Dan Cole was ordained on Nov. 30, 2002, at the Pendleton, Ore., Church where he is an associate pastor. During the ceremony Dan’s father, Paul Cole, pastor of the Albany, Ore., Church, gave the “Challenge to Ministry” sermon. He encouraged Dan in his commitment, as a fourth-generation Adventist pastor, to share the gospel and care for God’s people.
“It was very meaningful to have my father preach the ordination charge,” Dan said. “He has inspired me with the way he loves people and is faithful to God and the church.”
“Ordination is more than just a landmark in a pastor’s life,” says Max Torkelsen, Upper Columbia Conference president. “It’s the church’s recognition of a pastor’s spiritual calling. To see so many of Dan’s family there and see all the work the church put into the service and the reception is a real testimony to their support of Dan and his burden for ministry.”
“We were blessed to have so many family members attend, even from significant distances,” said Dan’s wife Julene, “as well as church families from past church districts. The local church put on a beautifully-decorated reception and we felt very loved and blessed.”
Dan and Julene’s pastoral experience began when Upper Columbia Conference sponsored their seminary education at Andrews University immediately after college. While there, Dan served as the assistant pastor in Hartford, Michigan. After graduation they returned to the Upper Columbia Conference and became associate pastor of the East Wenatchee/Chelan district and later pastor of the Troy/Deary district. They are currently serving the Pendleton/Mission/Pilot Rock/Blue Mountain district as associate pastoral family.
Dan and Julene Cole along with Michael and Krystin were given a special service in the Pendleton Church to ordain Dan as a minister of the gospel Church.
