Thompson is the senior minister at Mount Auburn Christian Church

The Rev. Dan Thompson is the senior minister at Mount Auburn Christian Church, 930 N. Mount Auburn Road. Originally from Crown Point, Ind., he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and received his theological training at Liberty University and Liberty Theological Seminary. He said he and his wife Lara were high school sweethearts, and they have been blessed with three daughters.

Thompson felt called into ministry in 2002 but did not respond to the call until 2004. After his initial training, he transitioned into full-time vocational ministry in October 2006. He says God made it clear he was outside his will doing anything other than ministry.

In his ministry at Mount Auburn Christian Church, Thompson insists he is only a vessel, and he hopes to point people to Jesus.

"Ministry is never about what I can get out of it or how I might be personally fulfilled; these are incidental to allowing God to use me as his instrument of grace and mercy in the lives of those around me. The joy of the Lord is my strength," Thompson said.

Question: How long have you been serving at Mount Auburn Christian Church?

Answer: I have had the privilege of serving alongside the folks at Mount Auburn Christian Church since September 2008.

Q: What led you to this church in particular?

A: I was attracted to their desire to make a difference in the lives of other people for God's glory.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: The most rewarding part of ministry in the local church is participating in and enabling life-change and personal transformation in the lives of others.

Preaching and teaching ministry is not a job but rather a critical function in the Body of Christ. As I seek to be personally transformed into the likeness of Jesus, I find that I am more and more humbled by the awesomeness of God's design to use imperfect people perfectly.

Q: How do you hope to help people in your role at the church?

A: Pointing people to Jesus at every opportunity is the centerpiece of how I hope to help people as their minister. Because living our faith in Christ in light of eternity provides the only unshakable hope available to humanity. It is my heart's desire to help people understand that Jesus alone gives us meaning and purpose. I want people to capture the essence of our existence is found in Christ alone and not in our personal performance or the opinions of others. We were made to love God, love people and serve the world. It's not about me. It's all about Jesus and bringing him glory.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Mount Auburn Christian Church?

A: Mount Auburn Christian Church began as a local Body of Christ in Cape Girardeau on Easter Sunday in 1969. The faithfulness of these dear people for the last 42 years in being an outpost of hope to a hurting world is the ongoing legacy of Christ-followers through the ages. I am privileged to serve Jesus alongside them.

Q: What is your favorite verse and why?

A: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NIV): "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

The humble heart of the preacher and pastor flows from his love for God as demonstrated in this passage. I want this to be the attitude by which I seek to shepherd others. I am not better than anyone else. I am simply a man trying to love God, love people and serve the world by the grace of Jesus Christ.

Q: Is there anything that you would like people to know about you or your church?

A; None of us will ever be good enough. We will all fall short in our roles in the family, the workplace, in our neighborhoods and in our relationship with God. We're all broken. The beauty of the cross of Christ is that he invites all people, regardless of our poor choices and bad decisions in our past or present, to come to him seeking mercy and grace. The awesome call of Christ is simply this, "No perfect people allowed." We come to experience life-change through faith in Christ and what he has already done for us. Mount Auburn Christian Church desires to minister to the broken and hurting. You don't need to be cleaned up or have your act together to experience the love of Christ. Hope is found in Christ alone and not in our performance or the opinions of other people.