From the tender age of 10, Brad McKenzie knew he wanted to be a pastor.

“It was something I knew as a young child,” McKenzie said during a phone interview. “At 10, I told my grandmother I wanted to be a pastor. The Lord opened a lot of doors which confirmed it.”

While McKenzie originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he was quick to say his wife grew up in Dallas.

“Our kids were born in Texas,” McKenzie added as well.

He began ministering in his 20’s and has been a pastor for 22 years. He was Senior Pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, Texas until he recently accepted a position in Orange.

On February 17, Pastor McKenzie will give his first sermon as Senior Pastor at 10:45 a.m. at Orange First Church of the Nazarene located at 3810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Orange.

The church welcomes all who wish to join them in welcoming the new pastor and his family.

“Serving God is a wonderful thing,” McKenzie said. “A blessing as the pastor is being a part of people’s lives as God helps transform them. People are really the joy of ministry.”

McKenzie said it would be hard to leave Pasadena but looks forward to a new journey and new friends.

Mayor of Pasadena Jeff Wagner presented McKenzie with the key to the city of Pasadena on February 3.

“Since Harvey, our church partnered with the Kiwanis and helped 7,000 families with food and clothing,” McKenzie humbly said.

He did add he has a special surprise planned for his first service at Orange First Church of the Nazarene as he presents his vision for the church.

“I can’t tell you because it is a surprise,” McKenzie said. “It is sharing a vision for the church to be used by God to make the community a better place. I can say everyone will leave with something tangible.”