Paul Doan, a local pastor, has just started a new church, Faith Assembly of God Highway 36. He has high expectations for his church.

“I think my expectations for our church here is just to love people. I think it’s so important, as a church today, that we accept people for the way that they are,” said Doan.

Pastor Doan is very excited to finally have his own church.

“It feels great. I’ve worked for many years as an associate and it just feels really good now for God to release me to do my own thing. I’m having the time of my life,” Doan said.

Pastor Doan explains what sets his church apart from others.

“As I said earlier, I think the way that we love people. A lot of times your church takes the personality of the pastor,” said Doan.

He was not always a pastor though.

“I was a grocery store manager. I worked for many years in the grocery store, and I did that until God began to call me to the ministry,” Doan explained.

He has many reasons for wanting to become a pastor.

“Just to help others, I believe. More than anything it’s just to have the opportunity to invest into other people’s lives. Honestly I don’t really believe I chose to be a pastor, I believe that God chose me,” said Doan.

Pastor Paul Doan hopes for his church to grow into one of the biggest in Searcy.