First Congregational Church chooses new minister

Members of First Congregational Church of Portland have chosen a new minister. Jacob Richards, a student at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan will graduate in May, 2023 with a Master of Divinity degree and will begin his full-time pastorate at FCC in June.

“I’m a people person,” Richards told FCC members following his candidate sermon at Sunday’s service. “I like to connect with all people, younger and older, and have always been drawn to the small-town environment.”

The 2018 graduate of Olivet College is currently employed by the college as its Community Service Coordinator, leading monthly trips and providing students with opportunities to grow their faith through Christian Comets Connect, an intramural club he founded. As a seminarian intern, Richards preached for two semesters at Olivet and served as assistant pastor at Mayflower Congregational Church in Lansing.

He and his wife Lily, a graduate of MSU, live in the Lansing area. Interests include playing tennis, going on walks and working on art. They plan to move to Portland and reside in the parsonage at First Congregational Church.

“Lily and I are looking forward to establishing roots in Portland and getting to know the people here,” he said.

Courtesy photo.