‘Serving like Jesus served the people around him’

NEWPORT – There’s a new face at the pulpit at Newport Community Church. Drew Eylander has been chosen as the new pastor, having started in May after running a full-time ministry in Richland, Wash. for the past 11 years.

“They’re very sweet people with lots of joy,” Eylander said of getting to know the congregation. “People love to laugh, they care about each other, and care about the church.”

The church has been searching for a pastor for a couple of years now.

Jason MaQuinn, owner and director of Bear Paw Camp and Retreat Center, referred Eylander’s name to Kevin Hunt, a church council member. Eylander had stepped away from full-time ministry in April 2024 and has been making the three-hour commute to Newport twice a week, every Sunday to lead church service and in the middle of the week for church council meetings.

A Marysville native, Eylander was inspired to pursue a career as a pastor when he was 20 years old. At the time he was in the process of becoming an officer at the Seattle Police Department to work in the canine unit. Then one Sunday he attended service at Bethany Christian Assembly in Everett with his parents. Eylander said the pastor seeming to look right at him.

“I feel like today is your day to return to Him and the church,” Eylander recalled the pastor saying to him. Eylander said that a series of life events provided confirmation to him to leave law enforcement and attend Puget Sound Christian College. He graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry.

Since then, he has been the spiritual leader for churches in Mt. Vernon and Spokane and Lewiston and Genesee in Idaho. He also currently does church service in Benton City.

Eylander and his wife, Kaylee, have gone on numerous overseas mis- sions in the Trinidad and Tobago Islands, Honduras and Bulgaria. The couple has three children, Estelle, 21, Evan, 18, and Elijah, 8.

When asked if he and Kaylee will consider moving to Newport, Eylander answered that relocation is to be determined.

“If that’s the direction God leads,” he said.

Eylander praised the council and congregation of NCC for keeping the church going. Formerly known as the United Church of Christ, the church has been in Newport for over 100 years. Eylander said NCC has plans to partner with a preschool program in the church, as well as start Sunday School.

“We want to impact the community positively by serving like Jesus served the people around him,” Eylander said. “We want to make church multigenerational again, from infants to the elderly. We want people to know that there’s a place for everyone here.”

Sunday service at NCC is always 10 a.m. Childcare is provided. Bible studies are Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. On the first and third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. there is Mighty Men’s Ministry with Cory DeYoung. There is a special Father’s Day Sunday Service June 15 at 10 a.m. with a biscuits and gravy brunch after service. All are welcome.

The church is located at 430 W. 3rd St. in Newport.

For more information, go to, www.newportcommunitychurch. net or follow NCC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newportcommunitychruch.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.