The Rev. Dr. David Handley, First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore interim pastor, will give his first sermon on Sunday morning. Yesterday was his first day at the church. First Presbyterian Church is in a time of transition. Two pastors have left the church after 18 years, at God's will, to pursue other ministry opportunities.

An interim pastor has been appointed by the Dallas Presbytery. The Rev Dr. David Handley is in Kilgore to guide the congregation in its search for a permanent pastor.

Handley comes to Kilgore from Easton, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where he was senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Easton for 26 years.

"God never lets one get too comfortable and sometimes change is a good thing," Handley, the Kilgore church's interim pastor, said after his first day in the church. "After 26 years in one place, it is time to turn the reins over to someone else."

Handley has family in Tyler, a brother who has lived there for 10 years and parents who moved there last year.

"This is an example of God's hand at work — pointing us toward Tyler," he said.

Handley lives in Tyler with his wife Andrea, who has accepted a position at Marvin United Methodist Church of Tyler, as organist and handbell director.

Handley said he is excited to be at First Presbyterian.

"This is a vibrant congregation," he said. "I am looking forward to working with the congregation and leading the members in prayer and reflection on the history of the church, to see what kind of pastor they need to lead them to the next era of ministry for Christ."

Handley is excited about the fact the church is so involved in mission work.

"This congregation loves the Lord," he said. "First Presbyterian is a mission-minded church and has a heart for the down and out."

According to Handily he will help guide the church through a three-point approach.

First, Handley said he will help the congregation understand that "Often in times of transition and unwanted change, God's work is most powerful."

According to Handley, in a church like First Presbyterian, often one will find that some are involved for the loving community, while some enjoy the music program and others like the preaching.

"A lot are here for an opportunity to serve the marginalized of society, to lend a helping hand, tutor children or help families in need," he said.

The second point of Handley's approach is help the church consider its own strength.

"This strength is what made this church what it is," he said. "We are going to pray about and discuss why the congregation is here and why their faith grows here," Handily said.

The third, Handily said, is prayer and discernment.

"We will pray for the next pastor," Handily said. "The Board of Elders will meet and interview a lot of men and women."

According to Handily, the process of finding a new pastor takes 12 to 18 months.

"The pastor found may not be the same as the former pastor, but the church will claim this opportunity for growth and cling to the strength of the past," He said.

Handley attended Indiana University, spent two years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary in Deerfield, Ill, then attended McCormick Theological Seminary for one year. In the 90s Handily returned to seminary where he completed a doctorate of ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.

The Handley's have three grown children: one daughter is a childcare giver in Tyler, another attend Fuller Theological Seminary in Las Angeles, Calif.; their son is a professional cellist, in Chicago, Ill.