It's all about people, the new pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) says.

Dan Asche took over as minister of the Madison Street landmark in late December. Asche (pronounced 'as-shee'), his wife and a son are building a new home in Shelbyville and are grateful to be in this area - particularly because of a special Christmas gift.

"I spent Christmas with my family," Asche said, referring to another son who lives in Murfreesboro and whom he was hoping to live nearer. "This was the first time I'd been able to do so in years because I've always had Christmas Eve services" which limited long-distance travel.

"We love Shelbyville. I love the area, the rolling hills, and probably the biggest thing is that the people are very friendly," Asche said.

Asche sees the church as a team effort.

"It takes a whole team of people. Jesus didn't do it all - he brought 12 disciples, they brought 120 people," Asche said. "It is based on relationships."

"The main thing is worship on Sunday. There needs to be a whole host of things on other nights. And being involved with people - playing cards with people, going to ball games - being involved in the community."

Asche cites Jesus's connections with others as an example.

"Jesus always had time for people. We are an extension of Jesus, we're here to love people," Asche said. "Doing ministry every minute of every day - it has to be in our DNA to care about other people."

Asche, 69, grew up in the Cincinnati area in the Catholic faith. He converted to Protestantism while in high school.

"On New Year's Eve in my senior year in high school, a friend invited me to a party," Asche said. "We went bowling and swimming" and he began attending Bridgetown Church of Christ in Cincinnati.

"The Church of Christ in Ohio is different from the churches of Christ in this area. They have instrumental music," Asche said. "Then I was baptized in the Church of Christ."

Disciples of Christ churches and the southern Church of Christ both grew from the same religious movement in the 1800s, Asche explained.

Asche attended Cincinnati Bible Seminary and earned a master's degree from Mid-South Christian College in Memphis. After seminary, he served in northern Illinois including the Chicago and Rockford areas for years, returned to the Cincinnati area, then moved south to a Huntsville, Alabama church from 1987-92.

He spent 1992-2009 at an Indianapolis church which grew from 170 to 800 members, then took over the Bethel, Ohio church in which his wife grew up, which changed from Bethel Church of Christ to Community Christian Church.

The desire to be closer to his son in Murfreesboro led to his search for another pastoral position,

"I'd told the elders I'd be stepping down within a year," Asche said - then he saw the First Christian job posting on the Kentucky Christian College website.

The move from larger churches to First Christian - which has a combined in-person and virtual attendance of roughly 50 to 60 on Sunday mornings, he says - isn't a hinderance.

"I see a lot of growth potential," Asche said. "People come because of relationships. Innovation and changes drive young people."

He describes First Christian as a "very conservative, Bible-believing church. We're an older congregation, not much of a youth program because there are so few youth."

Plans post-pandemic include a return of adult men's and women's Bible classes and midweek Bible studies, Asche said.

Asche has no plans to retire soon despite his age.

"I feel like I'm 25 sometimes," said Asche, who owns a motorcycle, has traveled extensively on two wheels and hopes to spend his summer vacation this year at the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.