Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church has welcomed the Rev. Wilson Van Hooser as its new pastor, marking what he described as a "Sweet Home Alabama" homecoming after years of ministry outside the state.

Originally from Montgomery, Van Hooser said family vacations to the Baldwin County beaches made the opportunity to lead the Fairhope congregation an especially meaningful return to Alabama.

Van Hooser brings a background that spans athletics, academics and ministry. He played wide receiver at Tulane University, graduating in 2013, before spending a brief stint with the New England Patriots. He later attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, after answering what he said was God's call to ministry.

After graduating from seminary, Van Hooser served as a campus minister at Oklahoma State University before becoming pastor of a church in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

When Eastern Shore Presbyterian's search committee contacted him about the position, the opportunity to return to his home state proved irresistible.

Van Hooser and his wife, Grace, have been married for 11 years. She is also a Tulane graduate and a former collegiate volleyball player. The couple and their three children, all under the age of 7, are looking forward to putting down roots in Baldwin County.

As he begins his ministry at Eastern Shore Presbyterian, Van Hooser said his immediate priority is listening to members' stories, getting to know the congregation and introducing himself to the broader community. The church said he also welcomes opportunities to speak with local groups.

Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian Church in America congregation, is located on the hill near the entrance to the Rock Creek subdivision on Highway 98 in Fairhope.

The church offers two Sunday worship services, with a traditional service at 8:15 a.m. and a blended service at 11 a.m. Through its ministry, Bayshore Christian School, the congregation includes a mix of younger families and older adults.

Visitors are welcome. More information is available at https://espc.church.