Pastor Jason Thoman is no stranger to a challenge. He knows it on the pulpit of College Hill Reformed church, creating and crafting sermons rooted in the Word of God. He knows it on the mats of the Jiu-Jitsu gym, often standing smaller in stature than his opponents. And he’s known it in battlefields of Afghanistan, having served over 15 years in the United States military. He has displayed a deep commitment to his faith, his family, and his country, and he now continues that commitment as he accepts his new role as associate pastor at College Hill Reformed Church.
Jason married his wife Natalie in 2000, and after many years serving in the military, felt the call to pursue pastoral ministry. He then began attending seminary at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, graduating in 2020. Shortly after, he relocated to the rolling hills of Beaver Falls with his wife Natalie and their five children, finding their church home with College Hill Reformed Church in Beaver Falls.
College Hill RPC is made up of individuals of all ages, including 167 communicant members and 68 baptized members. Many members of College Hill are local to the Beaver Falls area, and a high percentage live within a few blocks of the church building which creates a unique community. Over the past several years, the Lord has blessed and grown the congregation to the point of making it difficult for everyone to fit into the auditorium for worship. This not only resulted in church planting, but also made increasingly clear the need for more pastors.
After serving College Hill faithfully and with zeal as an intern over the past few years, it was with great excitement that the church made the call for Jason to become associate pastor. He accepted and was ordained and installed on Sunday April 3, 2022 surrounded by many friends and family members. A sermon was given by Pastor A. Boyd Miller of Covenant Presbyterian in Lagrange, Georgia and a charge to the teaching elder was given by Jason’s longtime friend and mentor, Pastor Barry York.
The College Hill congregation joyfully celebrates this culmination of years of work, commitment, and many answered prayers and asks for continued prayer as they work to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Beaver Falls area and beyond.
Lauren Kozak graduated from Geneva College in 2010 with a degree in English Education. She married Roman Kozak in the summer of 2010 and after having their first child, left the teaching field to become a stay-at-home mother. In 2016, she was hired as the assistant secretary to College Hill RP church, taking over as head secretary in 2019. She and Roman now reside in the College Hill neighborhood of Beaver Falls and have a full home of four boys.
