Andrew Abbott Ordained in Coeur d’Alene

Andrew Abbott, lead pastor of St. Maries and Osburn Adventist Churches and the Living Hope Adventist Company, was ordained January 30 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Minner Labrador Jr., Upper Columbia Conference president, presented the ordination certificate to Abbott. 

“It’s a great honor and a blessing to be a pastor in the Upper Columbia Conference,” says Abbott. “As I look back over the years of training and ministry, I’m moved to say, ‘Praise God!’ He has walked me through a lot of uncertainty, misgivings, hardships, and wild adventures!”

Pastor Abbott was born in Redlands, California. His father’s job as a physician took the family (Andrew, his Mom and soon-to-be three siblings) from Loma Linda to North Carolina. Later, they moved to Walla Walla, Washington, where Andrew spent the longest period of his life, and where he made many precious memories enjoying the outdoors with family — mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and skiing. 

Abbott first realized his call to ministry at eighteen while he was finishing his last year of high school as a homeschooler. He began studying for pastoral ministry at Walla Walla University and graduated in June 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology. 

Abbott was given an internship at Spokane Valley Adventist Church where he met Samantha Clark, a sweet bible worker who was to become his future wife. Abbott earned his Master of Divinity degree at Andrews University over the next three years and returned to the Northwest to begin pastoring in northern Idaho. Samantha joined in ministry when they married on July 21, 2019. Last summer Andrew and Samantha celebrated their first anniversary and declare that serving in pastoral ministry together is a “rewarding adventure with God.”

“This step of ordination is especially meaningful to me because it’s the beginning of another exciting adventure with God,” says Abbott. “It’s a blessing to take a look back at God’s miracles and support over the years. The churches I’m pastoring and have pastored over the years have had a big part in training me, so I would like to say a big thank you to them too. I’m so thankful for the mentors, associates, teachers, friends, and counselors that have helped me to this point and I’m looking forward to what God has in store!”