Bob Freeman

Current Ministry Position:  Associate Dean for Distance Learning, Fuller Theological Seminary

As associate dean, I am responsible for the long-range vision of the Master of Arts in Global Leadership, as well as faculty development and program assessment.  I also teach several MAGL courses, such as Leadership Training Models (ML540), Developing your Learning Plan (ML581), Character, Community and Leadership (ML582) and Global Leadership: Implications for Ministry (ML583).

Life in Ministry:

After graduating from the USAF Academy in 1971, my new bride Kerry and I set out for a rough tour of duty at the University of Hawaii to pursue a Master’s degree in economics and population studies.  These studies led them to live for several months in a beatlenut hut in an isolated part of the Solomon Islands while studying the local economy.  Here, God began to show us that happiness and fulfillment did not come from possessions.  After completing our air force obligations in Virginia, we returned to my home area in New Hampshire.  We ran a small ice cream restaurant and manufacturing business for 18 years while we raised our 4 girls, Jen, Hannah, Allison and Rachel.

Having come to know the Lord deeply in a New England white steepled church, the Lord called me to go to seminary which I assumed was a call to the pastorate.  My wife convinced me otherwise and we began to prepare for missions.  During this preparation, I studied TEE (Theological Education by Extension) as a alternative leadership development philosophy which encourages people to begin ministry with the call and confirmation of a local body and THEN seek further education while they minister.  Gordon-Conwell Seminary asked me to begin such programs in New England.  After serving there for a decade and earning a Doctorate in Adult and Distance Education, Fuller called.  It was winter time, so I said yes to an interview and finally (long story) agreed to move our 4 girls (teenagers by now) to Southern California!  During this decade in Pasadena I served on the Seminary’s leadership team as the Associate Provost for Center for Lifelong Learning which offered in-service programs.  It was during this time that I led in the design and development of the MAGL.  In 2006, I asked to work full time on the MAGL from back home in New England.

Family:

Kerry founded Neighborhood Homework House during our years in California.  It provides after school tutoring in disadvantaged areas of Azusa.  She currently serves as their grant writer. 

We have four daughters.  Jen is the mother of Arika and Jasper

She teaches special education and is married to Aaron and they live in Windham, Maine.  Hannah is an account manager for Transfair USA which certifies fair trade goods.  She lives in Hood River, Oregon.  Allison teaches elementary school and is married to Grant.  They live in NH.  Rachel is a grant writer for Cittendon Women’s Union in Boston.

Other Info:

My hobbies are grandchildren and vegetable gardening.  This past few months, Kerry and I took up ballroom dancing.  We plan to repeat the beginner’s class soon.  We have a ski boat that we love to use in the short summers.