A new church founded last year in Dawson County, is looking to hire a permanent pastor in the coming months.

"We have a temporary pastor, Rev. Dr. Larry Lewis, who's a retired ECO [covenant order of evangelical] Presbyterian minister," said Larry Anderson, who was part of the group that established Trinity Presbyterian Church of Dawson County.

"He is our standard minister each Sunday until we can find a permanent pastor."

Easter Sunday marked the new church's six month anniversary.

The congregation initially met at homes before leasing the community room at Fire Station No. 2 on Hwy. 53 East.

"We've grown. We have about 30 people on our rolls, so that's a really good start," Anderson said.

The church is incorporated with the state and has received recognition from the IRS as a tax exempt corporation.

"We've made application to ECO to become a plant church, which means they will recognize us as an ECO church, and then once we get our pastor, we can get our charter and become a full-fledged ECO church," Anderson said.

The next step is to find a permanent minister.

"What takes so long is the supply. When the ECO was formed back in 2012, they only took pastors in that brought with them a congregation, which means there were no unattached pastors out there," Anderson said. "They are changing that now as we speak, so what we have to look for now are other Presbyterian ministers that have split from their church and are looking for a calling.

"We're looking at ministers who, for theological reasons have left their church and we're looking at new graduates that are coming out of seminary."

Once the charter is fulfilled and a permanent pastor is in place, the congregation has a goal to find a permanent location.

The new church is currently meeting at 10 a.m. each Sunday at Fire Station No. 2, next door to Tractor Supply Co., on Hwy. 53 East.

"Everyone is welcome. It's an open church. We have an open communion, which means that as long as you're a baptized believer in any Christian denomination and Christian faith, then you are welcome in our communion taking," Anderson said.

"We've established a building fund, so we're growing it and trying to figure out where is a piece of land to move," he said. "The main goal is to get us our charter, which means we have grown to a significant number and that we have a congregation that meets and contributes to the community."