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| Bishop Rodney McFarland,Sr., Pastor |
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| cell: 318-512-0421 |
| work: 318-322-6092 |
| home: 318-582-5113 |
| Email: mcfarlandmcsb5@gmail.com |
| Facebook: Rodney McFarland, Sr. |
Bio of Rodney McFarland, Sr.
Bishop (Pastor) Rodney McFarland, Sr., was born on July 24, 1968 in Hartford, Conn. After the death of his mother, Millicent Marie McFarland, at the age of 36, with breast cancer, he was place in a foster home for thirteen months. Afterwards he was given to his grandmother, the Late Venetta Sadie Connor-Johnson of Crowville, Louisiana.
On August 9, 1979, at the age of 11, Bishop McFarland accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and united with the Pilgrim Baptist Church of Winnsboro under the leadership of the Late Rev. Eugene Lumpkin, Sr. The following Sunday he was baptized in Owens Lake in the heart of Winnsboro by the Late Rev. Eugene Lumpkin, Sr.
Bishop McFarland transferred his membership to his family’s old church, the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church of Crowville, Louisiana under the leadership of the Rev. Herbert Rancher, after a few of the members of Pilgrim Baptist Church got together to dismiss Pastor Lumpkin. Bishop McFarland's heart was hurt on how they fired the Pastor, but God had other greater works for him, there at the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church. At the age of 13, Bishop McFarland was blessed with the gift of teaching and was teaching Sunday School. That same year, he began to serve as President of the Youth Department of the Church. He also was elected to serve as the church musician for the next five (5) years.
He received his secondary education at the Crowville High School and from there he went on to Worsham College in Chicago, Ill where he received a degree in Mortuary Science.
Bishop McFarland is the former President of the Louisiana State Association of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, where he served as the youngest President ever to be elected, being so by his colleagues across the state of Louisiana in 1996. He has served a 2-year term as a board member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and is the Founder and Mortician of McFarland Funeral Companies of Delhi and Monroe, Louisiana, and Founder of Morning Rest Memorial Gardens of Tallulah, Louisiana. He was also the first Black Assistant Coroner of Richland Parish.
He is a lifetime member of the Sigma Phi Sigma Fraternity, Past President of the Theta Chapter of Epsilon Nu Delta Fraternity. Former members of the American Society of Embalmers and the British Institute of Embalmers of the United Kingdom.
He serves as Grand Chaplain of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana, District Deputy Grand Master of the 11th , 12th, 13th, & 14th Masonic Districts, Past Eminent Prior of the John G. Lewis Priory No. 19 of the Knights of the York Cross of Honour of the State of Louisiana, Past Master of Trinity Lodge # 175 F&AM, PHA; Past Grand Lecturer of the Esther Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, Past Patron of A. L. Brunner Chapter # 35 OES, PHA; Honorary Past General Grand Conference High Priest of the General Conference Grand Chapters of Holy Royal Arch Masons of the U.S.A. and Bahamas, PHA, Inc., Past General Grand Chaplain of the General Conference Grand Chapters of Holy Royal Arch Masons of the U.S.A. and Bahamas, PHA, Inc., Grand Chaplain of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana, Past High Priest of Widow's Son Chapter # 14 HRAM, PHA; Honorary Past Grand High Priest of the State of Texas and Mississippi; Past Grand Court Director of the Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho of Louisiana, Past Joshua of Alice J. Clark Court # 46, Heroines of Jericho, Delhi, Louisiana; Past Assistant Grand Prelate of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of American, PHA; Honorary Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Pelican Grand Commandery of Knights Templar Masons of Louisiana; Grand Prelate of the Pelican Grand Commandery of Knights Templar Masons of Louisiana; Past Eminent Commander of King Solomon # 19, Knights of Templar, Monroe, Louisiana; Special Deputy of The Pelican Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Louisiana; Past Ill. Thrice Master of the Rodney McFarland, Sr. Council No. 4 of Royal and Select Masters of Monroe, Louisiana; the Past Royal Chief Advisor of the Rebekah Court No. 1, of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, Royal Grand Chief Advisor of the Byron S. Gray, Sr. Royal Grand Court of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, General Conference Royal Grand 2nd Associate Advisor of the General Grand Conference of Grand Courts, PHA, USA & the Bahamas; a Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonary, Prince Hall Affiliation, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, State Grand Prior of the Pelican Council of Deliberation; Past Prior of Louis R. Price Consistory # 173, PHA; Chief Deputy Imperial Chaplain of A.E.A.O.N.M.S., Past Recorder of Jomadi Temple # 171 A.E.A.O.N.M.S., Honorary Past Potentate of Jomadi Temple # 171 A.E.A.O.N.M.S. and Past Deputy of the Oasis of Dubar Temple # 250, A.E.A.O.N.M.S.
Bishop McFarland surrendered to the Holy Call on May 23, 1987 and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel on December 24, 1988 by the Franklin Parish Missionary Baptist Educational Association. Bishop McFarland is the proud Pastor of the Greater Free Gift Missionary Baptist Church of Monroe, Louisiana for the past 31 years. When he was called to Greater Free Gift, he was the youngest pastor in the City of Monroe.
During his pastorate, he has baptized many in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. He has performed numerous weddings of which many couples are still enjoying the state of holy matrimony.
He is the former Pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, Louisiana and the Ackland Creek Baptist Church of Jonesville, Louisiana. He is the Moderator (President) of the North Louisiana Old Line Missionary Baptist Association, former Vice- President-at-Large of the Greater Louisiana Baptist State Convention, and former Assistant Parliamentarian of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc and now the Assistant Secretary of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
On the political level, he is the former District 5 Monroe City School Board Member and served as President of the School Board for three consecutive years. He is the former Chairman of the Ouachita Parish Democratic Executive Committee and was a 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Elected Delegate to the National Democratic Convention, and appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards in March of 2017 to the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Many have applied the message of his teachings to their lives through his ministry and are now enjoying the crown of success through the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Being called to the ministry means, he is Christ-like, which means he is an enemy of sin and a lover of sinners. He has persuaded many to receive his message and to accept Christ as their personal Savior.
He is the husband of Nikki V. Wade-McFarland, the father of six wonderful children, Rev. Rodney McFarland, Jr., Quinton McFarland, Millicent McFarland, Tony Potts, Christopher Wheeler and Andres McFarland, grandfather of ten, and God-father of too many to name.
Bishop (Pastor) Rodney McFarland, Sr., was born on July 24, 1968 in Hartford, Conn. After the death of his mother, Millicent Marie McFarland, at the age of 36, with breast cancer, he was place in a foster home for thirteen months. Afterwards he was given to his grandmother, the Late Venetta Sadie Connor-Johnson of Crowville, Louisiana.
On August 9, 1979, at the age of 11, Bishop McFarland accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and united with the Pilgrim Baptist Church of Winnsboro under the leadership of the Late Rev. Eugene Lumpkin, Sr. The following Sunday he was baptized in Owens Lake in the heart of Winnsboro by the Late Rev. Eugene Lumpkin, Sr.
Bishop McFarland transferred his membership to his family’s old church, the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church of Crowville, Louisiana under the leadership of the Rev. Herbert Rancher, after a few of the members of Pilgrim Baptist Church got together to dismiss Pastor Lumpkin. Bishop McFarland's heart was hurt on how they fired the Pastor, but God had other greater works for him, there at the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church. At the age of 13, Bishop McFarland was blessed with the gift of teaching and was teaching Sunday School. That same year, he began to serve as President of the Youth Department of the Church. He also was elected to serve as the church musician for the next five (5) years.
He received his secondary education at the Crowville High School and from there he went on to Worsham College in Chicago, Ill where he received a degree in Mortuary Science.
Bishop McFarland is the former President of the Louisiana State Association of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, where he served as the youngest President ever to be elected, being so by his colleagues across the state of Louisiana in 1996. He has served a 2-year term as a board member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and is the Founder and Mortician of McFarland Funeral Companies of Delhi and Monroe, Louisiana, and Founder of Morning Rest Memorial Gardens of Tallulah, Louisiana. He was also the first Black Assistant Coroner of Richland Parish.
He is a lifetime member of the Sigma Phi Sigma Fraternity, Past President of the Theta Chapter of Epsilon Nu Delta Fraternity. Former members of the American Society of Embalmers and the British Institute of Embalmers of the United Kingdom.
He serves as Grand Chaplain of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana, District Deputy Grand Master of the 11th , 12th, 13th, & 14th Masonic Districts, Past Eminent Prior of the John G. Lewis Priory No. 19 of the Knights of the York Cross of Honour of the State of Louisiana, Past Master of Trinity Lodge # 175 F&AM, PHA; Past Grand Lecturer of the Esther Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, Past Patron of A. L. Brunner Chapter # 35 OES, PHA; Honorary Past General Grand Conference High Priest of the General Conference Grand Chapters of Holy Royal Arch Masons of the U.S.A. and Bahamas, PHA, Inc., Past General Grand Chaplain of the General Conference Grand Chapters of Holy Royal Arch Masons of the U.S.A. and Bahamas, PHA, Inc., Grand Chaplain of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana, Past High Priest of Widow's Son Chapter # 14 HRAM, PHA; Honorary Past Grand High Priest of the State of Texas and Mississippi; Past Grand Court Director of the Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho of Louisiana, Past Joshua of Alice J. Clark Court # 46, Heroines of Jericho, Delhi, Louisiana; Past Assistant Grand Prelate of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of American, PHA; Honorary Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Pelican Grand Commandery of Knights Templar Masons of Louisiana; Grand Prelate of the Pelican Grand Commandery of Knights Templar Masons of Louisiana; Past Eminent Commander of King Solomon # 19, Knights of Templar, Monroe, Louisiana; Special Deputy of The Pelican Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Louisiana; Past Ill. Thrice Master of the Rodney McFarland, Sr. Council No. 4 of Royal and Select Masters of Monroe, Louisiana; the Past Royal Chief Advisor of the Rebekah Court No. 1, of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, Royal Grand Chief Advisor of the Byron S. Gray, Sr. Royal Grand Court of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, General Conference Royal Grand 2nd Associate Advisor of the General Grand Conference of Grand Courts, PHA, USA & the Bahamas; a Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonary, Prince Hall Affiliation, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, State Grand Prior of the Pelican Council of Deliberation; Past Prior of Louis R. Price Consistory # 173, PHA; Chief Deputy Imperial Chaplain of A.E.A.O.N.M.S., Past Recorder of Jomadi Temple # 171 A.E.A.O.N.M.S., Honorary Past Potentate of Jomadi Temple # 171 A.E.A.O.N.M.S. and Past Deputy of the Oasis of Dubar Temple # 250, A.E.A.O.N.M.S.
Bishop McFarland surrendered to the Holy Call on May 23, 1987 and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel on December 24, 1988 by the Franklin Parish Missionary Baptist Educational Association. Bishop McFarland is the proud Pastor of the Greater Free Gift Missionary Baptist Church of Monroe, Louisiana for the past 31 years. When he was called to Greater Free Gift, he was the youngest pastor in the City of Monroe.
During his pastorate, he has baptized many in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. He has performed numerous weddings of which many couples are still enjoying the state of holy matrimony.
He is the former Pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, Louisiana and the Ackland Creek Baptist Church of Jonesville, Louisiana. He is the Moderator (President) of the North Louisiana Old Line Missionary Baptist Association, former Vice- President-at-Large of the Greater Louisiana Baptist State Convention, and former Assistant Parliamentarian of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc and now the Assistant Secretary of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
On the political level, he is the former District 5 Monroe City School Board Member and served as President of the School Board for three consecutive years. He is the former Chairman of the Ouachita Parish Democratic Executive Committee and was a 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Elected Delegate to the National Democratic Convention, and appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards in March of 2017 to the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Many have applied the message of his teachings to their lives through his ministry and are now enjoying the crown of success through the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Being called to the ministry means, he is Christ-like, which means he is an enemy of sin and a lover of sinners. He has persuaded many to receive his message and to accept Christ as their personal Savior.
He is the husband of Nikki V. Wade-McFarland, the father of six wonderful children, Rev. Rodney McFarland, Jr., Quinton McFarland, Millicent McFarland, Tony Potts, Christopher Wheeler and Andres McFarland, grandfather of ten, and God-father of too many to name.
