The Rev. Michael Harvey is the new pastor at Grace Chapel Evangelical Methodist Church in Prairie City.

PRAIRIE CITY – There’s a new pastor at the pulpit at Grace Chapel Evangelical Methodist Church in Prairie City.

The Rev. Michael Harvey and his wife, Glenda, recently relocated to Grant County from Elizabeth City, N.C., where they lived for 22 years.

Michael takes over at Grace Chapel after its longtime pastor, Darrell Johnson, stepped down at age 91.

Harvey, credentialed as a local preacher in the EMC denomination, also has 18 years of prison ministry experience in a maximum security facility, where he was a volunteer preacher.

But, he says, it wasn’t until age 38 that he was saved.

“I truly did not know how beautiful, peaceful and joyful life could be with Jesus in my life as my lord and savior,” Harvey said. “So many of us are in bondage and just can’t believe that freedom is just a prayer away.”

As a pastor, he says his responsibility is twofold: “First, offering salvation to the lost, and second, developing Christians into disciples.”

Michael is originally from Worcester, Mass., and Glenda is from Sacramento, Calif. The couple have two sons, Sam, 30, and Aaron, 26.

They have also lived in Washington and Oregon.

Michael’s mother relocated with them, and the three are enjoying life in Prairie City.

He said the people, mountains and friendly, outgoing attitudes have been refreshing.

“We have to keep reminding ourselves that we live here and aren’t on vacation,” he added. “There isn’t anything we don’t love here.”

The differences however, between their new and former hometowns are so numerous they’d fill an “extra edition” of the paper, he said.

Elizabeth City is in a flat, swampy, hot and humid area, just 12 feet above sea level, he said.

Harvey also noted that there are no rocks there. “You have to buy rocks in Elizabeth City,” he quipped.

Grace Chapel’s Sunday services have been expanded. The new schedule is: early worship, 8:45 a.m.; Sunday school, 9:45 a.m.; worship, 11 a.m.; and evening worship, 6:30 p.m.

Other weekly activities include Wednesday morning prayer at 8 a.m.; and both men’s and ladies Bible studies at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The men’s study is in the parsonage.

For more information, call the church office at 541-820-4437, or email gracechpl@ortelco.net.