By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Chapel of the Cross, 160 Flanders Rd., has filled the position of lead pastor with Texas-born Derek Duncan. Duncan has been the pastor at churches in Oklahoma City, Seattle and, most recently, Indianapolis.
Coming to small, suburban Chapel of the Cross from the large, urban East 91st St. Church in Indianapolis is a big transition for Duncan, his wife, Julie, and their children: daughter Kensie, 20, a sophomore at Ball State University, and sons Carter, 14, and Caleb, 10.
Duncan said that he has always thought of New England as a vacation location and is excited to “explore all of the wonderful history and beauty of this place. Where else in the country can you live with such easy access to so many awesome things to do, like historic cities, the ocean and mountains?” He added, “I look forward to driving, walking, and hiking my way across the whole area.”
Duncan and his wife have purchased a home in Westborough and look forward to immersing themselves in the community. He brings to Westborough a deep desire to connect to people and to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.
As lead pastor, Duncan's vision for the church is “to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love others as we love ourselves. We do this by learning from Jesus, loving each other in community, and living out our hope in Christ in very practical ways.”
Having spent two years without a lead pastor, members of the congregation of Chapel of the Cross are happy to finally have a sense of permanence.
According to Leslea Linebarger, a leader in the church's women's ministry and small group ministry who has been attending Chapel for 12 years, “the thing that comes through immediately is Derek's authenticity. He's the same up front as he is in conversation. He's able to communicate his love for Christ and for people with humility and humor, and people seem to really respond to that.”
Trish Reske has been attending Chapel of the Cross for 22 years.
“I’m excited for this new chapter in Chapel's life with Derek Duncan as our lead pastor,” she said. “I look forward to his leadership and the enthusiasm that he and his family are bringing to our church and the surrounding community.”
To learn more about Chapel of the Cross, visit http://www.chapelofthecross.com.