A longtime member of Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church in Tamaqua has been named as the new assistant pastor.

Pastor Joshua Nemeth has been attending Bethany since the fifth grade. He graduated from Lancaster Bible College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry and biblical studies and is currently working on a Master of Divinity degree at Capitol Seminary.

He and his wife, the former Frankie Gerace, are leaders of the Tamaqua Youth Ministries Remix program.

Before being commissioned as assistant pastor on March 31, Pastor Josh was active in the church as a volunteer, leading the worship team and the discipleship commission, and teaching Sunday school. He also started the “coffee and conversation” group, which meets weekly and is designed to minister to people of his own age.

Ministry Council Chairman Jim Stoves says the “council decided last year to hire additional ministry support due to the growth of the church. When it was time to hire someone, we looked inside the congregation first.”

The Nemeths will be working closely with lead Pastor Kevin Robert and his wife, Danette. Pastor Roberts notes “The church has invested nine years in Josh. His knowledge of the church and its congregation will allow him to become effective immediately. I am very excited to have Pastor Josh as part of our ministry team and look forward to how God will use his talents.”