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Pastor's Page

Greetings to one and all in the name of Jesus Christ!

My name is Nathan, and I’m 26 years old.  I am certainly a local boy (in fact, I live next door to the house in which I grew up!).  I'm a graduate of Mohawk High School (a mile down the road), of Grove City College, and of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  This October, I will be getting married to my amazing fiancee and partner in the Gospel, Mary Kay.  I have been a follower of Jesus Christ from an early age, having been nurtured by a wonderful Christian family and other Christian people in my life.  And it is because of them, and ultimately because of Jesus Christ, that my main drive in life is to serve the Lord Jesus by telling others the Good News of what He has done for us, and to help others see Him at work in their lives.  My door is open to those at church and in the community, so if you need me, call or email me. And I love to chat about many things and get to know new people.  But enough about me…

Bessemer Church is my first call as a pastor, and I could not be happier to serve a more wonderful and committed group of disciples.  I came to Bessemer Church in 2007, fresh out of college with a degree in Christian Theology.  I didn't know a whole lot about being a pastor.  I certainly knew very little about church growth and management.   And so I was asked by this congregation with no simple task ... "Can you help us grow and be healthy again?"  I really did not know what to do or where to begin, at first.  So the session at the time and I gathered together to take the first step together:  Worship, study God's Word and pray.   

Reflecting back on the last five years, I've witnessed some pretty amazing things:  I have watched people come to know the Lord Jesus for the first time, to grow in their faith, and watch them become excited to serve the Lord.  I've watched new relationships form and a deep bond of love emerge in this congregation.  I've seen older people who tended to be very traditional become willing try new things to reach a younger generation that is often very different from their own.  I've been fortunate to assist with or perform the baptisms of nine children and teens who were not a part of this congregation when I began.  It is apparent from all who have witnessed these things that the Holy Spirit has stirred in the lives of the men and women who call Bessemer Presbyterian their home, and God continues to do amazing things.  Through this congregation, I have learned many valuable lessons as a pastor, but the greatest of these was about the power of Jesus' resurrection and the hope it brings.  It has become evident that the Risen Lord we proclaim is in the process of resurrecting this congregation and transforming her into His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Praise be to God!!

Yes,  God is doing mighty things here in Bessemer, and in response, we are a growing and changing church.  We are indeed "The Church Reformed, Always Reforming (according to the Word of God)."    Yet, one thing has not changed since I began here:  Bessemer remains a family of faith.   There is a love the congregation and I share that is truly of God, and I am incredibly thankful for this.  I have many mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters in this place.  I believe this kind of love and family spirit is central to who we are and enables us to minister effectively in the Name of Jesus Christ.  But even bigger than that is our increasing desire to be a community of faith that proclaims the love and grace of Jesus Christ, a community of faith that engages in Christ's ministry in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit, and a community of faith filled with love and grace for Jesus Christ, and for one another.  

But above all else, I am excited to be the pastor here because I believe there is a clear mission from God for this church: to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of hope that saved us from death, to the community of Bessemer and the world.   God's greatest desire is for the  reconciliation of the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5), and we are called to carry out and embody that message of reconciliation with the world, especially with the people of this community.  Our task is to take what we have experienced of God's love and power in our lives and share the Good News of Jesus' love and grace with those around us.  This is our mission:  to participate in what the Spirit of Jesus is already doing in this community, and to live our lives in light of the hope we have in the One who is crucified, Risen and reigning as Lord. 

Now, okay, let’s be honest.  If you’re looking for a church that has a program to meet every one of your needs, Bessemer is not that church.  Not because we can’t be, but because that’s not who God wants us to be.   But if you are looking for a place where you can belong, where you can encounter God through the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, if you’re looking for a place where you can be challenged to grow and serve the Lord, and if your looking for a mission field in which to participate, then Bessemer Presbyterian is the place for you!  But don’t take my word for it … come and see for yourself!  Blessings to you in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

In Christ's love,

Pastor Nathan