One of the area’s oldest congregations has a new pastor.

The Rev. Dr. Lonnie Brown, a Memphis native, joined the congregation at Mystic’s Union Baptist Church in April after serving in churches in Texas, Mississippi and most recently Maryland, serving as pastor of music and worship at Pathways Baptist Church in Gaithersburg for the past 13 years.

“Most ministers will tell you they fought as long as they could,” he said. “You come to a point in your life where you feel like you can’t do anything else and be true to God’s call in your life.”

He said he knew earlier than many that he wanted to pursue a career in the ministry, and he came to it by studying music in college and then music and theology in seminary.

Brown’s wife and two teenage children are finishing the school year in Maryland before moving to Ledyard, but he said overall the transition to Mystic has been a smooth one. Despite stereotypes of New Englanders being cold or standoffish, he found the members of the community to be welcoming, friendly and genuine.

Sue Eastman, who was chair of the pastoral search committee, said the search for a new pastor went for 15 months. She said the parishioners are happy to have Brown here.

“Our goal was to find the best possible candidate that was available, and we think we have found him,” she said.

Brown said one of his goals is to bring the church’s work to the people of the area. He is working with Baptist churches in Noank and Poquonnock Bridge to develop a joint youth ministry, and the church’s annual homecoming service will be expanded to become a community fair.

“People know that we’re here, and many of them have already been touched by the church... but we very much want to build on that.” he said.

Union Baptist Church is located at 119 High St., Mystic.

a.hutchinson@theday.com