When David Trott says he sees his mission as multicultural, that is not as unusual as it might seem.

Trott, 41, who became pastor at Greater Mount Zion AME Church on the first Sunday in June, is from Bermuda, where he is still a citizen. He met his wife while studying in Pennsylvania, and they now live, work and minister in the American South.

Trott also has a desire to become involved with the greater community – ministering outside the four walls of Greater Mount Zion, one of Newnan's most historic black churches. "The church shouldn't be influenced by the outside world. The church should influence the outside world for Christ," Trott said.

"God doesn't save us to self - He saves us to community," the pastor stated. "We're developing disciples."

Although his international background gives him a different perspective on Newnan – and on ministry, Trott said the differences are not all great. He said he finds the friendliness and courtesy in Georgia much like the way he grew up.

"In Bermuda, it's similar to down South," he said.

"I was in school up north," Trott said. He laughed as he added, "You spoke, and people kept walking."

There are some striking differences in life in America and Bermuda. Bermuda is a small, compact country in comparison with the United States.

"The cost of living is higher in Bermuda – two or three times higher," he said. There are some items that can be found for prices similar to those in America, but most are much higher.

Part of the Bermudian love of travel comes from the opportunity to buy things that are just too expensive at home. "Most Bermudians save up and travel once or twice a year to buy things," he said.

Trott was an only child, but his mother came from a large family. "I'm the only preacher to come out of that family," he said.

The AME church has long had a presence in Bermuda, and Trott got experience leading services when he was still a youngster. He eventually led the youth and music at his church.

"All of that prepared me to do what I needed to do," he said.

"I answered the call to preach when I was 15," Trott said. About three years later, "I began to struggle with whether I was called to pastor."

He had considered himself open to a wide range of ministry options, but did not particularly want to take the responsibility of ministering to a congregation. Some four years later, "I realised God had called me to preach," he said.

He looked at what had been happening in his life and saw God's hand moving him toward the role of pastor. "I began to think about where God was putting me – and where God had put me in the past," he said.

Initially Trott worked with youth and music. "Then I started getting more exposure to young adult things," he said. Opportunities to work with senior citizens came along, and Trott found himself learning how to work with people of all ages.

"I began to realise that's where God was putting me – how He was using me with all the different groups of people," he said. "Even though my forte was with youth and music, he began using me with everybody."

Trott also realized he had "a heart for people" – a true pastor's heart – and he began to make plans to come to America. "I was told that I need to go to school to become a pastor," he remembered.

"School" was not a favourite word in Trott's vocabulary. He had struggled as a student and "didn't want to have anything to do with school" when he was a boy, he said.

He was working in a mill shop doing fine carpentry when he decided to study for the ministry. Because he had not finished high school, Trott first earned a general equivalency diploma.

He took a few college classes in Bermuda. As he studied with a purpose, he found himself earning academic honours - "which was absolutely shocking to me," he said.

Trott made plans to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but ultimately decided to attend Point Park College – now Point Park University – in Pittsburgh.

"It had everything I wanted to do. I went there and did everything – except music," he said with a chuckle.

Trott did sing in the choir and in gospel music programmes while in college. He left Point Park in 1994 – lacking three college credits. He earned those in 2002. "I finally buckled down," he said, taking classes in Georgia to finish his Point Park degree.

He then attended Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. While he was in school, he served as pastor at Oak Grove AME Church in LaGrange for five years.

His higher education helped Trott become "more open minded to other people", he said. He said he came to see that people from different parts of the world and people with different experiences often see situations and opportunities in differing ways.

The AME church moves pastors periodically. While Trott enjoyed his ministry in LaGrange, he was open to the move to Newnan. "I feel like where God puts me, that's where I'm going," he said.

Greater Mount Zion is a full-time church. Having a full-time pastorate is "a big blessing", Trott said. His goal is "to do what needs to be done for the church and for the community and with the church and with the community."

Trott and his wife, Camille, have been married 15 years. They have a son, David Jr., who will be 13 in September, and a 20-month-old son, Amiel. Trott also has a daughter who lives in Bermuda with her mother.

The Trotts live in Rex but are planning to move to the pastorium next to Greater Mount Zion. "That will help us as far as getting into the community more," he said.

Camille Trott works for businessman Arthur Blank as his communications coordinator. She has gotten involved with various aspects of ministry at Greater Mount Zion already.

"It's a very exciting change for me and for my family," David Trott said. "All of us are excited about being here."

This article first appeared n the Newnan, Georgia Times-Herald