HAMPTON — The First Baptist Church of Hampton will have a special service of installation for its new pastor, Chris Underation, taking place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. All members of the community are invited to attend. A light reception will be held after the service.

Pastor Underation started serving First Baptist in July. He is a 1999 graduate of Gordon-Colwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

"We are glad to have Chris here, and by having this service we hope to give him a more formal welcome than just saying 'Hi, here's the pulpit. Preach us a sermon,'" said George Ferber, the chairman of the board of deacons. "We'd also like to let the community know that he's here too."

Since graduating from Gordon-Conwell, Pastor Underation has served or been a member of churches in a variety of denominations — the Brockton (MA) Foursquare Gospel Church; the First United Methodist Church in Amesbury; and Market Street Baptist Church, also in Amesbury.

"I love the small church, which sort of makes me odd among most pastors," Pastor Underation says. They have very definite advantages over larger churches when it comes to embracing and mobilizing the church for service. And then there is the issue of accountability -- I know all the people and they know me, and together we help one another become more wise and godly people. Isn't this what it's all about?"

Pastor Underation holds degrees from Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio and a master's degree in media management from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has almost completed a master's degree in journalism from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. In addition to his work at First Baptist, Pastor Underation is also the public relations specialist for Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts.

Pastor Underation is married. He and his wife, Christine, have a one-year old son, CJ. They are expecting their second child in January, 2002.

First Baptist Church of Hampton is located at 36 Winnacunnet Road in Hampton, near the Galley Hatch Restaurant. For more information about Sunday worship services and church activities, please call Pastor Chris at 926-3200.