Perry Central’s Yeager assumes pastorship at Union Bapist Church
Perry Central High School Principal Joshua Yeager is shown in the sanctuary of Union Baptist Church where he was recently called to serve as pastor.
Photo by TAYLOR GARRETSON | Dispatch Staff
By TAYLOR GARRETSON
Dispatch Staff
The principal of Perry Central High School was recently chosen to be the pastor of Union Baptist Church in Perry County.
Joshua Yeager, who is beginning his third year leading PCHS, was voted to be the preacher at Union Baptist in March after filling in at the church for a brief time.
Yeager is a native of the town of Union in Newton County. After graduating from Mississippi State University and Arkansas State University with multiple degrees, Yeager began working within various school districts across the state. He previously worked as an assistant principal in the Lawrence County School District and moved from there to Perry County to accept the position of Principal at PCHS.
Union Baptist Church is located on Miss. 15 between Beaumont and Richton, directly across from Mississippi State University Extension Services. Yeager says when he first arrived at the church he felt a sense of home and knew he was right where he needed to be.
“I am from Union, MS and I am a 3-time graduate from Mississippi State University,” Yeager said. “So when I first pulled up here and saw the name of the church and (the MSU Extension Service) office across the road, I knew I was home.”
Yaeger says he has always been involved in church growing up, but he was shocked to be offered the opportunity to represent this church in his community.
“When I came to Perry County I had no idea that a church would call me to be their pastor,” Yeager says. “I couldn’t think of a better way to serve my community than to be able to represent both the school and the church.”
Since Yeager has become pastor of Union Baptist Church, the church has experienced a solid increase in membership, going from just four regular attendees to an average of 35. With the help of Yeager, the church has established a true Southern gospel praise and worship experience that has attracted many visitors. Yeager said his goal in this new position is to use his experience as principal to help build up the church.
“When I came to Union Baptist Church I told the people that I was going to work and grow the church the way I work and grow the high school,” Yeager said. “And that is just having a high expectation of my people and creating an environment for them to grow and prosper.”
The church will host a Homecoming service on Sunday, July 28, and Yeager invites everyone in the community to visit. The event will include singing, preaching and a meal at 1 p.m. Union Baptist Church also plans to host a Revival Ceremony this August, which will be the first one held at the church in several years.
Yeager says he plans to remain in Perry County as long as possible and is looking forward to the future.
“For now I feel like God has placed me in Perry County, and as long as he has his hand on me here in Perry County that’s where I’ll remain,” Yeager says. “My goal is to continue to help people and for me, it’s all about an attitude of service.”
Editor’s Note: This story is an updated version from our print edition that corrects an error concerning Mr. Yeager’s work history.
