Let me introduce myself. My name is Dan Freed and I am the pastor here at Hilltop. I was born and raised in Laramie, Wyoming, where I graduated both from high school and college. Growing up in Laramie was great! There were all kinds of great places to ride my bike, camp, and fish. I was married, and a couple years later, my daughter Joy was born. A couple years after that I went through a divorce. Oh, the things you can learn by walking a few miles of pain.
After graduating from the University of Wyoming with a B.S., I moved to Chicago to attend North Park Theological Seminary. During that first year of seminary, I personally underwrote the corporate expenses of the U.S. Postal Service, and ATT with correspondences with my sweetheart, Sheila, who was finishing her BSN at U.W. On a beautiful Black Hills summer morning, at Grandma’s antique log cabin, we got married.
Because of my exclusively western rural background, and knowing I could be appointed to a church and town of almost any size, I took advantage of a special segment of urban ministry course work. Thus, along with all manner of academic classes, my six years of seminary included a special six month, inner-city internship placement site there in Chicago, and a year long internship placement at the Lyman County Parish—the United Methodist Churches at Presho, Kennebec, and Reliance, SD. I was also required to complete an internship in a clinical setting, which I took at Rush Presbyterian Saint Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. Jaime and Calvin were born during those seminary years. In 1990 I graduated from North Park and was appointed to the Burke Larger Parish—the United Methodist Churches at Herrick and Burke, SD, and Jamison, NE. While there, Karl was born. After four years in Burke, we were appointed to Grace U.M.C. in Piedmont, SD. After a year there, I went on a short-term mission work trip to Zaire, Africa, to work as a chaplain in a tent M.A.S.H. type hospital unit for Rwandan refugees who had fled their country’s genocidal blood bath. During our 11 years in Piedmont, we had the joy of seeing the completion of their beautiful new church facility. I was appointed to Hilltop United Methodist Church here in Sioux Falls during the summer of 2005 and have so much enjoyed getting acquainted with so many great people, and this beautiful community we call home. Through these and countless other experiences I have grown convinced of God’s love for us, and His relentless desire to bring His real help and power to bear in our everyday lives.
But enough about me, how are things with you? More importantly, how can we at Hilltop United Methodist Church be of service to you? Life can be tough, and I’m certain God does not intend for us to go it alone. Email me, give me a call sometime, or drop by the office. I would enjoy a friendly chat about whatever is on your heart and mind. May We Join You for This Mile of Your Journey?
Dan Freed, Pastor
Hilltop United Methodist Church
P.S. God is Able.
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