HOULTON, Maine — Returning to the place he called home for the first eight years of his life was something Jeremiah Chasse never really thought much about.
But as it has often been said, God works in mysterious ways.
Chasse, 27, was named the new lead pastor for the Shiretown Baptist Church in Houlton on July 25 and officially took over the post on Sunday, Aug. 29. It is his first position as a lead pastor for a church as he previously served as the assistant/youth pastor for the Howland Baptist Church.
The son of Dale and Michelle Chasse, Jeremiah grew up in a religious home. His father was a pastor in Amity for several years and is currently the pastor of the Howland Baptist Church.
Jeremiah said he knew at a fairly early age that he was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“When I was 13, I knew that I was supposed to follow the path, but it was not until I was 17 that I fully surrendered to God,” he said.
He attended Bible college in Michigan for one year. His father then asked him to return home to help with the teen group at the Howland Baptist Church. While at Howland, he finished his degree with an online Bible school.
“I worked under my dad for about eight years,” Jeremiah said. “We had a really good working relationship, and that was good training for me. Back in May or June, God was telling me it was time to take the next step.”
Chasse said he wasn’t sure where that move was going to lead him, so he simply put his faith in God to lead him to where he was destined to be. As it turns out, that location was very familiar.
“I have kind of come back full circle,” he said. “I originally thought we might be somewhere in southern Maine, but instead he called me up north.”
Chasse, along with his wife Sarah and children James, Josias and Jada have quickly come to embrace the greater Houlton community. To further introduce the family to the community, an event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the church, including games, hayrides, pumpkin painting and more.
He succeeds Pastor Joshua Brewer at the Houlton church located on 4 Randall Court, near the entrance to Houlton’s Community Park and Houlton Middle-High School. Brewer moved to a church in Maryland to take over for his father, who passed away.
Some of his goals as the new lead pastor are to reach people with the gospel; teach people the word of God; improve focus on missionary work for those going to different countries; and become closer as a church family.
Chasse said his father offered him a few words of wisdom and encouragement for his return to Houlton.
“Truly the best advice my dad ever gave me was to always put God first in my life,” he said. “Simple, but important.”
