Leadership — Serving with Heart and Purpose

Pastor Eric Freking has served in pastoral ministry for more than 21 years. He began his ministry in New Mexico and later spent 17 years in Indiana, where he also worked as a conference evangelist. He has been at Columbia First since July 2025 and is grateful to now serve the Columbia First Church family and the people of South Carolina. Pastor Freking has been married to his wife, Beatriz, for nearly 23 years, and together they have one daughter who is currently attending college at the University of South Carolina. He holds a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Andrews University, with an emphasis on discipleship and biblical spirituality, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Historical Theology at Columbia International University. In his free time, Pastor Freking enjoys reading, exercising, and spending quality time with family and friends.