Get to know our Pastor
Marty Freeman is the founding pastor of The Altar. He has been blessed to serve several great churches in Kansas and Oklahoma. He led two churches through revitalization and oversaw rapid growth in both.
Marty grew up a Kansas native with a strong church heritage in the Assemblies of God. He was blessed with a unique musical gift and began singing and ministering God’s Word at a young age. That passion opened doors for him as a teen and later as a student at Oral Roberts University. He was classically trained for five years and sang on the daily television show at ORU as a guest soloist. After recording an album in Nashville, TN, he spent several years traveling the U.S. in worship ministry. He later became a full-time worship pastor at Bethel Life Center, Wichita, KS.
Being a “worshipper at heart” brings a unique perspective to the role of Sr. Pastor for The Altar. Marty often says, “God’s presence is better ‘felt than telt.’ Five seconds in God’s presence can do more than 50 sermons.” Marty doesn’t view the worship as an ornamental part of the service that sets up the message. He values the manifest presence of God as the key goal of every service. Marty believes that God loves to be experienced and enjoyed.
"The hope of the world is the local church." Marty teaches that every local church has its own, unique fingerprint in their community. Therefore, he spends time encouraging other pastors, partnering in community outreach efforts and passionately promoting the growth of God’s kingdom throughout the area.
Marty’s passion for local outreach opened the door to launch the Wichita Dream Center in April 2002 . Through partnership with Tommy and Matthew Barnett and Dream Center International Network, the vision continues to grow. The Dream Center is a faith-based, social services organization committed to sharing the gospel by becoming “salt and light” in our local community. The Dream Center’s mission is to “find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it.”
Marty couldn't lead this great church without the backbone of his family, his wife Polly. Polly holds her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Wichita State University and currently serves as the social work lead for Kansas Kids' Map, a statewide program that provides resources for children and teens with mental health needs. She is also a volunteer teacher at the KU School of Medicine. Polly's life-long advocacy for at-risk children and families is the heart of the Dream Center's efforts and her continual counsel to women and families in crisis is invaluable. She truly is called, appointed and anointed to serve others.
Marty and Polly are the proud parents of three wonderful boys: Michael, Noah and Benjamin.
Marty grew up a Kansas native with a strong church heritage in the Assemblies of God. He was blessed with a unique musical gift and began singing and ministering God’s Word at a young age. That passion opened doors for him as a teen and later as a student at Oral Roberts University. He was classically trained for five years and sang on the daily television show at ORU as a guest soloist. After recording an album in Nashville, TN, he spent several years traveling the U.S. in worship ministry. He later became a full-time worship pastor at Bethel Life Center, Wichita, KS.
Being a “worshipper at heart” brings a unique perspective to the role of Sr. Pastor for The Altar. Marty often says, “God’s presence is better ‘felt than telt.’ Five seconds in God’s presence can do more than 50 sermons.” Marty doesn’t view the worship as an ornamental part of the service that sets up the message. He values the manifest presence of God as the key goal of every service. Marty believes that God loves to be experienced and enjoyed.
"The hope of the world is the local church." Marty teaches that every local church has its own, unique fingerprint in their community. Therefore, he spends time encouraging other pastors, partnering in community outreach efforts and passionately promoting the growth of God’s kingdom throughout the area.
Marty’s passion for local outreach opened the door to launch the Wichita Dream Center in April 2002 . Through partnership with Tommy and Matthew Barnett and Dream Center International Network, the vision continues to grow. The Dream Center is a faith-based, social services organization committed to sharing the gospel by becoming “salt and light” in our local community. The Dream Center’s mission is to “find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it.”
Marty couldn't lead this great church without the backbone of his family, his wife Polly. Polly holds her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Wichita State University and currently serves as the social work lead for Kansas Kids' Map, a statewide program that provides resources for children and teens with mental health needs. She is also a volunteer teacher at the KU School of Medicine. Polly's life-long advocacy for at-risk children and families is the heart of the Dream Center's efforts and her continual counsel to women and families in crisis is invaluable. She truly is called, appointed and anointed to serve others.
Marty and Polly are the proud parents of three wonderful boys: Michael, Noah and Benjamin.