Former superintendent to lead local church

SANDUSKY — A local church is celebrating the initiation of a new pastor this weekend. Eugene Sanders, a longtime Sandusky resident, Sandusky Schools superintendent and a founder of Emmanuel Temple Pentecostal Church, was elected as pastor in July 2022. This weekend, along with the church's 45th anniversary celebration, the Emmanuel Temple is officially installing Sanders at 11 a.m. on Saturday. "I am honored," Sanders said. "I'm humbled to serve in a leadership role in our church and to be able to assist people with finding inner strength through Christ." The church's 45th anniversary celebration will take place the day after Sanders' ceremony at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The Honorable Bishop Kevin McCraney of Louisville, Kentucky will be the anniversary speaker. Both events will be hosted at Emmanuel Temple Pentecostal Church, located at 128 E. Adams St. in Sandusky. "He's not just some new person, he's been a member," church secretary Rebecca Pace said. "All these years he's been a member, so he's taking the legacy on and up the road." After Sanders, a 1976 Sandusky High School graduate, helped establish the church in 1978, he worked as assistant to the pastor for 40 years. In addition to his roles in the church are many other commitments to the greater Sandusky community. Sanders served as superintendent of Sandusky Schools for the last ten years, stepping down from that role in 2022. Under his leadership the high school achieved a graduation rate of 95% in addition to undergoing the largest amount of school construction in Sandusky's history, according to an Emmanuel Temple news release. Sanders also established the Doctoral Program in Leadership studies at BGSU, where he served as chair and professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Supervision. "I bring a skill level based upon my professional life and as a school leader to the work here at the church," Sanders said. Sanders' leadership also extends to the Sandusky community through his roles on the Firelands Regional Medical Center board of directors, the Greater Sandusky Partnership – an economic development advisory board – the Sandusky NAACP and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. "Suffragan Bishop Sanders reflects a paradigm shift in the strategic leadership of our organization and future development of our leaders," Bishop Theodore Brooks said. Brooks continued: "His background, experience and Pentecostal pedigree uniquely position him to develop a new framework of leadership for our international organization." Sanders said as pastor he is prioritizing community outreach and establishing a faith foundation. The church's theme for 2023 focuses on spiritual renewal, restoration and reconstruction. "Rebuilding is a combination of both our spiritual rebuilding in a post-COVID world and a spiritual renewal and restoration that elevates our journey in a positive way," Sanders said. Sanders became a Suffragan Bishop in March 2023. He currently serves on the Bishop's Cabinet and board of directors as well as being a member of the Leadership and Education Department of the Ohio District Council. "I believe that at this stage in my life, I have been well positioned for this calling," Sanders said. "I am honored to be able to serve both our church and the greater Sandusky community."