MPC: Paul! We're so excited you're here, and can't want to introduce you to our community. Rather than trying to let folks know what we've learned about you in the past few months, we thought we'd invite you to introduce yourself. So...tell us a little about yourself!
Paul Sink: Who am I??? I'm a husband, father, ally, woodworker, hiker, back-packer, scouter, promoter, and community pastor. Jennifer and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage in 2027. We are old house junkies!
Alison and Aspen are our two wonderful adult daughters who I have always loved spending time with, especially outdoors. My life and ministry have been rooted in allyship for the LGBTQ+ community for longer than I knew to call myself an ally.
Custom woodworking has long been a passion of mine. The most spiritually connected things I've made are probably the chancel furniture pieces for First United Methodist Church in Taylorsville. The most fun piece I've made is a coat rack from a tree root with a budding woodworker.
Our family has always loved spending time in the great outdoors and hiking has been a wonderful way to explore God's creation! Backpacking on my own, with friends and family, or with scouts has always been a favorite way for me to reconnect with nature and reset my whole being.
Scouting has been important in my life from my own time as a Cub Scout and then earning my Eagle Scout rank. Knowing the value of scouting on young people, I have remained an active adult scouter for the last 15 years.
When someone or some group is doing something good or for the good of humanity, I absolutely love shining a light on them. I am a shameless promoter of things that make the world a better place.
God continues to call me to serve the community beyond the church walls. Being a small church pastor in a rural community creates natural connections for ministry in all kinds of settings... coffee shops, grocery store aisles, courtrooms, PRIDE events, soup kitchens, and even the street corners.
MPC: How did you come to be a Presbyterian pastor?
I am a "cradle Presbyterian" and have always been active in our churches from a very young age. God was working on calling me to become a pastor long before I realized it and through many people in my life. Serving as a chaplain for Scout Troop 200 in Lexington, NC is where it all began with me leading worship in the woods for groups of scouts and leaders.Years later, while volunteering as a church youth advisor in Raleigh, the teenagers of that church family convinced me to explore a call to ministry. Their urging is what ultimately led me on a deeper journey of discernment through two Seminaries and multiple church families.
MPC: You're coming to us after nearly 20 years serving as a pastor for Taylorsville Presbyterian. What was something that experience taught you about church and community?
My pastoral experience in Taylorsville taught me that I truly love small church ministry, particularly in rural communities. The nature of relationship building that takes place within the church family and deep into the community is such a gift that truly pays Kingdom dividends in making the church known, loved and approachable. Serving as a facilitator of the weaving together of church and community activities and resources was always rewarding, especially when the lines of diversity could be woven together in meaningful ways.
MPC: I know that youth and mission work have been important to your ministry. How has this shaped your experience as a pastor?
Jesus calls us to love and serve our neighbors. Mission work of all kinds has always been central to my life and ministry, whether short term mission trips or weekly opportunities with local service agencies. I have found that the heartbeat of many congregations can resonate best when there are external outreach projects for folks to engage in together. True Christian community grows deeper when we serve God's children together. Involving youth of all ages in mission work has been so rewarding. It instills lifelong habits of service in those youth, but it also creates an intergenerational aspect to the church family that is difficult to articulate or replicate. The learning and communication across generations that takes place while working together for someone else is invaluable for faith formation. I find threads of these types of experiences are often woven into my preaching and teaching to inspire us to stay engaged beyond ourselves.
MPC: What are some of your core beliefs about the nature of God and God's relationship to the church?
When I think about what is central to how I experience God and what I believe about the nature of God, the first word that comes to mind is love. God's love for us is complete and unwavering and God loves us for exactly who we are. Because of God's love for us, we are called to share love with the wide diversity of community that we live in.
I also believe firmly that God is with us through all that life brings our way. This is where God truly shines through the church family. We show up for one another... prayers, casseroles, hugs and high fives...these are all expressions of God's loving care.
God calls us into Christian community. Our active participation is needed and longed for by God and other members of the church family. I truly believe that God misses us when we drift from our church family ties. God desires relationship with us and for us, which is often most fully expressed within the congregation. Worship, fellowship, celebrations, mourning, meetings and more are times when we can grow closer through God.
(Probably longer than you want for this format, but this was part of my Faith Statement that I sent to y'all)
God is love
Love that is known and deep
Love that is shared and free
Love that is tangible and lofty
Love that saves us from ourselves
Jesus shows us love
Love that heals and hopes
Love that teaches and leads
Love that welcomes all to the table
Love that rises above
God’s Spirit is in love
In love with all creation; all God’s children
In love through wind and breath
In love through families of faith
In love through Word and water and wine
God is love
Love is God
Share love
Share God
MPC: What are you excited about in your move to Marshall?
I am most excited about a few things as we join y'all here in Marshall. Firstly, I'm excited about being your pastor of this fully welcoming and accepting church family. Personally, this means that my entire family will be comfortable and welcomed. Professionally, this means that my life of being an ally and supporter of outcast folks will find new opportunities here.
The creative/artsy vibe of the church and wider community is energizing and inspiring. This puts MPC in a unique place of being an active part of the next chapter for Marshall. What an exciting time to serve as your pastor!
As Marshall continues to recover from Helene, things are bound to change and be different than before. The same may be the case with MPC, and I'm excited to help y'all navigate what the future is for Marshall Presbyterian.
MPC: What question would you like to be asked? :-)
I'll have to ponder this one further...you've asked some great questions!!
