Pastor Jesse Pirschel will be formally installed as the new senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) by the Tennessee Valley Presbytery at 6 p.m. on Sunday. A reception will follow in the Schum Fellowship Hall.
Pastor Pirschel and his wife, Lenny, were born and raised in California, moving to Chattanooga from Temecula, Ca., after being called by Covenant Presbyterian to serve as senior pastor. Jesse and Lenny will celebrate 21 years of marriage in September.
Their daughter Maya has started her freshman year at Covenant College while their sons, Solomon, Silas, and Israel, are attending Chattanooga Christian. Though surfing the Pacific Ocean at dawn won’t happen near as often, the Pirschels were attracted to the Christian community evidenced in Chattanooga through the churches, schools, foundations, and businesses. The variety of events, activities, sports, and opportunities also appealed to the kids in being able to pursue many individual preferences. Chattanooga’s relaxed and eclectic downtown drew them in as well. Not to mention, being a fan of Walker Percy and Flannery O’Connor helped pave the way for a transition to the South.
This is not their first calling outside of California, however. After graduating from college, Jesse served with Calvary Chapel in California. Then Jesse and Lenny served on the mission field in Slovakia. From there, Jesse started seminary while working full-time in Pennsylvania. Juggling that with a growing family led to a transfer to Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, where he earned his Masters of Divinity degree in 2003. The Pirschels then returned to California where he served as an intern at Harvest OPC and then senior pastor at Providence Presbyterian Church in Temecula, CA.
Pastor Pirschel gives thanks for the solid foundation of teaching at Covenant Presbyterian. The reformed understanding of Scripture reflects Pastor Pirschel’s desire to teach the Bible as one story, Old and New Testament, applicable to all of life. Knowing the strength of CPC’s history and its connections to the Tennessee Valley Presbytery makes Jesse thankful for the models and mentors surrounding them as he begins. He, Lenny and the whole family appreciate the genuine spirit of love already shown to them through the whole interview, moving, and settling in process. Jesse desires to further encourage a community culture at Covenant Presbyterian Church emphasizing the joy of a life in Christ.