Interesting Neighbors

Eufaula to Purcell is 124 miles, give or take.

For Nathan Mullins, however, it was a matter of going from “one Lighthouse to another.”

Nathan and his wife, Mariah, were youth pastors at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Eufaula for seven years when he answered a call to serve as interim pastor at Lighthouse Worship Center in Purcell.

Both are under the Pentecostal Churches of God umbrella.

For Nathan, becoming a pastor was pretty much a given. His father and grandfather are both pastors in the denomination and his father also serves as the state bishop for the Pentecostal Churches of God.

When Jeff Pierce contemplated retirement, he reached out to Nathan’s father seeking a long-term interim pastor to shepherd the church through the transition.

Pierce had heard good things about Nathan and Mariah and wondered if they might be interested.

They were.

The couple had met in the Eufaula church and married there in February 2013.

Together they served as youth pastors.

With Nathan’s pastoral upbringing and Mariah’s involvement in a family southern Gospel traveling singing group, they have brought a myriad of  skills to Lighthouse Worship Center.

Nathan preaches two sermons every Sunday and Mariah  is the worship leader over the music ministry.

Since their arrival August 1, the church has experienced growth across all demographics.

The church is nearing completion on a new children’s church sanctuary.

Also new is a young adult Sunday School class for ages 18 to 40.

“It is really growing,” Mariah said.

The church has added about 25 new members since August. Of those, 10 are age 50 or older.

“It’s been a good blend,” Nathan said of the individuals and families who have become members.

Each has a favorite Scripture.

Mariah favors Romans 15:5 – “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

Nathan’s is Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

It’s a Scripture that he references frequently in his sermons.

Even without his family’s time in the pulpit, chances are Nathan would still have entered the ministry.

It’s his nature.

“I like being part of things,” he said. “That goes a lot with my personality.”

Other jobs he’s held always involved “working with people and helping people,” he said.

Church members will vote in January on offering Nathan a permanent pulpit as their pastor.

Chances are excellent the popular couple can drop the interim from their titles.

He and Mariah purchased a home nearby at Goldsby.

“If all goes well, we stay,” Nathan said. “If not, we have to pray and see.”

Mariah is a licensed realtor and looks to move from the brokerage in Eufaula to a local brokerage soon.

The couple have two children. Oakley is 6 and is in first grade at Community Christian School in Norman. Aspyn is 1-1/2.

They agree the people of Purcell have been “very welcoming” since their arrival.

And they want to reciprocate with an open invitation to participate in the church’s Fall Festival on October 30.

All activities are free and open to the public.

There will be a chili cook-off and pie bake-off at 5 p.m.

Bakers and chili chefs can bring their best efforts to the church. Celebrity judges from within the community will sample all entries.

Mariah isn’t a pie maker, but is relying on the ladies in the church who are to determine categories/types for baked and non-baked pies.

There will be Trunk or Treat at 6:30 p.m.

Nathan said there will be inflatables for the kids and family games for all. Entertainment will be live Gospel music.

“We want to get plugged into the community,” Mariah said. “If anyone has any ideas for us, we’d love them to make connection.”

They can be reached at (918) 616-4955 or messaged through the church’s page on Facebook.