Pleased welcome Dean Osuch as our new pastor. Dean comes to us from Canton First Methodist and the Global Methodist Church. Dean will preach his first sermon on January 5 th. Please be there to welcome him. Dean comes to us with a great background in evangelism and outreach. Dean penned this letter describing his background:

I am so blessed to be a part of Mount Gilead Methodist Church and this community. I was born and raised in Newtown Connecticut. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 11 years old at an after school Christian program called AWANA. I was one of the first in my family to say yes to Jesus. Over the years I saw my mom, brother, cousins, aunts and uncles say yes to Christ as well.

I went to Cedarville College in Ohio and got my Criminal Justice Degree. I had the decision to go to the FBI academy and to fulfill a childhood dream or Seminary. God spoke to my heart in my last year of college and gave me this revelation, “In order to make this world a better place, it isn’t putting people into to jail, but learning how to transform people’s heart to love and follow Jesus.” I decided to go to Columbia International University to get a Masters of Divinity with a missions emphasis. The plan was to go with African Inland Mission (AIM) to become an overseas missionary to Africa. Upon completing my Masters degree the President of AIM couldn’t sign me on to the mission agency. I was heartbroken. On the way home, the Lord spoke to my heart again saying, “The mission field isn’t overseas, it is right where you live.” I decided to become a Missions/Outreach Pastor at that point. Eventually, I got a Doctor of Ministry because I am a lifelong learner at heart.

For the past 26 years I have served the Lord on the four corners of the United States, serving the Lord in 15 different countries, by being a Mission/Evangelism Pastor at large and small churches alike. My mission in life is to love God and love others. I am blessed to have three awesome boys. Andrew is Ranger in the Army. Eric is a College Pastor in Athens. Jon is in finances in Knoxville. My three boys are married and love Jesus.

I am married to Debra for four years and am blessed to have three step children. Cade lives at home and is a freshman at Cherokee High. Jadon and Bannon (Debra’s kids) are both married and live in Canton. My boys and their wives love Debra and Debra’s kids (and spouses) love me. We are blessed beyond belief.

I would love to get to know you better so let’s do coffee sometime. I love the smell of coffee; I just can’t drink the stuff. But I always find something I like at coffee shops.

God Bless!