First Christian Church welcomes new pastor Sara Koons

MASSILLON – At the age of 18, Sara Koons was a student at Smith College, a liberal arts college in Massachusetts.

While on track to earn bachelor's degrees in classical and medieval studies, Koons knew she was being called by a higher power.

But her path to the pulpit wasn't a straight line. It took her a little longer to realize what God had planned for her.

She finished her bachelor's degrees and later earned a master's degree in divinity.

The 40-year-old recently accepted her first ministry at First Christian Church. She was installed as the church's pastor earlier this month.

Following a higher power to Massillon, Ohio

As the world began dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Koons was sent home from her administrative job.

Wondering what she was going to do, she signed up for a post-graduate certificate in pastoral counseling.

"God just came and said, 'I called you to this and you didn't engage full-throttle,'" she said. "He gave me the passion and the training to step into it. I said go send me, Father. I will follow you anywhere. I followed him to Massillon, Ohio."

Koons replaces Steven Gower, who accepted a ministry in North Olmsted in early 2020, church board President Brenda Baker said.

"It was totally fine until March and the pandemic hit," Baker said. "It's usually not a big deal. Retired ministers often help but we couldn't get anyone to come out."

Baker noted many of the retired ministers are elderly and because of the pandemic were leary to fill in.

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With no in-person services for more than a year, the church relied on volunteer ministers, she said. A few church members, many of whom were unskilled in technology, would stream the services, as well as provide music and sometimes a sermon.

In August 2021, the church finally secured an interim minister in Robert Hudson, Baker said. With an interim pastor in place, church leaders could get to work finding a new leader.

A search committee worked with the regional ministry to find Gower's replacement. They knew it would not be an easy or quick task.

'We don't want them to come to Massillon and not like football.'

In order to find the right person, Baker said, the search committee compiled information about the church and its membership, wages, the local job market and the school systems for potential applicants.

"We don't want them to come to Massillon and not like football," Baker joked. "A lot of them are bringing children and their spouse. We want them to know what jobs are available."

With the pandemic, the search committee conducted phone and Zoom calls to talk with candidates.

Many applicants were hesitant to move their families to Massillon because of the uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus.

"It's hard to pull up your family when you don't know what is going to happen in the next six months," she said.

In normal circumstances, prospective candidates would visit the church and the community, Baker added.

It was a struggle, she said. They sent out mailers and contacted colleges specializing in ministry asking them to post the job opening.

Koons was one of the students to see the job posting.

She called Baker in September and for the next few months, the search committee had multiple conversations with Koons via phone and Zoom. Koons gave a mini-sermon through Zoom to about a third of the church.

But Baker was concerned. Koons never had a church of her own and that was nerve-racking. She also lived 700 miles away and had never been to Massillon. That didn't seem to phase Koons — after all her favorite color is orange. She would fit into Tiger nation.

There were multiple conversations with the regional minister about Koons' abilities and if she would be able to handle the job, Baker said.

The regional minister assured Baker that Koons had the necessary schooling and she was ready to take on her own church.

In January, the church flew Koons to the City of Champions and she gave a sermon to the congregation.

"We fell in love with her," Baker said.

They offered her the job the next week.

'She can take a Bible verse about Peter, James and John and how do they relate to today.'

Baker said Koons' sermons are relatable and bring in a lot of what is going on in the world today.

"She can take a Bible verse about Peter, James and John and how do they relate to today," she said.

After accepting the job, Koons jumped right in. She wanted to buy a home and Baker hooked her up with a local real estate agent.

Baker and her husband served as Koons' eyes as the agent took them through potential homes. Koons joined via Facebook for the walk-throughs. The couple wanted to ensure that Koons found a great home. Finally, they did. She signed the papers without ever stepping foot into the house, Baker said.

When she finally moved into the home, the Bakers had her over for dinner.

'I love to dream big and to inspire others to dream big.'

Koons is excited to take on her first job as a pastor. With COVID restrictions loosening and more people getting vaccinated, members are being to return to church, she said.

She's looking forward to the future of the congregation.

"I have a lot of plans," Koons said. "I love to dream big and to inspire others to dream big. I got a few plans but mostly I'm trying to listen at the moment."

Koons has embraced Massillon. She has joined the Massillon Area Clergy Association and her church has plans to participate in the IMPACT Massillon this summer helping to rehab a targeted area of town.

She also joined the Stark County Coalition for Prevention of Suicide, adding she is amazed at the work the team has done.

Koons joining the church is a great moment for the congregation, Baker said, adding with a pastor the church can stabilize and begin to look for opportunities and growth.

"COVID made everything very hard," Baker said. "I have to have faith in God. He made me wait until I found the perfect minister."

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.

On Twitter: @aknappINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Sara Koons picked to lead First Christian Church after two-year search