Drost wants to help church grow in grace

Daniel Drost is set to be ordained as the pastor of the Washington Reformed Presbyterian Church on Oct. 17; however, he is acting as pastor until the ceremony.

A native of Beverly, Massachusetts, Drost attended Beverly High School and then to Gordon College, where he earned a degree in communications. After working several jobs, he attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for three years, graduating in 2009. He worked at a church in northern Michigan, but the Washington assignment will be the first time he will be ordained as a minister.

He, his wife Abigail, son William, 3, and daughter Deborah,18 months, have been in Washington since July 10.

What brings you to Washington?

Mainly being called to the church here. Usually when a man graduates from seminary to go into the ministry, he candidates at different churches. Sometimes before we go to seminary and at least the first year, we are taken under the care of our local presbytery. We have to go through an examination process and there are stages to that. First is licensure to preach, and there are five examinations. Being eligible to receive a call, and there are five examinations for that. Then we are called to a church and that is the stage where we candidate at churches. I went to a few churches. I got the call from this one and that is how I came. There are examinations for ordination.

Since you have been here, what do you think?

We really enjoy it. The fact that everything seems so accessible ? we especially like living in this house because we are within walking distance of the town center, the grocery store and also the park and our church. It is a very friendly community.  

What?s your favorite thing about Washington?

Abigail Drost: probably the square with the farmer?s market and the municipal band.

Drost: It is fun to go to the band.

How did you decide to join the seminary?

I had wanted to go into the ministry since I was a freshman in college. It is something ? I had wanted to preach the gospel for a long time. It was in college that I had more access to materials to study. Of course, studying the word of God is central ? it?s the word of God. Hammering out my convictions of what scripture teachers, I came to be what is called reformed or Calvinistic in my doctrine. That?s why I joined the RPCNA and went to the reformed Presbyterian seminary, because they hold to what is known as Westminster standards, which are the confessions of faith that started all Presbyterian denominations historically. Some of them don?t hold to it anymore, but historically that has been the confession of faith of all the Presbyterian denominations. To say I wanted to go into the ministry is a conviction to preach the gospel to lost sinners.

Tell me about your philosophy of being a minister.

We all need God?s grace, and those of us who are saved, it is only by God?s grace we are saved. Paul said ?by grace you are saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves.? Even the faith is not ours, it is a gift from God. That?s in the Bible. I believe preaching is central to worship and central to the life of the church. The gospel has to be clear in preaching. Christ has to be held forth very clearly because he is the only way to the father. Also, it is not just about evangelical preaching, it is also for the people of God to grow in grace ? to come closer and to understand who God is and all his attributes; how to follow him; and who Christ is and what he did to save sinners.

What hobbies do you have?

Sometimes we will watch movies. Sometimes we like to play Scrabble or walk to the town center and see the band playing. Unfortunately, they won?t play any more this summer, but we enjoy that. We also like doing things with the church. We enjoy our fellowship with the church.

What plans do you have for the future?

I kind of think of my goals as related to the church and to the family. We have goals for our children and want them to be brought up in a Godly way and know the scriptures thoroughly. We want them to trust in Christ alone for their salvation. For the church, it is kind of similar. I want the church to be built up in the faith.