THREE MILE BAY — In his wheelchair, the Rev. Douglas J. King performed his first Sunday service in front of enthusiastic members of the First Baptist Church of Three Mile Bay, who had awaited the arrival of a new minister for months.

The church has been without a minister since Robert V. Cough, pastor for 30 years, died in December.

After graduating from high school in 1997, the Rev. Mr. King was involved in a motorcycle accident that paralyzed his lower body. To most, his paraplegia would seem like a disability, but Rev. King views his condition as a tool for better serving God.

"I think it opens people up," the Rev. Mr. King said after the service Sunday morning.

He said people approach him in a way that they wouldn't other ministers, and that his condition was another sign from God telling him to become a minister.

"It gives open doors. I figured it is how God works," he said.

His dream to become a minister started early. The Rev. Mr. King said that he wished to follow his father into the clergy since he was 13 or 14 years old.

"I believed that God had put that on my path," he said. "And I always looked up to my dad."

The Rev. Mr. King served as an assistant pastor at the First Baptist Church in Eden and a call center manager at Pentagroup Financial, LLC before he and his wife, Heidi, decided to accept the opportunity to become the next pastor of First Baptist Church.

Mrs. King decided to quit her job at the Central Baptist Christian School, Yorkshire, to come to Three Mile Bay and said she would look for a teaching job once they settle down.

The Rev. Mr. King earned a master's of divinity degree at Pensacola Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree in pastoral ministries at Pensacola Christian College.

Mrs. King received her master's in education administration at Pensacola Christian College, where the two met. They were married in June 2006.

Members of the church are busy renovating the pastor's house for the Kings. The two-story house will be made wheelchair accessible; the staircase will be redone for easier access to the second floor.

Once the renovations are complete, probably within a month, the Kings will move in.

His new responsibilities at the First Baptist Church include Sunday school starting at 9:30 a.m., morning worship at 10:30 a.m. and prayer meetings at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. The Rev. Mr. King said his doors are open for visitors during the rest of the week.

The Rev. Mr. King already has plans for the future, like starting a visitation ministry at nursing homes as well as a ministry for children.

However, the Kings' immediate goal is to reach out to the community and spread God's word.

"We're open and we would love to be there for people," Mrs. King said.