Our Pastor
In December 2022, the First Congregational Church of Allegan welcomed Pastor Greg Carlson to serve as our Intentional Interim Pastor. Pastor Carlson, who also serves as Chaplain for the Wings of Hope Hospice in Allegan, accepted this calling as part of his ministry with Interim Ministries International/Serving Other Servants (IMI/SOS).
Pastor Carlson graduated from Grand Rapids Baptist College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Religious Education and from Carolina Bible Institute in 1996 with an in-service Master of Biblical Studies degree. He was ordained by the First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs, MI in 1987 after completing an internship, and served as Pastor for 18 years until he was led to Allegan where he served as pastor at the First Baptist Church until 2013. Pastor Carlson says, "In 2012, I knew my calling was changing to hospice chaplaincy, and I completed additional training in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Bronson Hospital". In October 2013, Pastor Carlson began his ministry with Wings of Hope as the Spiritual Care Coordinator and has been serving there ever since. However, he still desired to stay "plugged in" to churches through interim ministries and began serving with IMI/SOS. First Congregational Church is Pastor Greg's seventh interim ministry in nine years.
"Theologically, I want the church to be regularly enamored of the majestic person, work, and presence of God through scripture-saturated worship. I am so pleased with the worship format of First Congregational Church in emphasizing these things Sunday after Sunday", says Pastor Carlson. "The redemptive work of the Christ of Calvary is central to my life and teaching. I work toward a balance of truth and grace in teaching the Word. I seek to compassionately minister biblical truth in the context of God’s enabling provision through His Spirit and Word for victory in specific areas of our lives as individuals and as a church" says Carlson. From Him we may “receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Pastor Carlson is married to his wife Lorelei who serves at Ascension Allegan Hospital and Gull Lake Ministries and they have five wonderful children together. The First Congregational Church is grateful to have Pastor Carlson on the staff here to help shepherd God's people and to elevate our worship of God with his musical talent of organ and piano playing.
Pastor Carlson graduated from Grand Rapids Baptist College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Religious Education and from Carolina Bible Institute in 1996 with an in-service Master of Biblical Studies degree. He was ordained by the First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs, MI in 1987 after completing an internship, and served as Pastor for 18 years until he was led to Allegan where he served as pastor at the First Baptist Church until 2013. Pastor Carlson says, "In 2012, I knew my calling was changing to hospice chaplaincy, and I completed additional training in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Bronson Hospital". In October 2013, Pastor Carlson began his ministry with Wings of Hope as the Spiritual Care Coordinator and has been serving there ever since. However, he still desired to stay "plugged in" to churches through interim ministries and began serving with IMI/SOS. First Congregational Church is Pastor Greg's seventh interim ministry in nine years.
"Theologically, I want the church to be regularly enamored of the majestic person, work, and presence of God through scripture-saturated worship. I am so pleased with the worship format of First Congregational Church in emphasizing these things Sunday after Sunday", says Pastor Carlson. "The redemptive work of the Christ of Calvary is central to my life and teaching. I work toward a balance of truth and grace in teaching the Word. I seek to compassionately minister biblical truth in the context of God’s enabling provision through His Spirit and Word for victory in specific areas of our lives as individuals and as a church" says Carlson. From Him we may “receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Pastor Carlson is married to his wife Lorelei who serves at Ascension Allegan Hospital and Gull Lake Ministries and they have five wonderful children together. The First Congregational Church is grateful to have Pastor Carlson on the staff here to help shepherd God's people and to elevate our worship of God with his musical talent of organ and piano playing.