God's plan is perfect, and so is His timing.

Dustin Forbes is the new associate pastor at one of Lancaster County's newest churches. Everything about his personal journey has led him to this point.

On Nov. 12, Forbes officially stepped into his new role as associate pastor at Connect Us Church, 1500 Christopher Place, Lancaster. During the ceremony, Forbes, a resident of Lititz, was supported by the physical presence of his family - wife Ashley and son Hayden - in much the same way he hopes to support the members of Connect Us Church.

"It was a wonderful service," said Forbes. "I felt very loved and appreciated. There was a lot of excitement and engagement."

"My job is to come alongside the lead pastor (Kevin Greene) and help people connect with God in church," continued Forbes. "My duties include pastoral care, counseling people and offering spiritual advice on what God wants for them."

Before coming to Connect Us Church, Forbes served as the director of ministry at Hope Community Church in Mount Joy and as the campus pastor at Victory Church Lititz Campus. A graduate of the Christian School of York, Forbes holds a Bachelor of Arts in pastoral ministries and biblical studies from Lancaster Bible College.

Forbes also spent six years in the United States Army and served as a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief. His honorable service, which concluded in February of 2016, included multiple deployments.

"There was definitely a calling moment for me," said Forbes. "During my time in the military, God taught me important lessons about leadership, resilience and the importance of faith. I felt a deep calling to use these experiences to serve a higher purpose. When I got out of the military, God got a hold of me. That's how I found my way here."

"My faith has grown a ton since I left the military," Forbes added. "The military showed me something was missing. I came to Christ after leaving the military. My faith has grown into an authentic personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

Connect Us Church is a nondenominational church founded in January of 2021. To discover its mission, one need not look much further than its name.

"The idea is to take the focus off the building," said Forbes. "We're called to do life together, to make long-lasting relationships with one another. Our whole mission is to connect with each other and Jesus Christ. If you point to Jesus, that's where we want to lead. We want to take the teachings in Scripture and apply them to everyday life. Whether you've been a Christian for five minutes or 50 years, you've got a next step to be closer to Jesus."

"We're not beholden to a specific doctrine," he added. "God's doing things in Lancaster County and through Connect Us Church. Our mission is being fulfilled."

When Forbes opened his heart to God, God opened Forbes' mind.

"Honestly, if (becoming a lead pastor is) what God has for me, I will accept it," said Forbes. "I think what God has for me is exactly what I'm doing right now. Sometimes it's hard to see God's plan. I've stopped trying to control it. I'm so blessed and thrilled to be here."