MARION — The First Congregational Church of Marion has welcomed Reverend Eric Osterday as its new settled minister, announced the church in a press release. 

Osterday grew up in a small farming town in Northern Indiana, read the release. He attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana where he met his wife, Elizabeth and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in K-12 education. 

Through the deep impact of the pandemic, read the press release,  in 2021 Osterday accepted a part-time role in social work at a non-profit behavioral and mental health organization, which housed a food pantry and transportation services for those in need.

During this time, he also served as an instructor for a court appointed family violence education program. In 2022 he graduated summa cum laude from Alliance University Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. He served in these roles until coming to Marion to serve as settled pastor of The First Congregational Church of Marion.

“God has invited me into a ministry which focuses on whole-life health. When we each take the time to hold the different aspects of our lives out in front of us, examine them and consider God’s perspective, we then begin to see how God has been with us the entire time, including the painful times,” said Osterday. “From this point we are able to better define health and pursue a lifestyle of healing together.”

The members and friends of The First Congregational Church of Marion are excited to have Osterday as their new pastor, wrote the church.

“It really is a beautiful thing when [the] components of a community all come together for the good of that community,” he said.

For more information, visit www.marionfirstchurch.org.