Biographical information
Joseph M. Freeman grew up in Columbus, Ohio. In 7th grade his best friend invited him to attend a neighborhood church - Calvary Community that was an independent Pentecostal church. Within a few weeks of experiencing worship and congregational life, Joe Freeman, previously a nominal Catholic committed his life to Christ. In his words, his attitude about life and understanding of education were so radically changed that he embraced academia and continued to be richly nurtured in Christian community in various places.
While majoring in English at Wittenberg, his life path took another direction. An intense study of Martin Luther caused him to leave Pentecostalism, become a practicing Lutheran and discern the call to ordained ministry. "As much as I loved English, I loved theology and biblical instruction even more, and I felt a birthed-and-growing-passion to help people experience Jesus Christ and ever-grow on a faith and formation pathway in Him."
Professor Herbert Wolff, Chairman of the Religion Dept. at Wittenberg encouraged Joe to bypass Lutheran seminaries and to go east for Divinity School. Harvard, Yale and Vanderbilt all granted him admission, however, Joe felt drawn to Yale. "Much of my understanding of ministry and biblical interpretation and spiritual formation come from a number of professors who I was privileged to be taught by at Yale, and I believe that was to be part of God's providential plan for me."
Pastor Joe's pastoral journey began with his first call to a parish in Lima, Ohio. It then led him to Colorado, his 'first love of states", and then in 1981, to the "land of horizontal beauty" - Indiana. He served as Mission Developer for a Lutheran church in Fishers and continues now as our senior pastor. In this over twenty year journey, from the initial days of meeting in the Lions Club basement, through several building phases on Allisonville Road, to the current location, Pastor Freemna has been a very caring pastor and highly visible person in the community of Fishers.
Interview with Pastor Joe on his 30th Anniversary:
Q: What is different about you today as a pastor, compared to thirty years ago?
A: When I began my ministry, I seemed certain about what I wanted to do for the Lord. Now thirty years later, I'm more discerning of what God wants me to do, and don't need to be as nearly certain, just faithful.
While a couple of my key gifts as a pastor are shepherding, preaching, and connecting people to faith, in recent years, wisdom has taught me I can be a more fruitful pastor if I also put my heart and mind to leadership development - mentoring leaders and building partnership and sharing responsibility across the board.
Q: As a pastor what key things would you tell your flock?
A:
1) Love and value Christ over any gift you would petition Him for.
2) Trust and accept your own value and worth over having to "import
it" from outside yourself.
3) Recognize the value of balance, between self-care and care of
others, as God gives guidance and counsel to you.
4) A person has the right to speak to many people only after he has
cared enough to "care for one person at a time".
Q: As a pastor, what question do you get asked the most:
A: Where can I find God in the midst of all that is hurting me right now?
Q: If you weren't a pastor and you could have ANY gift/skill possible...what would you be?
A: I'd be a combination of a poet and a concert pianist.
Q: Besides Jesus, what person from history would you most like to talk to?
A: Abraham Lincoln - he seemed so willing to be painfully forged and formed into a Christian man and leader, at the time of our country's worst crisis.
Q: If you could recommend one spiritual book other than the Bible for people to read, what would it be?
A: Phil Yancy's "Soul Survivor" - it illustrates so well Christ's love and work, through diverse individuals.
Q: What are your most embarrassing moment as a pastor?
A: "When have I ever been embarrassed?!...I'll tell you later!"
Q: What are you most memorable moment as a pastor?
A: My experience following my divorce - of God's forgiveness and gracious "new anointing" of my personal life and pastoral ministry.
Pastor Joe's Favorites:
Disciple: John - because of the transformation he experienced all through his life, through Christ's love.
Biblical Writer: Luke, as a physician, he moved from the care of the body to care of the soul.
Scripture Story: Parable of the two sons - where the father asked both sons to do some work, the first son said yes, but never did; the second son said "no" at first, but later did - I think there are times when I say no to God, but my heart catches up and later says yes.
Book of the Bible: Toss up between Luke and John - Luke includes chapter 15, which deals with the lost coin, lost son, and the father of extravagant love. John, because he moved from being 'son of thunder' in his youth to the 'apostle of love' in his elder years.
Holyday: Pentecost Sunday because I became a new born Christian through a Pentecostal church and continue to grow and mature as a Christian because of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
Biblical Character: David - he had such a heart for God and he was a man who, in the midst of significant failures, truly had an ever-deepening faith, which has impacted many, to this day.
Hymn: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" - I consider it to be the "national anthem of heaven", written by our beloved Martin Luther - I loved that hymn even before I knew I was going to become a Lutheran.
Place to Pray: The prayer garden at Holy Spirit Geist Catholic Church and also Oaklawn Cemetery.
Life scripture verse...
Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold His beauty and inquire in His sanctuary."
Selected in junior high school, shortly after I became a Christian