HomeAbout Our Pastor
The Reverend Doctor Ricky Freeman is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Oliver S. Westcott Elementary School and Chicago Vocational High School. In preparation for pastoral ministry, Dr. Freeman has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts (Religion), Bishop College, Dallas, Texas; Master of Divinity, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois; Doctor of Ministry (Church Leadership), Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Illinois.
Dr. Freeman received his "call" to ministry when he was sixteen years old. In January, 1976, he was licensed to preach at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. On December 28, 1980, when he was twenty-two years old, Dr. Freeman was ordained by the Morning Star Baptist of Chicago, Illinois. Following his ordination, Dr. Freeman was appointed Assistant Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Dr. Luke Mingo.
In May, 1984, Dr. Freeman began serving as Pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Joliet, Illinois. He led the congregation in the development of its Constitution and Mission Statement, from which new ministries were initiated. During his tenure, the church facilities were remodeled and the membership grew spiritually and numerically.
After serving nearly twelve years at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Dr. Freeman was called to serve as Pastor of Saint John Church-Baptist in Chicago, Illinois. He began his pastoral duties at Saint John in December, 1995.
While at Saint John, Dr. Freeman led the congregation through a visioning process, which resulted in the development of a Mission Statement and core values to guide the congregation's ministry. An Evangelism Ministry was developed to reach out to unchurched and unsaved persons in the community. The Saint John Baptist Institute was initiated for Bible Study and spiritual growth. The Saint John Performing Arts program was started to provide music instruction for persons in the congregation and in the community. Under the Department of Christian Education, a number of ministries were developed, such as: STARS Tutoring; Stepping Stones to Christ Children's Ministry; Computer Ministry; Seniors Ministry; and Couples Ministry.
On July 30, 2012, Ebenezer (Third) Baptist Church of Austin, Texas elected Dr. Ricky Freeman as their pastor. He began his pastoral duties at Ebenezer on Sunday, September 23, 2012.
In additional to his pastoral ministry, Dr. Freeman has served as a professor and mentor to seminary students. He taught at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois as an Adjunct Professor of Ministry from 2004-2006. In 2006, he was promoted to Affiliate Professor of Ministry. In 2008, Dr. Freeman was invited to join the regular faculty at Northern and promoted to Assistant Professor of Practical Theology. In 2011, in addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Freeman was appointed as Dean of Students. He is also a Certified Practitioner of the MBTI® Step I™ and Step II™ – through the Center for the Applications of Psychological Type.
Dr. Freeman has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program at McCormick Theological Seminary and Case Conference Supervisor at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a Field Education Supervisor, he has supervised and mentored many seminary students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Moody Bible Institute.
Throughout his pastoral ministry, Dr. Freeman has been involved in denominational work. He has served in the following capacities: Moderator, Lebanon Baptist District Association (1987-1992); Member, Ordination Council, American Baptist Churches – Metro Chicago (1997-2002); Treasurer, Baptist General State Convention of Illinois (2002-2006); Chairperson, Mission Partnership Committee, American Baptist Churches – Metro Chicago (2005-2007).
On September 5, 1981, Dr. Freeman was married to Zenodie Carmen Gilot, who is a native of Jacmel, Haiti. Mrs. Zenodie Freeman is a graduate of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts (History). Mrs. Freeman also earned a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management from National-Louis University. She is an HR Specialist at Bluebonnet Trails Community Services in Round Rock, Texas.
Dr. and Mrs. Freeman are the proud parents of four children: Regine Carmen, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University (Charleston) and Ashford University (San Diego); Brendan Alexander, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University (Charleston); Christophe Davide, a graduate Southern Illinois University (Carbondale); Chantal Gabrielle, a graduate of Fordham University (Manhattan Campus-New York) and the Butler School of Music, The University of Texas (Austin).