond Jarrell, and one granddaughter Nia Imani Freeman!