Rev. Michael Poulos

About Rev. Poulos:

On Sunday, August 9, 2020, First Presbyterian Church elected a new minister, Rev. Michael Poulos. Michael and his wife, Julie Lehman, have lived in Western North Carolina since 2002. Michael and Julie are proud parents of Nicholas (age 23) and Gabe (age 20) and their two dogs, Coco and Doby. They live in East Asheville along with Julie's mother Judy. Julie works at the Montreat Conference Center, serving as the Director of the Montreat Fund and Major Gifts. A life-long athlete, Michael played college football and now enjoys playing tennis and golf, as well as watching all levels of football. He also enjoys walking his dogs, watching movies with Julie, and playing tennis with his son.

Michael attended Davidson College in Davidson, NC where he played football and received his Bachelor of Science degree graduating Cum Laude. Go Wildcats! He received his Masters of Divinity, with honors, from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He was ordained in 1992 and has served three churches as Associate Pastor for Youth and Missions. He has also served as a program director for a nonprofit providing mission experience for youth.

Rev. Poulos will begin his pastorship at First Presbyterian on September 1, 2020. His first Sunday leading us in worship will be Sunday, September 6th, at 10:55am. This will be an outdoor service in our outdoor covered picnic area so that we can all welcome our new minister while remaining safely socially distant. Please plan on bringing a comfortable lawn chair. Let's give Rev. Poulos a big First Presbyterian welcome!

Rev. Michael Poulos Statement of Faith:

"As the Creator, God brings all things into being and calls them good, and so all of creation witnesses to the glory and praise of God's Sovereign love. Made in God's image, we are called to live together in community, to love and respect one another in our diversity, and to care for the world as God's stewards.

The Holy Spirit sustains us through the community of faith called the church. In an increasingly individualistic world, the church is a community of imperfect people with gifts and limitations, a living and loving intergenerational community witnessing to God's presence in the world. Through the waters of baptism God names and claims us as Beloved. As life's difficulties and challenges come, we are called to claim this identity again and again. As we hear God's Word each week in worship, as we gather around the Table to be fed by Christ, we are equipped to be God's hands and feet and heart. In the practice of personal and corporate prayer, the Holy Spirit brings healing and peace. The authoritative witness to Jesus Christ, the scriptures point us to the One who calls us to follow him. Instead of serving our own interests, we are called to serve God by welcoming the stranger, visiting the lonely, feeding the hungry and loving those who live in the margins. God is a loving presence who will never let me go."

-Rev. Michael Poulos, August 2020