Pastor Colby Olson, the new pastor at the First Congregational Church of Rochester, faced a huge challenge in his first service on March 15: Trying to connect with a congregation that didn’t show up to church. 

To be fair, he didn't show up either.

Because of coronavirus concerns, his first service was in front of a camera in his basement, streaming to Facebook.

As someone who worked in churches across five states, Olson has learned to be flexible in his pastoral work, but his current situation has forced him to work outside of the confines of the church and figure out a way to reach the local community while trying to help an older congregation hear his sermons each week.

So far, all his sermons, devotionals and meetings have been over Facebook or Zoom, so it’s been hard to connect with congregation members.

Still, despite the challenge, “I’m really excited about getting the ball rolling. It’s been an adventure to say the least,” Olson said.

When he preaches, Olson likes to walk around the altar rather than preach from the pulpit. 

In that setting, connecting is easier because “you can see people sleeping or you can see people cheering.” 

On his basement couch though, he can only look into the lens of the camera and hope that he doesn’t wake his newborn son that brought his family up to six members at the end February.

Although it may be a challenge, “seeing without knowing” is what actually brought Olson to the church.

While working at a church on Cape Cod, Olson applied for the pastoral position at the Congregational Church without exactly knowing where it was. When he happened to pass it on the way to his son’s state tennis tournament, he marveled at the building and prayed over it.

Little did he know that when he went for an in-person interview, his GPS would route him right back to that same church.

When he realized what was happening he was shocked, saying to himself, “God, what is going on? This is amazing!”

The interview process to become the pastor at his current church was quite long, but Olson said it was a good experience. 

It started with a sermon preached by Olson on Martha’s Vineyard to show the selection committee his skills as a preacher, all-day interviews on Jan 4, an open question and answer segment with the entire congregation the next morning at service, a sermon in front of the congregation, and finally his confirmation as their new pastor.

While the process may seem challenging, he was prepared for it with the experience he gained from working across the country.

Reverend Colby Olson was raised in Halifax and attended Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston. Colby graduated from Asbury University with the intent to work in public relations, but was instead called into ministry at an all-black church he attended in Wilmore, Kentucky. 

In 2003 while already in full-time ministry, he was commissioned and ordained by the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Over the past 20 years Olson has started churches in Georgia, New York, Florida, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 

At one point, Olson was even pastoring a church he planted in Providence while simultaneously pastoring a church in Chatham and working a third job to make ends meet. When a car accident forced him to choose between the churches, he ultimately chose Chatham, where he served for eight years and a half years.

Making changes in his current position right off the bat has been easier for Olson, since parish life cannot remain the same. He said that although it may be an obstacle, this time in the church’s history enables it to move forward technologically and reach people around the world.