Four pastors were ordained to the gospel ministry in Upper Columbia Conference in February and March. Jason Worf, Bonners Ferry and Clark Fork churches pastor, was ordained on Feb. 22, 2020, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Justin Knapp, Lewiston and Lewiston Orchard churches pastor; Kevin McGill, Troy, Deary and Endicott churches pastor; and Marshall McVay, Moscow and Pullman churches pastor, were ordained on March 14, 2020, in Lewiston, Idaho. Minner Labrador Jr., Upper Columbia Conference president, presented the ordination certificate to each pastor.
Jason Worf first heard God’s call to ministry when he was 15 and his pastor invited him to go along on pastoral visits. As they visited members and gave Bible studies, Worf was impressed with the need for more church involvement in personal ministry and was sure God wanted him to do something about it. Two years ago, Upper Columbia Conference invited Worf to pastoral ministry, first as an intern at College Place Village Church in College Place, Washington. More recently Worf accepted the call to pastor the Bonners Ferry and Clark Fork churches.
Worf received his bachelor’s degree in religion from Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Andrews University in Michigan. Worf first met his wife, Joelle, while working at the personal evangelism school SOULS West in Arizona. They began dating after her graduation and were soon married. Joelle also received a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Andrews University. Jason and Joelle have two children: Adelyn, 7, and Maxwell, 5.
Justin Knapp grew up highly involved in the Seventh-day Adventist mission to proclaim the good news of the everlasting gospel of Christ. At the age of 9, Knapp felt the desire to follow Jesus. He studied the Bible with his father, who is a Seventh-day Adventist minister, and was baptized.
Knapp’s journey to ministry was not direct, but there was always that inescapable, inevitable sense of calling to share the gospel. He felt that call — even though he chose a different career after graduating from Walla Walla Valley Academy in 2000.
Knapp prayed during his wandering years that God would send him a partner who would encourage him to focus on the priorities that truly mattered, and God answered. Kimberly Vickroy, a fellow graduate of Walla Walla Valley Academy, was introduced to Knapp. He soon realized Kimberly loved him for who he was, and she encouraged him in his career. They were married Dec. 15, 2002.
Knapp continued to hear God’s call to ministry. In September 2008 he acted on that calling by returning to Walla Walla University to study theology. Following graduation, he received a call from Upper Columbia Conference with sponsorship to graduate school. Accepting the call the couple moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, to attend seminary. Justin and Kimberly have one child, Madison, 6.
Kevin McGill was born and raised in Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada. As an introverted and shy boy, he never dreamed he would be a pastor and preach at church one day. However, God had different plans.
McGill met Danelle at Walla Walla University. They got married on Dec. 16, 2008. Nine months later they were serving as missionaries with Adventist Frontier Missions in Palawan, Philippines. After serving as student missionaries, they returned to Spokane, where Kevin became a Bible worker at South Hill Church. After going to seminary, the couple was placed with the Village Church in College Place, Washington. The McGills are thankful to now be part of excellent and supportive church communities in Troy, Deary and Endicott. They have two children: Grady, 6, and Mira, 3.
At a young age, Marshall McVay became interested in pastoral ministry, perhaps from observing his father and grandfathers, all of whom served as ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. McVay enrolled in Walla Walla University in 2006 as a theology major and served as a student missionary in 2008 at Avondale College Church in Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia.
During that year in Australia, McVay fell in love with Natashia Walde, who was serving as a chaplain at Avondale Primary and Secondary School. Marshall and Natashia married in 2011, just one week after Marshall graduated from Walla Walla University with degrees in theology and business administration. Marshall served on the pastoral staff of the College Place Village Church for the following two years.
Next, the McVays attended Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary together, both earning Master of Divinity degrees in 2016. Marshall currently serves as pastor of the Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, Adventist churches. In 2016, the Moscow Church stepped out in faith and locally funded a pastoral position for Natashia. Her emphasis is outreach to youth and young adults, with special emphasis on reaching the students on the campuses of University of Idaho and Washington State University.
(From left) Allee Currier, UCC vice president of finance; Minner Labrador Jr., UCC president; Justin Knapp; Eric Brown, UCC ministerial director; Madison and Kimberly Knapp; Brian Harris, UCC vice president of education; and Rodney Mills, UCC vice president of administration, celebrate Justin Knapp's ordination.
(From left) Allee Currier, UCC vice president of finance; Minner Labrador Jr., UCC president; Grady and Kevin McGill; Eric Brown, UCC ministerial director; Mira McGill; Brian Harris, UCC vice president of education; Danelle McGill; and Rodney Mills, UCC vice president of administration, celebrate the ordination of Kevin McGill.
Gathered for Marshall McVay's ordination, (from left) Allee Currier, UCC vice president of finance; Minner Labrador Jr., UCC president; Natashia McVay; Eric Brown, UCC ministerial director; Marshall McVay; Brian Harris, UCC vice president of education; and Rodney Mills, UCC vice president of administration.
Honoring Jason Worf's ordination are (from left) Minner Labrador Jr., UCC president; Allee Currier, UCC vice president of finance; Joelle Worf and Jason Worf; Eric Brown, UCC ministerial director; and Rodney Mills, UCC vice president of administration.
