[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
Ronald Smith, Selma Native, Joins Freedom Foundation Staff
(Selma, AL - Sept. 27, 2007) The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the addition of Ronald Smith to the Freedom Foundation team. Pastor Smith, who is a Selma native and a graduate of Southside High School, has joined the staff to help support the foundation’s goals of supporting and uniting the community.
“We are very excited to have Ronald join our team. He brings a unique background and perspective to our staff, and we know he’s going to be a huge asset,” said Shawn Samuelson, Chair of the Board.
Pastor Smith brings valuable life experience to the Freedom Foundation. He was born and raised in Selma, and knows the challenges that our youth face today from the pressures of poverty, gang violence, teenage pregnancy and lack of positive role models. Ronald did have the opportunity to utilize his basketball talent, and was blessed to have experience playing professional basketball for a period of time. Despite his successful basketball career, he ended up serving time in prison, where the Lord found him and he discovered the real meaning of salvation.
“The mission of the Freedom Foundation is to continue Dr. King’s dream of building the beloved community. The Freedom Foundation is an integrated organization, and with the addition of Ronald as one of our leaders, we believe we will continue to have an impact on people coming together for a common purpose,” said Rev. Mark Duke, Freedom Foundation President.
Pastor Smith will be working on a variety of projects from mentoring youth and young adults, to community outreach programs, to co-hosting Real Talk radio with Mark on Tuesday and Thursday on Z105.3. He will also join Rev. Duke in preaching at local churches and speaking to community organizations to share God’s vision for the city.
The Freedom Foundation is hosting a city-wide revival at Historical Brown Chapel at 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 13th, where Rev. Duke and Pastor Smith will come together and preach a message of hope for the City of Selma.
“I'm looking forward to being a part of what God is doing in this city. I have been praying for Selma for a long time, and I know that God has heard my prayers and is giving me an opportunity to make a difference in the city and in the lives of people,” Pastor Smith said.
Ronald, his wife Malinda, and their six children will reside in the historic district of Selma’s Old Town neighborhood.
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