Bishop Freeman Miller

Lecturer

Bishop Freeman Miller, lecturer at MCPC, has made the city of brotherly love home for over 30 years.

Growing up as an Amish boy in Ohio, Freeman was deeply inspired by his Mennonite teacher's interpretation of scripture and missions. Since then, Freeman has always had a heart for missions, but it wasn't until after he graduated from Ohio State University in 1966 that he actually entered the mission field. Upon college graduation, Freeman traveled to Nigeria with his wife, Naomi, and served as a missionary for three years. While in Africa, Freeman felt that God was calling him and his wife back to the cities of America and thus he returned home. He then went to seminary in Virginia and later committed to serving the city of Philadelphia.

"Freeman knows everybody in Philly." This is an oft-repeated phrase at MCPC among both students and faculty regarding Miller's involvement in the city. Crossing cultural and economic boundaries, Freeman has a friend in every neighborhood. He also serves as a bishop/overseer for 12 Philadelphia Mennonite churches. His cultural connections are not just limited to Philadelphia, as he has widely traveled around the world. "I am a global, international person. I never know from one day to the next what "world" I will be in," says Freeman.

Freeman's theology class, integrating classroom learning with experiential involvement in churches around the city, has been one of the many rewarding experiences students encounter at the campus. Bethany Cassel, a Messiah College business major said that, "By going to different churches, I was able to witness how other cultures worship the same God. It was a great way to explore the city, while being welcomed by people from every background. People were extremely friendly, many offered lunch and all wanted the students to return back to their churches."