Rev. Osterday grew up in a small town in Northern Indiana. This farming community of approximately one thousand people was where families were proud of their community and church was a regular part of their culture. Rev. Osterday attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. This is where he met his wife, Elizabeth. He graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in K-12 Education. While teaching in a private school, the realization came that he wanted to pursue a more diverse profession in a bigger sphere.

Rev. Osterday moved on to a job in community development through a regional Community Action Agency. As the Director of Housing Services his team utilized Federal, State, and local funding to renovate single-family housing units for income qualified individuals and families, remediating health concerns and improving energy efficiency of each home.

During this time, Rev. Osterday completed his pastoral ordination through a protestant denomination. His passion for whole life health continued to develop and in 2015 he entered full-time vocational ministry as the Senior Pastor of Crossroads Community Church of Vernon, CT.

Through the deep impact of the pandemic, in 2021 Rev. Osterday accepted a part-time role as a social worker in which he was able to provide empathy, compassion, and advocacy for individuals and families through a non-profit Behavioral and Mental Health organization, which housed a robust food pantry, transportation and mental health services for those in need. During this time, he also served as an instructor for a court appointed Family Violence Education Program. In 2022 he graduated summa cum laude from Alliance University Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. He served in these roles until coming to Marion to serve as Settled Pastor of The First Congregational Church of Marion. Rev. Osterday is currently enrolled in the Hebrew Bible Translation Certificate program through Jewish Theological Seminary in NYC.

Rev. Eric Osterday, his wife Elizabeth, and their three children are excited to be in Marion. They are ready for a new chapter in their lives and love the charm, beauty, and warmth of our seaside town. The main thrust of Rev. Osterday’s ministry is healing. “God has invited me into a ministry which focuses on whole-life health. When we each take the time to hold the different aspects of our lives out in front of us, examine them and consider God’s perspective, we then begin to see how God has been with us the entire time, including the painful times. From this point we are able to better define health and pursue a lifestyle of healing together.”

Rev. Osterday truly enjoys connecting with people of all ages, lifestyles, interests, and values. He also connects with local leaders in government, law enforcement, social workers, and business leaders. He has served on school councils and non-profit boards while coaching little league teams and organizing clubs for adults and children. “It really is a beautiful thing when these components of a community all come together for the good of that community.”

Contact Rev. Osterday at: 

pastor@marionfirstchurch.org 

508-748-1053 (office)

~ Excerpts from the July 17, 2023 press release welcoming Rev. Osterday and family to the Southcoast community.