Installation service set for Sunday

The Rev. Melvin O. Freeman has been the new pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church since February, and will have his formal installation service at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Originally from Ironton, Freeman, who took over for the Rev. Damion Sneed, said he’s very happy to be back in his hometown after serving as the pastor of Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church in Gallipolis for 27 years.

“This is coming home to me. I was raised here in Ironton, and graduated from Ironton High School,” Freeman said. “I’ve known about Mt. Olive for as long as it’s been here. It’s a very good church, and it always has been.”

Throughout his career, Freeman has served the Providence Association as a Field Missionary, as well as Dean of Christian Education and President of Ministries and Deacons at the Institute of Providence. He has also served as Vice Moderator of the Providence Regular Missionary Baptist Association.

“I’m for Propagation of the Gospel, and Mt. Olive has always been that type of church,” Freeman said. “The emphasis of my ministry is equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.”

Freeman graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Tri-State Bible College in South Point in 2014, but said that the greatest of all degrees is that he’s a Born Again Christian man called by God to teach and carry his word throughout the world.

The installation service is open for anyone to attend.

Freeman resides in Burlington with his wife, Carolyn, and has three children, Tracy, Christopher and Holly Freeman, and two granddaughters, Morgan Freeman and Maliyah Peppers.