A CALLING TO STAY: KEY STARTS NEW CHAPTER

    When Jason Key first arrived in Marshall County a decade ago, he was a single father from Kentucky wondering if he could survive a South Dakota winter. Today, Key is deeply woven into the fabric of the community and stepping into a new role as the interim pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church in Britton.
    For Key, the path to the pulpit at Cornerstone was paved by faith, family, and a strong sense of divine timing.
    Following the tragic loss of his first wife to a heart attack, Key was raising his young daughter, Maci, when he met his now-wife, Amber, on eHarmony. At the time, Amber was living in Britton, teaching at the local Hutterite colony. As the couple grew closer, Amber had considered moving to Kentucky, but after visiting South Dakota and spending time in prayer with his pastor and close friends, Key felt God was calling him to move here instead. “People thought I was crazy for moving across the country with a little girl,” he said. “But I felt like this was where God wanted me to be.”
    Ten years later, Britton is unequivocally home. Jason and Amber have expanded their family, now raising five children together: Maci, Alanna, Danielle, Obadiah, and Eli. Though those early South Dakota winters tested his resolve while delivering mail, Key’s connection to the town only grew. Last year, while walking through town, the feeling crystalized. “I realized just how much I loved it here,” Key says. “I told Amber, ‘We need to stay right here.’”
A Calling Rooted in Family
    Ministry has been in Key’s blood since childhood. Raised in the Church of God tradition in Kentucky, his family tree is lined with pastors and preachers, including his grandparents and an uncle who raised him and served as both his pastor and school principal. Key felt the call to preach at a young age and delivered his first sermon at 15.
    That background prepared him well when Cornerstone Bible Church faced a major transition in January. Longtime pastor Kevin Koop retired after 17 years of faithful leadership. For Key and Amber, the Koops had been like South Dakota parents, adopting them into their circle when they first moved to town.
    When Pastor Kevin retired, Key stepped up to help fill the pulpit. Recognizing the congregation’s fear of the unknown during such a pivotal shift, Key focused on bringing unity and stability. After a search process and a congregational vote, the church officially invited Key to serve as interim pastor for a one-year term.
    To formalize his ministry credentials, Key began coursework through the Christian Leaders Institute in January. The certified online training covers everything from pastoral care to leading weddings and funerals, paving the way for his official ordination.
Faith, Fellowship, and Weekly Potlucks
    Cornerstone Bible Church, located on the west end of Britton off Highway 10, is a non-denominational congregation of about 70 members, drawing families from Britton as well as nearby Sisseton, Oakes, and Forman.
    Key describes the church as a warm, family-centered environment where hospitality is front and center, highlighted by a weekly potluck every Sunday after service.
    “When I moved here, this congregation took me in,” Key says. “We want everyone to feel that same welcome: families with kids, older folks, anyone searching for a church home. We care about people, and we want to love on them.”
    Bringing a touch of Southern warmth and a distinct Kentucky accent to the pulpit, Key hopes to share a vibrant, joyful faith. While acknowledging that Midwestern congregations can be a bit more reserved than the loud, music-filled Southern churches he grew up in, Key believes faith should bring energy to everyday life. “Living for Jesus shouldn’t be boring,” he emphasized.
    Looking ahead, Key’s primary goal for his tenure is to deepen Cornerstone’s connection with the surrounding area, utilizing the church’s spacious facility for community events, youth activities, and outreach retreats.
    Above all, his focus remains simple and personal, anchored by words his late uncle shared with him years ago: “I’ve got to reach one more person.”
    “That’s what I want to do,” Key says. “Just reach one more person at a time.”
    Anyone interested in visiting Cornerstone Bible Church can find them on the west end of Britton, located right off Highway 10. Starting after Labor Day, Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m., followed by the main worship service at 10:30 a.m.