Bishop Alvin V. Freeland, a native New Yorker, was called by God to preach the gospel at the
age of sixteen under the tutelage of Bishop James D. Williams while serving as chief musician of
the Dominion Church of God’s Grace. However, it would be many years later that he would walk
in his calling.
In 1982 he was appointed by Bishop A. D. Lyon to serve as Assistant Minister of Music at the
First Baptist Church of Brownsville. For the next twenty years aside from being the Minister of
Music, then known to all as Professor Alvin V. Freeland served faithfully at First Baptist in many
capacities.
In 1996 Bishop Lyon simply told Professor Freeland to “stop running from what you know God
has ordained you to do”. After careful consideration, Bishop Lyon licensed him to preach the
Gospel. Knowing that to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ properly he had to be
taught. Alvin enrolled in the New York School of the Bible completing the certificate program.
On assignment from the Father in November 2000, Elder Freeland organized the Family &
Friends Christian Worship Center. Pastor Alvin V. Freeland was consecrated to the office of
Bishop in the Lord’s Church on Saturday, May 5, 2015, with Apostolic Succession by Bishop H.
Eugene Gathers, Apostle Jessie M. Edrington, and Apostle Patricia Wiley.
Bishop Alvin Freeland continues to serve as senior pastor of Family & Friend CWC. He also
serves as director of Lamad Fellowship of Pastors, a spiritual support consisting of pastors all
over the country. In 2023 Bishop organized the Family & Friends City of Refuge Community
Development Corporation, to further serve his Brooklyn community. Bishop also serves as the
Chairman of the Board of Bishops and Overseer to the organization, Celebration of Praise Inc.,
where Archbishop Quintard S. Caldwell is the Presiding Prelate.
