An Interview with
Pastor Owen J. Bandy

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Because my parents were divorced when I was a child I actually had two homes. The home that had the most influence on me, however, was my dad's, which was located in a little town in north east California called Cedarville. That's where I was born. My dad had a cattle ranch and I grew up appreciating the great outdoors and all the good hard work associated with it.

Q: Tell us a little about your family.
A: I am privileged to have claim on four children; Rebecca, Anni, Jack and Katy. My daughter Rebecca has given me a granddaughter named Natalee and a grandson named Branden. Anni has given me another granddaughter named Selea. My married son Jack works in a bank in Walla Walla, Washington and Katy is married and working in the field of social work here in northern California.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I guess the thing that I love the most is traveling. I have been to the Middle East, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and El Salvadore. I love learning about the world and the people in it, and seeing beautiful places. I love to hike, dine out and sit by the fire and read.

Q: How did you become a Christian?
A: While my family believed in God while I was growing up, we didn't really practice anything. Even as a child, though, I sensed in my heart that there was a good and a bad, and I can see now as I look back where God's voice had led me along. I guess it was when I was drafted into the army, in 1971, that I began a more intense search for God. While in the service I ended up joining the Roman Catholic Church. Once I got out, I decided to take a look at the Bible and see what it said. I found God's voice speaking to me there again and I surrendered my life to Christ. Because of my desire to follow the teachings of the Bible, I became a Seventh-day Adventist in 1976. I have been a pastor now since 1982.

Q: What is your dream for your church?
A: That's a big question. The church for me is a place where people seeking for a knowledge of God can come to find a supportive and encouraging group of people who are seeking the same thing. I dream of a church where people are rejoicing in a knowledge of the truth and are eager to share their faith with others who are seeking Him as well. I see a church that sings together, prays together, studies together and conquers together. In short, a church full of people who love the world as Jesus loves it.