EUSTIS -- The Rev. Eric Eichinger has a passion for people. That passion has taken him from Kalamazoo, Mich., where he grew up, to New York , China and now to Eustis, his current home.

Eichinger, 31, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his position as associate pastor at Faith Lutheran Church and School -- but it is a role he once feared.

At Michigan State University, Eichinger studied theater. He then worked as a youth leader for two years at a Lutheran church in New York state. Later, he spent two years teaching English in China, where he met his wife, Kara, who also taught English.

China is where Eichinger realized that his fear of being a pastor was gone. Full reliance on God was mandatory if he was going to take on such an important role, he said.

Eichinger headed to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and attended a four-year program that focused on historical, exegetical, practical and systematic theories within the Christian faith.

As for his new position, he said, "I think it's a good match."

What he learned overseas was invaluable preparation for his role in the 1,000-member church, he said.

"I got over to China, and I realized that you have to sacrifice your friends and your family and your favorite foods and relationships." Eichinger said. "But after a while, I realized that God had given me new family and new relationships and that wherever I go, God will provide for me."

Eichinger always knew that he wanted to serve God in some capacity, but the idea of being a pastor made him nervous about being tied down every weekend and writing sermons for people to understand and be encouraged by.

"I never experienced living out my faith quite as literally as when I was in China," he said.

"I realized, 'OK, I can serve [God] as a pastor.'"

As associate pastor, Eichinger works alongside the senior pastor, the Rev. Bill Schmidt, and is in charge of evangelism, assimilation of new church members, and teaching confirmation to middle-school children and new members.

Since Faith Lutheran also has a school, he has responsibilities there, as well.

"I've never been at a church that has had a school," he said. "And there are surprising joys that I have been finding because of that."

Though he has been at Faith Lutheran for only a month, Eichinger already has ideas and some vision of what the future may hold.

"My wife, Kara, and I are very passionate about missions, and it would be exciting to see what type of opportunities God may provide," he said.

Though Eustis is not China or New York and not even much like Kalamazoo, Eichinger has come to a conclusion through his varied experiences:

"People are people everywhere, and I really have a love for people," he said. "Large city or small, they still need Jesus."