SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Nick Poole has gone from a young college graduate with a heart for urban ministries, to leader of a prominent northeast church in just six years time. He has served as lead pastor at Calvary Church in Irwin, Pa., since 2011.
The Rev. Nick Poole, a 2005 Central Bible College graduate, will be honored this fall during Evangel University’s Homecoming celebration as the CBC Outstanding Young Alumnus for 2015.
The presentation will be made during an 11 a.m. luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the University Plaza Convention Center.
“It’s an honor to be chosen for this award,” Poole said. He said that he was humbled to be selected and is excited about the opportunity to return to Springfield and see many of his fellow alumni.
Missions minded
Located southeast of Pittsburgh, near the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Calvary Church is known as an innovative fellowship. Under Poole’s leadership, “We have totally renovated how we do missions.”
Through its Calvary Cares Campaign, the church is heavily committed to missions abroad and to partnering with local organizations that are meeting needs in their community.
“With this campaign, we give 10% of our undesignated income to missionaries,” said Poole. “We also provide opportunities for our people to support specific projects — such as a counseling center in Ecuador, three Pittsburgh area church plants, and a local drug counseling center in our community.”
Calvary has doubled in size since Poole became pastor, and missions giving has increased five-fold.
Poole first served as youth pastor at Calvary for two years, right after he graduated from CBC. In 2007, he moved north of Pittsburgh to become pastor of church planting and development with Allison Park Church, where he served for another four years.
He was asked to return to Calvary Church as lead pastor in July 2011, following the untimely death of its pastor.
A campus leader
Poole is a native of Latrobe, Pa., “Home of Arnold Palmer, Mr. Rogers, and the summer home of the Pittsburgh Steelers!,” he proudly proclaims on his website.
He is a second generation CBC alumnus, earning a B.A. in urban ministries, and A.A.s in pastoral ministries and youth ministries.
“Nick was a highly respected student while at CBC, and he excelled in the areas of social leadership,” said Dr. Mark Wootton, a professor of Poole’s during his time there.
During his years at CBC, he played on the men’s soccer team for four years, including two years as team captain; he served in various student government roles, including student body president; and he was part of the campus pastor’s student leadership team. Later, he served on the CBC alumni board.
As a student, Poole understood that many pastors need supplemental income as they begin their service in small churches. In 2003, he started Nick Poole Graphics, and has supplemented his “ministry habit” as a freelance graphic designer ever since.
“My time at CBC shaped me significantly for the ministry I’ve found myself in,” Poole said. “I couldn’t have imagined receiving a better education for the ministry God has called me to.”
Nick and his wife, Heidi, have one son, Zackariah. In addition to her work with the church, Heidi is an elementary school teacher.
EU Homecoming 2015 honorees
Three additional alumni awards will be given during this year’s homecoming celebration. The recipients were chosen by the Evangel University Alumni Association Board of Directors:
- Evangel Distinguished Alumnus – Robert Ferguson
- Evangel Outstanding Young Alumnus – Amanda Wachsmuth Heavens
- CBC Distinguished Alumnus – Rev. David Crabtree
For more information, contact the Evangel University Alumni Relations Department at (417) 865-2811, ext. 7333.