Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. James W. Freeman is presently the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where he has faithfully served since 1989. In addition to being a full-time pastor, Rev. Freeman is also active in the New Home and Durham Missionary Baptist Association where he previously served as Moderator of the Association with a four year tenure. He also served the Association as head of the Missionary Auxiliary Young Adult Department and as president of its Sunday School Convention.

Rev. Freeman’s early educational years were in the Bertie County School System. After completing his secondary education, he attended LaSalle Extension University in Chicago, Illinois, majoring in Business. After being called to ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he furthered his studies through the Mason Chapel Bible School of Alta, Virginia. Rev. Freeman believes that a good servant of the Lord should always study to “show himself approved.” He has completed course work at Shaw Divinity School through the Pastoral Conference held annually in Raleigh, and the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina for Evangelism. He is also an active member of the Hampton University Ministers Conference, the Shaw Divinity Alumni Association, and the Orange County Ministerial Alliance.  In 2018, Rev. Freeman received a Honorary Doctorate degree from the International Bible College.

First Lady Norma Freeman has faithfully served the church alongside her husband. In addition to fulfilling her duties as First Lady, she has also serves as president of the Gospel Chorus,  president of the Missionary Department, and a member of the Kitchen Committee. Her other roles include being a Sunday School Teacher and an ordained Deaconess. She continues to bless the church with her service, leadership, and wisdom.

Pastor and First Lady Freeman are the proud parents of one daughter, Darlene Freeman-Bailey, and the adoring grandparents of two beautiful granddaughters, Brittany and Chloe Bailey. Their declaration of FAITH is “NEVER GIVE UP!”