Teaching Piano Lessons for 80 years. At 95-years old, Elba Ruilova still teaches piano lessons four afternoons a week from her west Tampa home. She began teaching when she was 15.
ST. PETERSBURG — An admirer recommended him for the job, and others praised him highly.
It's a lot to live up to, said the Rev. David R. Hosick, newly named pastor of First Presbyterian Church downtown.
"I read over those references and I think, who are they talking about?'' said the new pastor, who wants his congregation to simply call him Dave.
"I also fear that somebody is going to think that Moses is coming to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.''
Not quite, but those who nominated him for the position to lead the prominent church of about 800 members are ecstatic.
"We needed to find a person who could meet or exceed our loftiest expectations. We humbly believe that with God's guidance we have succeeded in that mission,'' members of the nominating committee wrote.
Paul E. Culley, co-chairman of the committee, said he was impressed with Hosick from the beginning.
"What absolutely floored me about him was his Christ-centeredness,'' Culley said.
"He just focused on the Gospel, and that's what we have to have in a pastor. That's certainly what attracted a lot of us.''
Hosick, who will begin his new job on June 1, is coming to St. Petersburg from Tryon Presbyterian Church in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. He follows the Rev. Charles A. "Chuck" Jones III, who led First Presbyterian for 10 years. In late 2005, Jones announced that he was searching for a new job amid "unrest and concern" from some members of the congregation. He left the following year.
He has no preconceived notions about what happened, Hosick said.
"I have served two churches in which I followed in similar circumstances. I have learned from that experience that I ought not to draw any conclusions about what happened until I have spoken to the former pastor and his supporters as well as others,'' he said.
Hosick added that from his conversations with interim pastor the Rev. Larry Duncan and members of the congregation, he believes the church "is now united and ready to move forward.''
Speaking by telephone from North Carolina on Friday, Hosick said he thinks the "providence of God'' guided him to the St. Petersburg position. He said he returned home one day last fall to a message from First Presbyterian and thought the church was simply checking a reference.
"It was me they were calling to talk to,'' he said.
"You have to think it might be the mischievous providence of God at work.''
He said he was drawn to First Presbyterian's desire to make a significant contribution to the community, its tradition of great music, and its sense of mission to children and youth. St. Petersburg itself was also an attraction, he said.
What should the members of the church at 701 Beach Drive NE expect from him?
"I bring a strong desire to serve and glorify God. I bring a sense of empathy and compassion for people in time of need. I bring a lifelong attraction and intrigue in Jesus Christ,'' he said.
A pastor for 30 years, he's a native of Pittsburgh. He and his wife, Joanie, have two adult children.
Hosick says he will draw upon his experience in pastoral ministry and leadership as he works with members of his new congregation to build on the strengths they have "and to just see what God would have us do together in the future.''
Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at wmoore@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2283.
[Last modified: Apr 19, 2008 04:32 AM]
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