William Friese ’85

Please describe your position and what you enjoy most about it.

Senior Pastor at Oak Hill Baptist Church in St. Louis North County, Missouri. This is a church needing revitalization and has a lot of work to be done.
As Owner of my own Insurance agency working in the area of Mortgage protection and Life insurance, I love meeting people and helping them with their life needs and investment.

What aspects of your HLGU experience helped you prepare for your career?

From the president at the time I was there, Dr Larry Lewis, down to the helpers at the snack shack, everyone there was focused on growing the kingdom through personal evangelism.
Dr. Lewis spoke in several of our classes focusing on the young men and women entering into full time ministry on the value of prepared individual witnessing. I feel that I received a theological education there which prepared me for all learning in the future.

What have you enjoyed most about your career?

I have been pastoring churches now since 1982 and most of them have been churches needing revitalization. It creates a great deal of accomplishment for a pastor to walk into a new ministry field knowing that at their previous leadership, they left the church better off than when they arrived. That is not always the way a pastor leaves but it should be the goal.
Since I have been Bi-Vocational at most of the churches I have served, working in sales has usually allowed enough flexibility in my schedule to serve the churches I have pastored. Insurance sales allows me an avenue to transition from death insurance to eternal life Insurance as I meet people.

Have you or are you currently continuing your education? If so, please list the institution(s) and degree(s) you earned or are working toward.

I have finished my Masters in Christian Education at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and I have been working on my DMin in Church Revitalization.
My wife Sharon acquired her PhT Degree there at HLG (Putting Hubby Through Degree)

How did HLGU shape you as a person?

I believe that the Christian community there was an experience where you could grow into some life-long ministry partnerships and friendships. The staff there taught me how to focus on the things that matter and how a community of believers can become a family.

Please share a specific example from your career or life when the skills you gained at HLGU helped you most.

As I continued my education, the solid fundamentals of Biblical Theology I learned at HLGU have given me the foundation to study further with the ability to recognize liberal incorrect theologies and practices that make me a better Christian and pastor.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

That I am able at age 68 to still be a seeker of knowledge and skill sets that will better me as a pastor and teacher. It was a big step to begin a doctoral education as a senior adult but I learned at HLGU that learning is not one class or one degree, it was a life-long process.

What HLGU professors played a part in your success? How did your relationship with faculty help you succeed?

The most influential person I had at HLG was the President, Dr Larry Lewis. He was a pastor’s pastor and a great encourager to those starting in ministry.

Please list any scholarships, honors, or awards you received as an undergraduate or graduate.

I was on the Deans List and President of the Married Students Organization while I was a student at HLG.

Do you have any tips to share with students interested in this field?

As a pastor, encouraging young people starting in their careers, if interested in part or full time ministry, to be sure that they are ready for Bi-Vocational ministry. 90% of ministry work is Bi-Vocational. Work on leadership skills and prepare for upper leadership in whatever you do so that you will have the flexibility to set your own schedule. Own your own business on the side where you can create multiple levels of income like commissions and residuals which keep on paying for years to come.

What are some of your favorite HLGU memories?

When Dr. Thomas tricked me into participation of the annual theatre play of Oklahoma and stuck me with the part of the traveling salesman. I had so much fun in that play! The other time was when Mrs. Katherine Burt came out and chased me around the parking lot for driving a go-cart to fast and doing donuts. I just smiled and asked her if she wanted to take a turn.

What on-campus activities were you involved in at HLGU?

Playing Trumpet in Band and working with the campus married students club.

What is one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started in the field?

How difficult it is to work with immature Christians in leadership of the church and how to manage difficult circumstances in counseling people.