Michael Freeman grew up in Compton, California. After graduating from Compton High School, he attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon returning back to the Los Angeles area in 1978, Michael joined World Impact (an urban missions organization). He worked in urban ministry with World Impact for twenty-three years. Between 1988 and 1997, he served as director of World Impact's ministry in Chester, an urban community in the Philadelphia area. He and his wife, Glynette, (with a team of missionaries) planted Refuge in Christ Church in McCaffery Village, a housing project in Chester. They, also, established Frederick Douglas Christian School - a Christian elementary school for urban children.
After returning back to Los Angeles, in 1997, Michael worked with the Watts ministry of World Impact, developing partnerships with churches to train and coach them in ministering to urban residents through The Nehemiah Team Project. In 2002, he resigned from World Impact and became the co-founder and executive director of Elevate Your G.A.M.E., which conducts mentoring programs at urban high schools. Michael is, also, the author of a book entitled, “Seven Days in the Hood.” He and his wife have raised two children, Isaiah and Eboni.