FAITH
A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2019
Hermiston pastor Mark Adams celebrates 30 years at same church
By KATHY ANEY
STAFF WRITER
Pastor Mark Adams’ 30
years at Hermiston’s Beth-
lehem Lutheran Church isn’t
typical.
According to a 2016 poll,
the average pastor’s tenure
at any one church runs about
six years, give or take.
Becoming a minister
wasn’t Adams’ original aim.
He loved science in high
school and elected to major
in chemistry at University
of California Santa Barbara.
It wasn’t a good fi t, though,
and he found himself drawn
in another direction the fall
of his freshman year.
“In my dorm, we had
all these conversations
about religion and spiritual
things,” Adams said. “Peo-
ple were coming to me for
advice.”
Theological
questions
absorbed the young man.
At Christmas, he enrolled
in Christ College (now Con-
cordia University Irvine) for
pre-seminary classes. After
earning a bachelor’s degree
there, he started at the Con-
cordia Theological Semi-
nary in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
and spent four years soaking
in Hebrew, Greek, church
history and reforms, coun-
seling methods, worship and
scripture. He interned at a
church in California in his
third year.
Adams arrived at the
Hermiston church in 1989
with his wife, Tess, and chil-
dren, ready to shepherd his
fi rst congregation. Five min-
utes with him reveals why
his fl ock of 127 adores their
pastor so much. He is a big,
bearded bear of a man, easy-
going and genuine. He reg-
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Pastor Mark Adams talks to his congregation during a recent worship service at Hermiston’s
Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Adams started as pastor 30 years ago when he was fresh out of
seminary.
ularly inserts humor into his
Sunday messages. His wife,
Tess, who has known Adams
since eighth grade, sums up
his personality this way:
“He’s the same person in
the pulpit as he is at home,”
Tess said. “Our dinner con-
versation with four children
was pretty similar to what he
says on Sunday.”
Those four children are
now grown. Son Caleb is
a minister. Twins Sarah
and Rebekah teach school.
Youngest daughter Mary
is program director for
Domestic Violence Services
in Pendleton.
Tom Nichols, church
board president and friend
of Adams, described Adams
as the perfect pastor.
“He has common sense.
He has empathy. He’s so
grounded with scripture,”
Nichols said. “Seventy per-
cent of what he does is
behind the scenes.”
Adams doesn’t shy away
from theological conun-
drums such as biblical par-
adoxes or whether it’s nor-
mal to experience doubt. He
explores such queries with
all comers, whether in his
offi ce or while fi shing with
one of his daughters at Hat
Rock.
On a recent Sunday,
about 40 parishioners sat in
the pews waiting for service
to begin. Messages scrolled
on a fl at-screen monitor
near the ceiling. One said,
“In case Pastor’s preaching
is too red hot, there is a fi re
extinguisher in the front by
the pulpit.”
Many of the congrega-
tion’s children sat up front.
Their occasional noises
didn’t faze Adams.
“If a toddler is scream-
ing, he doesn’t care,” said
congregation
member
Andrea Rivera. “He just
keeps preaching.”
Adams said the con-
gregation is like a large
extended family. The chil-
dren learn how to worship
by watching and interacting
with adults.
“They don’t look like
they’re listening, but they
are,” Adams said.
The pastor connects with
children easily, say those
who know him — helpful
since the church runs a pre-
school in the same building.
The program recently cele-
brated its 40th year in oper-
ation, which tops Adams’
own anniversary by a
decade. All four of his chil-
dren attended the school.
Tess Adams started as an
assistant there 26 years
ago. After obtaining her
early childhood degree, she
became a teacher and now
directs the school. The num-
ber of students has grown to
102. The people who started
the preschool — Jan Schultz
and Warren and Judy Hall
— are still members of the
congregation.
If Adams feels stressed
or bored, he wanders into
the preschool and makes
Play-Doh creations with the
3- to 5-year-olds there. He
also conducts chapel ses-
sions for the kids.
On a recent afternoon,
teacher Amy Gillson led a
group of 4-year-olds who sat
in a circle around her. They
practiced saying hello in
various languages, listened
to a book, practiced writing
the letter “T,” listened to a
Bible verse and took turns
placing blocks one on top
of the other to make a tower.
They laughed uproariously
when it fell. During a snack
break of graham crackers
and peanut butter, they sang
a blessing, chatted about the
upcoming “Frozen 2” movie
and discussed the rectangu-
lar shape of the cookies they
nibbled.
Tess Adams called the
preschool the church’s mis-
sion fi eld. The children,
she said, explore the social,
spiritual and academic parts
of themselves. The students
meet for two hours, 15 min-
utes in either the morning
or afternoon for three days
a week.
Mark Adams, who is 57,
said he occasionally has felt
stale during his long tenure.
When that happens, he said,
he dives back into scripture.
“If we really believe
God’s word is a living word,
we will fi nd something new
and exciting in it every time
we look,” he said. “The con-
gregation has allowed me to
be creative and that keeps
the brain engaged.”
Adams knows that church
membership is down sharply
around the nation. A Gallup
poll found that member-
ship averages about half of
us, down from at least 70%
between 1937 and 1976 and
68% through the 1990s.
Adams said the decline
has forced the Church as a
whole to look in the mirror.
“The millennial gener-
ation — they want authen-
ticity and transparency,” he
said.
The pastor senses the
Church turning a corner.
“I think the Church is
rallying and maybe we’ve
reached a leveling off,”
Adams said. “Some of the
dross has been burned off a
bit.”
As for Adams, he plans
to continue leading his
fl ock as best he can as a
man who acknowledges his
imperfections.
“I don’t have any
thoughts that I’m anywhere
close to perfect, but I know
I’m deeply loved and for-
given,” he said. “We have
to be gracious and merciful
with each other.”
Nichols said Adams leads
the way.
“He’s dedicated to his
calling,” Nichols said.
“That’s how he rolls.”
EASTERN OREGON
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EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN
104 Special Notices
360 Garage Sales
Parking Lot Sale
Saturday October 19th
Sale will be at the 305 SE
4th Street, begins at 9:00am.
Clothing, household items and
furniture.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR
AD ON THE FIRST DAY
OF PUBLICATION.
While we are happy to make
any necessary corrections,
we can not be responsible
for errors appearing for mul-
tiple days. Thank you!
Parking lot sale
Saturday October 19th.
Sale will be at the Agape
House at 500 Harper Road
and begins at 8:30 a.m.
Sale ends at 11:30.
Clothing, furniture, and bins
of knick-knacks. Clothing will
be 5 items for $1.00.
Furniture priced as marked
and bins of knick-knacks will
be you name the price.
Huge Moving-Estate Sale
1st of 2 sales
714 NE 2nd Street in
Pendleton OR.
You can
find your
dream home
Check out our
Real Estate Listings
in the Classifieds
CLASSIFIED LINE AD
DEADLINES
East Oregonian
2:30PM the day prior to
publication
Hermiston Herald
10am Tuesday
1-800-962-2819
classifieds@eastoregonian.com
184 Personals
Use an attention getter,
color, or border to make your
ad stand out!
Contact Rowan or Chloe at
classifieds@eastoregonian.com
1-800-962-2819
to place your classified ad!
Oct 18th, 19th, and 20th, 9
AM to 2 PM
Sunday half price on most
items
Bid Box Friday and
Saturday
Visa and Mastercard
accepted
Take North Main St. To
Furnish, Turn Right onto NE
Furnish to 2nd St. then take
left. Follow signs, lots of
parking!
Church pew, shell back chairs,
antique desk, chair w otto-
man, drawer cabinet, file cab-
inets. Sterling + silverplate,
houseware, Lovita Elk, Bauer
+ many other pottery pieces,
retro dishes, Pendleton Blan-
kets. Men + women’s; jeans,
winter wear, boots, purses,
scarves + misc. Sled, lots of
Xmas, great baskets, WW2
Items, grenade boxes, train
pieces, knives, ladders, hand
+ power tools, yard tools + de-
cor, potting bench, primitives,
pressure washers, chain saw,
compressor, weed eaters,
hardware, rugs, fishing, work-
mate, records + CDs, skis +
clothing and much more!
See Pictures online @
Vintage Court Antiques
Estate Sales
541-377-0510
YOUR DREAM HOME
is right here in the Classifieds!
Check our real estate listings.
360 Garage Sales
504 Homes for Sale
504 Homes for Sale
504 Homes for Sale
Huge Moving
Estate Sale
1st time home buyers and don’t
know where to begin? I can help
you every step of the way to
owning your own doorstep.
Call Carolyn Rovier
so we can get started!
Ranch-N-Home Realty
541-786-0822
$119,000 – 2 Bedroom 1 Bath
Log Cabin near tollgate. Ap-
proximately 2 acres. 100 yards
from Snowmobile trail entrance.
Cash only, will not finance.
MLS# 19024843
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
$275,000 – 2018 Fleetwood
MFG Home on 2.51 Acres. 4
Bed 2 Bath. Open floor plan.
Beautiful Kitchen. Lots of room
for the family, Pets, and Live-
stock. MLS# 19510220
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
$199,900
Full of Amenities. Updated
home w/large family room and
great flow to private backyard,
great for entertaining. detached
garage with heated shop. Jef
541-969-9539 cell. #19032421
RMLS#18381851
Pendleton Property 3 br 2 bath
manufactured home on a big
lot with small 2 b/r 1bath rental
house on same lot. Priced to sell
at $145,000. Call Cathy for more
info. (541) 215-0103.
Garton & Associates
541-276-0931
$475,000 – Beautiful 4 Bed 3
Bath Custom View Home. Ex-
ceptional throughout. Updated
Kitchen. Hardwood Floors. 2
Family Rooms.
Large Bed-
rooms. 40x54 Shop. MLS#
19582968
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
October 18th, 19th and 20th
1st of 2 sales
See details, pictures +
descriptions next week in
the EO, The Nickle, Flyers,
and at the Vintage Court An-
tiques Estate Sales online.
See you next week!
502 Real Estate
Fall is here! It is a great time to
find that perfect home for the
holidays. Call me today so we
can get started.
Carolyn at Ranch-N-Home
Realty. 541-786-0822
TURN HERE REALTY-- One
Realtor accessing all prop-
erties--Prompt, Courteous,
Reliable service to find your
New Home
Call Kerry 541 377 6855 or
drop by the Office at 305 SW
Court Ave Pendleton
How Much is your Home Worth?
Call Matt Vogler, The Week-
end and After Hours Realtor,
for a free Market Analysis.
541.377.9470. More Listings
needed to meet current buyer
demand!
John J. Howard & Assoc.
(541) 377-9470
504 Homes for Sale
Prices are up! Now may be the
time to gain some equity and
move up to a larger home. Call
Matt Vogler for a free Market
Analysis.
John J. Howard & Assoc.
(541) 377-9470
Current MLS listings include
several 3 and 4 bedroom, 2 bath
homes for sale in popular loca-
tions. Call Matt Vogler, “The
Weekend and After Hours Re-
altor” for addresses and pricing.
John J. Howard & Assoc.
541.377.9470
LOOKING for a second car?
The classified section is a
complete car-buyer’s guide.
New Listing 712 SE Court . Car
wash or Espresso shop on a very
high traffic intersection. $ 94950
Priced to Sell RMLS#19111739
Call Kal for more info (541) 969-
7358
Garton & Associates
541-276-0931
How Much is your Home Worth?
Call Matt Vogler, The Week-
end and After Hours Realtor,
for a free Market Analysis.
541.377.9470. More Listings
needed to meet current buyer
demand!
John J. Howard & Assoc.
(541) 377-9470
$239,999- RMLS #18081947
New Listing 4 b/r 1 3/4 bath
North Hill. Freshly painted,
beautiful hardwood floors just
refinished. Great family home.
Call Shane for more info (541)
379-7802.
Garton & Associates
541-276-0931
REDUCED to $175 000 Storage
Galore! Move in Ready with
fresh beginnings-1780 Sq ft
2 level home- 3 bed 2 bath,
detached garage & sheds
#19641273
Call your Realtor to tour
TURN HERE REALTY &
TRAVEL
305 SW Court Ave Pendleton
$295,000 - 4 Bedroom 3
Bath Tri Level. Very nice
throughout. Large fenced yard.
Updated kitchen. Large deck
and nice city view. Close to
shopping. MLS# 19655891
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
(541-379-8690)
$387,500 – 4 Bedroom 3 Bath
3754 sq. ft. Mid-Century Mod-
ern, Panoramic View. Private
setting. Wonderful home for
privacy or entertaining. MLS#
19205109
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
Coldwell Banker Whitney &
Associates
541-276-0021
$45,000
GREAT VIEWS/1.49 ACRES
ON 2 CITY TAX LOTS. Zoned
for stick built or manufactured
home. City sewer/water to
property. Call Cari 541-377-
5058cell #13575330
Coldwell Banker Whitney &
Associates
541-276-0021
TRIPLEX-REDUCED-Invest
or Live on main level and rent
to finance! Owner will carry
finance with acceptable terms.
5 bedroom 3 Bath with bonus
rooms and Laundry in each
unit.#19408035 Call your
Realtor for your Opportunity
$259 000
TURN HERE REALTY &
TRAVEL
305 SW Court Ave Pendleton
Sold...
$135000 – 3 Bedroom 1 Bath
Ranch Style in Pilot Rock.
Hardwood Floors. Vinyl Siding.
Large Fenced Back Yard. Cen-
tral Air Conditioning. Very nice
home. MLS# 19534828
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
Sold...
$184,500 – 6 Bed 2.5 Bath on
North Hill. 3000+ sq. ft. Hard-
wood floors upstairs. 2 car
garage. Quiet neighborhood.
Needs cosmetics. Priced to sell.
MLS# 19351147
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
$265,000 – 3 Bedroom 2 ½
Bath View Home. Large lot.
Open floor plan. Loft office.
Large Deck overlooks a beauti-
ful Southwest View. 2 car Ga-
rage. RV parking.
MLS# 19351147
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
Pending Sale...
$109,500 – Pilot Rock 3 Bed-
room 1 Bath MFG Home. Very
nice condition inside and out-
side. Carport. Fenced yard.
Large Shed. Gas Fireplace.
Newer flooring. MLS# 19609256
Rocky Mikesell
Blue Jeans Realty
“Our office is wherever you
are”
541-379-8690
$299,900
View! 4bed, 2.5bath, w/office
and family room. Recent up-
grades: kitchen, carpet, paint,
trim and most new windows.
Near park, medical facilities,
RAC. Vicki 541-969-9441 cell.
#19082889
Coldwell Banker Whitney &
Associates
541-276-0021