Pastoral Transitions

ALBUQUERQUE – Since 1980, the Albuquerque Central Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an active congregation of enthusiastic members with a passion for ministry. For the past three years, Bill Kasper has served the Central church as pastor. Kasper has accepted an invitation to a church in Spokane, Wash. 

In late July, the Texico Conference and members of the Albuquerque Central Church were pleased to welcome John Abbott as Central’s new pastor. Abbott is coming to Albuquerque from Celebration, Fla. He is an ordained minister with vast experience, having also pastored in Lincoln, Neb.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Niles, Mich. and Boulder, Colo. Abbott believes God does not call us to merely be involved in ‘religion,’ but rather to participate with Him in a life-changing relationship. His ministry passion is to invite people to join the journey of learning how to experience this relationship with God.

Abbott is grateful for his wife, Maria, who is very supportive and involved in his ministry and the church. They have two children, Hannah and Noah. It is our prayer that God will bless them greatly as they share their ministry gifts, and their hearts, with all of us. 

The Texico Conference was also pleased to welcome back Jerry Pinzon and Mabio Gomes, who graduated from the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary with Master of Divinity degrees. Pinzon is pastoring the Española Bilingual, Canon Plaza Spanish, Dixon Spanish, Taos and Tres Piedras Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Churches in northern New Mexico. Gomes will assume pastoral ministry as assigned.