Mary Olumesi and her husband, Taiwo, have called Freedom Church their church home since September 2016. Mary was born and raised in Nigeria before moving to New York in 2004. After school and college she moved to Dallas in 2014 for residency with work. Looking for community, they visited churches in the area for several years. A friend of Taiwo's from years back had also moved to Dallas and invited Mary and Taiwo to Freedom Church one Sunday for their baby's dedication. Mary felt welcomed and that Freedom was the right place for them.

Mary has been a pharmacist for over seven years, and she currently works as an in-patient pharmacist at UT Southwestern. She has a precious 2 1/2 year-old son named Elijah. She enjoys watching him grow daily, and he is now learning to have conversations.

Mary grew up learning about the Lord and understanding at a young age that God REALLY loves us, even if it doesn't feel that way at times. When she looks back, she is so grateful to see God's goodness in all of the seasons of her life, though she could not see it while she was in the middle of challenging and difficult times. Seeing God's blessings has shaped her life and she is "still learning now how to be patient and stay steady and faithful."

Chris, Mary's dad and pastor, strongly influenced her life. He spent much of his time on his knees for his kids, and she knows she was privileged to see that – a quality and habit that she now hopes to emulate in influence and faith. Thank you, Mary, Taiwo and Elijah, for making Freedom your church home!