JOHN DAY – The Rev. Rod Bieber, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has put a lot of miles on his car, caring for congregations in John Day, Dayville, Long Creek and Burns over the past seven years.

But he says now it’s time to see a new set of trees.

He and his wife Judy are scheduled to move to Chadron, Neb. in early July. This is an area where Bieber pastored from 1983-88 and where Judy graduated from college.

“We’ve really enjoyed living here and enjoyed Grant County,” Bieber said. “We won’t leave without some mixed emotions.”

He said it’s common and healthy for pastors to move every 10 years or so, as it allows church members to have someone new to relate to.

One other plus in heading to new territory is that his 100-year-old father will only be five hours away and Judy’s mother will be closer.

Growing up in South Dakota, it was Bieber’s mother who inspired him to eventually become a pastor, however, he emphasized, “If you’re Christian, you’re called. I could be just as effective as a layperson.”

“Part of becoming Christian is passing Christ on,” he said.

Members of the local church commented on the couple who’ve made a difference in their lives.

“They both seem very dedicated and very energetic,” said Arlene Davidson of Canyon City who has helped Judy with vacation Bible school in Dayville. “While we’re sorry to see them leave, we realize that they’re getting closer to retirement and want to be closer to family. It was his beginning church so it’s kind of like going home.”

“We’ve enjoyed his ministry here,” said Marlyn Hoffman, “and his efforts to help the church grow both physically and spiritually. I’ve appreciated their work here – the work done being spread over four churches. It’s a tough assignment. I think he’s done remarkably well.”

Before the couple head for Nebraska – she leaves on July 3 and he will load the truck on the 6th – they’ll spend a couple weeks in Kuai, Hawaii, using their tax refund, Judy said.

The vacation will begin soon after she is finished with her duties at Mt. Vernon Middle School, where she works as a special education teacher.

What will she miss most about the community?

“It is a beautiful area,” she said, “but the thing we will miss the most are all the people we’ve come to know. For me it’s my students and the teachers we work with. I’ve enjoyed working with them.”

Rod Bieber said he’s enjoyed getting to know the people of the community. One of his favorite duties as pastor is, of course, speaking.

He shared some of his thoughts.

“The mission of Jesus was that he cares about us: we’re valuable. People seem to think we have to do something – it’s not what we do for him, it’s what he did for us. Their salvation is already made available, it’s just a matter of if people will accept it.

“Will they believe it, abide it, get to know him on a personal level?

“Jesus made eternal life possible for us – that’s all done,” Bieber said. “When we accept that fact, will we be willing to let him change our life? God wants us to help people come back to wholeness again.”