Though Sam Massey has lived in numerous U.S. states, he calls Iowa home.

It's a big reason why he chose to accept the pastor call of First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave.

"Iowa people, Iowa culture is the greatest in the country," Massey, 50, said.

He celebrated 25 years of ordainment in March.

He and his family moved back to Iowa from Charlottesville, Va., in August. He preached his first service Aug. 24.

He served in Virgina as a pastor for six years, and before that, he had worked as a pastor in Des Moines for seven years.

Massey, a native of Washington, D.C., also has served at churches in Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

The family originally left Iowa so Massey's wife, Susan, could work on her dissertation in reading education at the University of Virginia.

She has accepted a teaching position at the Quad City campus of Western Illinois University.

Massey's two grandfathers were Presbyterian pastors, but he said it was not his intention to become a pastor.

He had planned to study medicine or law. His father even had a dream of Massey wearing a black robe. He ended up wearing that robe, only as a pastor instead.

Massey said he kept feeling a call to study religion. It didn't take long for him to realize that being a pastor was his calling.

"Truth be told, I enjoy it," Massey said. "I think it is a special honor to be invited into people's lives and really on sacred ground -- to be invited to where people meet with God."

First Presbyterian appealed to Massey because it has a reputation for worship, education and mission.

The church's congregation is about 500.

Wayne Robinson, who served on the church's search committee, believes Massey is a good fit for the church.

"He is an inspiring pastor," he said.

Church elder Reg Cooper agreed.

"He is a wonderful preacher, very articulate," Cooper said.

Reach Deanna Truman at 339-7360 or dtruman@press-citizen.com.