Russell Springs First Church of the Nazarene's new pastor, Bro. James Haun, along with his wife Jacqueline, have fallen in love with the area, his church and the community as a whole in their short time here.

The Hauns, who are originally from Cleveland, Tenn., moved to the area on May 21 and immediately knew that Russell Springs was home.

"The time has just flown by because we have been so busy," James, 27, said.

James, a third generation minister who was called to preach at age 16, graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville on May 8 with a major in religion and philosophy and a minor in worship ministry and had been sending out resumes all over the south in hopes of attaining a senior pastor's position.

"My first cousin (Bro. Jamie McCormack) is pastor of Jamestown First Church and he heard there was an opening up here so he contacted me and said 'how would you like to come up and interview?'" Haun said. "We came up two weeks before graduation, tried it out and that week (the church) voted unanimously to have me come be their pastor."

With the burden of finding a job before graduating no longer there, the Hauns said there was a tremendous relief that came with knowing where they would be.

"There is a lot of need here and things that need to be done," he said of the area. "We've met several new families, especially through Vacation Bible School, we've had 23 or 24 kids here every night."

Haun said in September his church is going to start offering a free tutoring program for students in grades 2-9, another mission he can't wait to get started.

"I'm glad that I could be here to help meet the needs," he said. "The people are great and the facility here is fantastic."

Haun also expects to do much mission work within the city and county limits.

"I want to see this church become a mission-minded, community outreach-type church," he said. "I want to see it be more than just a place to worship; I want it to be a place that the ministry doesn't happen only within the walls of the church but outside the walls as well."

James, who has been an associate, worship and youth pastor in the past, said he wants to reach out into the community to do service projects, helping those in need and even the homeless.

"I'm a part of the local area ministerial association so I've been able to work with them on this new Shiloh Motel housing project," he said. "I'm actually over the promotional video they are doing that is going to be put out later this year."

He said he wants his church to be the kind of place that if someone visits they could truly feel the love of Jesus.

"Jesus accepts everyone and we're going to be the same way,” he said.

Being a younger pastor, Haun said he brings energy to the pulpit that will both excite and inform his churchgoers and they are responding to his call thus far.

"I'm just naïve enough to believe that my God can do anything," he said. "That is the mentality that I take and we've seen it in the short time we've been here. We've given the little bit that we have to God and he has increased it in abundance."

Bro. James Haun can be reached at 270-566-2429.

The Russell Springs First Church of the Nazarene, which is located at 1468 W. Steve Wariner Dr., has Sunday School at 10 a.m. and Sunday morning worship service at 11 a.m. with Wednesday night youth and Bible study set for 6 p.m. weekly.