First Presbyterian Church of Sullivan Has New Pastor

The First Presbyterian Church of Sullivan has been in the process of expanding their congregation and the Christian Education programs for some time now and, in that process, have acquired a new minister. Kathleen “Kathi” Kraus is a St. Louis native who was raised in the Lutheran church. In 2018, she enrolled in Commission Pastor Training in St. Louis. Her experience includes working in Christian Ed at several churches and serving roles involving pulpit supply. “God has been working on me for some time,” she said. About taking to the pulpit at First Presbyterian on July 5, she said, “It’s a bigger job, but I’m embracing it.”

Kraus is no stranger to big jobs. She and her husband, Pete, raised five children on their farm in Cook Station. They homeschooled their children and raised them in the Word. They also spent time visiting multiple churches in their efforts to find a place that felt like home, initially settling on a church in Cuba where she became very involved in Bible Study and VBS over the eleven months spent there. Their family has been committed to the Presbyterian faith since 2010. She considers this journey of faith as her having “followed God’s direction.”

Within the Sullivan community, Pastor Kraus has found a foothold through her children. They were active participants in baseball and the homeschool band program, where they made and have kept many friends. When they finally moved to the Sullivan area in 2012, selling their family farm and buying a new home on the same day, her eldest children were surprised that it had taken so long. In her time at First Presbyterian, she has been an elder, a member of the Mission Committee, a leader of the Christian Education Committee and the leader of a weekly Bible study group. She likes to say that she is “anchored in Christ” and brings that wherever she finds herself.

Moving forward, her goals for the church are to continue working with the congregation in their efforts to rebuild and renew without getting ahead of Him. “Let God write the story and let His be the glory.”

Kraus will have her Commission this coming Saturday, August 20 at 2 p.m. The community is both invited and encouraged to come celebrate with them at 285 E Springfield Rd. in Sullivan.