HOULTON, Maine — The First Baptist Church in Houlton officially welcomed its new pastor, Rev. Dennis Ashley Sunday afternoon during an installation ceremony at the church.
“The call of God brought me here,” Ashley said. “There is no other way to say that. I wasn’t looking for a move to Maine, but through the process of our denomination, my resume came up as a match for what they were looking for. From there, we both considered, ‘What is it that God wants?’”
Ashley previously served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Newburgh, N.Y. for the past eight years and was a minister in that region for about 20 years. He is married to Kelly (Hanley) Ashley and the couple have three adult children and two grandchildren.
He received his doctor of ministry in marriage and family from Palmer Theological Seminary of Easter University, King of Prussia, Pa. in 2010 and before that earned his master of divinity from Conservative Baptist Seminary of the East (now Bethel Seminary) in Dresher, Pa. in 1995. While there, he was honored with the Earl C. Cook Distinguished Leadership Award. Ashley was first called to pastoral ministry in 1994 and has continued in that capacity, serving three churches in the Hudson Valley, N.Y. region.
He has taught the Bible, computer applications, health and physical education at the middle and high school levels for three different Christian education systems.
From 1987-1992, Ashley served in the U.S. Army, during which time he received numerous commendations and awards for leadership and achievement.
The Ashleys came to Houlton in September and October for visits before agreeing to take the position. He moved to Houlton in January, while his wife arrived in April.
“It was unmistakable where God was directing us,” he said.
The community is smaller in Houlton than it was in Newburgh, but the church membership is much larger.
“We left a city of about 30,000, but in that city there were 70 churches,” he explained. “Most of the churches had about 100 members or less. Our church had half that.”
His impressions of the Houlton community thus far have been extremely favorable.
“I have been warmly welcomed not only here in the church but in the community,” he said. “Everyone I have met has been very friendly. People have treated me kindly. When we meet someone new, they often say, ‘Oh I’ve heard of you.’ We enjoy that.”
He replaces Art Meyers, who left the church last spring after about 12 years. Ashley noted the efficient work of the search committee in finding a replacement, which sometimes can take several years.
“This church was less than year without a called pastor, so I congratulate the committee under the chairpersonship of Joan Barton,” he added. “They worked very hard to replace their pastor quickly.”
His goal for the First Baptist Church is one of unity.
“I feel very strongly to bring a ministry of reconciliation,” he said. “There has been a long history in the Christian church in general of fractures and divisions. The church has not done a very good job of living up to our commission to love one another.”
To achieve his goal of reconciliation, Ashley said he hopes to work within not only the First Baptist Church, but with the sister churches in the area to achieve that harmony.
