Pastor Nathaniel Stamper found his way to the ministry almost by accident, and his way to the South directly from Pennsylvania.

July will mark one year since Stamper and his young family answered a call from Westminster Presbyterian Church to fill a vacancy in their pulpit. Originally from Hartford County, Pa., Stamper found his way into the ministry, he said, “sort of by accident.” As a newlywed, he found himself seeking ways to be a better husband and Christian, and enrolled in classes at Lancaster Bible College. He discovered an aptitude for ministry and obtained a degree in Biblical studies.

With the encouragement of his college professors and the support of his wife, Kelsey, Stamper decided to enroll in seminary. Unlike many people raised in a particular denomination, Stamper became a Christian at the age of 16, and didn’t have a particular faith connection. Unsure of which one was best for him, he studied the Bible and came to the conclusion that the Presbyterian ideology most closely matched his beliefs.

Ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America, Stamper spent the next years as a minister, and was teaching at a Classical Christian School when he was contacted by Dr. Gordon Sluis, an elder at Westminster.

Westminster was looking for a pastor, and Sluis wanted to discuss with Stamper the possibility of serving the church in Vicksburg. On paper, the church and Stamper seemed like a good match. After several virtual interviews, the Stamper family came to visit Vicksburg and the church. Making the decision to move to Mississippi was difficult, as it would require them to leave behind family, including the grandparents the children saw almost every day. Ultimately, the family accepted the position at the church and moved to Mississippi in July.

“Everyone we’ve met has just been so lovely,” Stamper said. 

Since settling in Mississippi, Stamper said they’ve been embraced by their church and community and feel like they’ve added to their extended family.

Stamper said he sees a role for everyone in the church. 

“I try to communicate in a way everyone can understand. One of my goals is to focus on families. I think the family is the core of the church.” 

He said he would also like to include older people in connecting with young families.

While teaching, Stamper found he had a passion for it that extends beyond the pulpit. He is launching the “Critical Thinkers Club” this summer. For ages twelve and up, the club will meet and begin with Level 1, to “learn informal and formal branches of logic to help inspire critical thinking.” The goal of the club is for children to learn “tools of logic and apologetics, not only to thoughtfully and winsomely defend their faith against unchristian ideas, but also see how their faith intersects with all of life.” Eventually the club will expand to include four levels of learning and reading classical literature.

“We look at different world views and religions and how Christians can defend their beliefs,” Stamper said of the club. “How can I inspire critical thinking?” 

Stamper said he wants children to be equipped to understand and defend their beliefs so that when they are confronted with world views, they can see the beauty in the Christian faith.

Additionally, Stamper hosts a Bible study for teenage boys every Friday at 2 p.m. at Parish Waterfowl & Espresso Bar on Washington Street in downtown Vicksburg. A class for teenage girls is currently in the planning stages.

Stamper’s wife, Kelsey, is a CPA who works remotely for an accounting firm in Pennsylvania. 

“She’s brilliant with numbers,” Stamper says. “I’m amazed by what she does.” 

She also home schools their four children, Moses, Eden Victoria, Elijah and Iris Elizabeth, although the boys attend a school in Ridgeland two days a week. Stamper said the children have adjusted to the move well and love playing with new friends in the park at Glenwood Circle. He added, with a smile, that he is looking forward to at least a couple of the children developing a Southern accent.

Stamper welcomes all to join the worship at Westminster. Dates and times for services can be found at wpcvicksburg.com. Anyone interested in enrolling their child in the Critical Thinkers Club may contact Stamper at wpcstamper@gmail.com.

On Saturday, Mississippi State baseball earned yet another ranked win on the season, taking down No. 23 Alabama, 8-1. Men’s Tennis also picked up a victory, defeating Middle Tennessee State 4-0 and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

Bulldogs softball fell to Georgia on Saturday, giving State its 17th loss on the season, and twelfth conference loss.

Today’s Schedule

Softball: No. 14 Georgia at Mississippi State, 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network

Baseball: No. 23 Alabama at Mississippi State, 12 p.m. on SEC Network+

Mississippi State Results

Did You Notice?

• Mississippi State men’s tennis advanced to the Sweet sixteen for the fifth time in six years, and will now face off against first seeded Ohio State.

• Mississippi State transfer defensive lineman Caleb Bryant committed to Southern Mississippi. Bryant is a former 3-star who redshirted last season with the Bulldogs.

Countdown to Mississippi State’s 2024 Opener

Daily Dose of Mike Leach

On upsets in college football: “Everybody’s all surprised every time this stuff happens. It surprises me everybody gets surprised, because it happens every year like this that there are surprises. The most surprising thing would be if there weren’t any surprises. So therefore, in the final analysis, none of it’s really that surprising.”

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — No. 16 Mississippi State baseball defeated No. 23 Alabama 8-1 on Saturday to clinch the weekend series.

The Crimson Tide struck first thanks to a solo shot from Max Grant but the Bulldogs responded with eight unanswered runs.

Third baseman Logan Kohler led the team in hits with three and also added two RBIs and two runs. Kohler and David Mershon both homered Saturday.

Ambidextrous pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje gave up just one hit and struck out eight batters through seven innings.

“[Justin] Parker wanted to take him out and he didn’t want to come out which was good to see,” head coach Chris Lemonis said. “Where he’s come from last year to this year is such a growing process for him. Not just the stuff, it’s more the maturity of competing and being a tough SEC pitcher.”

The win improves MSU to 14-9 in SEC play and 32-15 overall. Mississippi State will look to sweep Alabama in game three at 1 p.m. Sunday