JOHN DAY – As an amateur astronomer, Gene Dunn has a natural interest in searching out the beauties of the heavens. He’s now the new pastor of the Bible Way Church, exploring and sharing the mysteries of the heavens in a different way.

The retired elementary educator has previously preached at Foursquare Church.

“I have the gift of gab,” he said.

For six months, he was the assistant for Rev. James Retherford at Bible Way, and in July, Dunn became an ordained minister.

Retherford will now give more attention to Bible Way Association churches in the Oregon district, including those in Baker, Embler, Prineville, Hillsboro and Lakeside, which he has overseen for eight years.

“I feel real comfortable with him,” Retherford said of Dunn. “I just hope that the community really supports him because this is his first pastor. He’s working real hard at it. He cares about people. If anybody needs him he’s available.”

Several parishioners said they are looking forward to having Dunn as their pastor.

“I think he’s going to do wonderful,” said Barb Keener of John Day. “He’s a very, very nice person. He just has such a heart for the people.”

Mona Choate of John Day said that she and her husband both like Dunn. “I know Gene, and I’ve heard him,” she said. “I think he speaks well. You can understand him.”

“He’s a super man – a good man,” said Ray Moles, also of John Day. “He’s not a ‘jab it down your throat’ kind of guy. He’s always there to help when you’re in trouble.”

Located at 700 S. Canyon Blvd., the church has come a long way over the years. The building once housed a string of grocery stores, including Glover’s, Reed’s and later Huffman’s. When the building opened as a church on Oct. 18,1998, there were still shelves and cases from the grocery store with a meat locker in the back, Dunn said.

“The walls of the sanctuary were finished in March,” Dunn said. “It’s amazing what’s been accomplished.”

He noted that Pastor Jack, as Retherford is also known, is a great carpenter. Dunn and his wife, Sally, have also rolled up their sleeves, assisting in the renovation of the building.

“She does everything,” Dunn said. She’s the pianist for the church, travels with him and is present in the church while he holds counseling sessions.

“She’s like my right arm,” he said.

The couple will celebrate their 48th anniversary Aug. 20. They have three grown children, Susan of Portland, Jim of Michigan and Steve of Prineville – all with families of their own – and six grandchildren.

They’ve lived in John Day since 1971, when Gene Dunn accepted a teaching position at Humbolt Elementary School where he taught mainly fourth and fifth grade for 28 years.

“I like the people here,” Dunn said. “They’re down to earth and they like to visit with you. Nobody puts on any airs.”

He said he’s all for the county ministerial association, which meets once a month. He said that people get busy and churches tend to keep to themselves, however, at the ministerial meetings the clergy of all denominations share ideas.

“I like to see that,” he said.

He shared his thoughts on the hope Christ can give.

“Jesus has sent a comforter and the holy spirit, and if everyone relied on that comforter in all the decisions that we made in life, our jails would no longer be full. There wouldn’t have to be drug rehabilitation facilities.

“Life will never be like that because we have Satan in the world.

“When you see a person, you have to look beyond that – beyond what the devil is doing in their lives – because God loves everyone,” Dunn said.

Dunn still invites groups to his home to view the stars and see his planetary slide show. It’s held his interest since he was 8 years old when he would, on occasion, stay outdoors in minus-30-degree weather.

“If you look at the ordered nature of the universe – the motion of the stars – you know that there’s a God,” he said.

Sunday meetings are held at 10:45 a.m. with Sunday school, taught by Dunn, at 9:45 a.m. Ladies group luncheons are held once a week and a Bible study group meets at the Dunn’s home each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Dunns at 575-0522.

Community Sing-Alongs will begin in the fall. This includes entertainment from musicians playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and piano.

“We’re a country church with country singing,” Dunn said. “We welcome all denominations.”

Online: (www.biblewayassociation.com)