Nathaniel Gothberg
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Rev. Nathaniel Gothberg was one of the original settlers on Wiley Heights. When the new church was formed, he was given the position of leadership as the first pastor. Rev. Gothberg had been a missionary in China until failing health forced him to come home. He taught for several years in the public schools and purchased an orchard on Wiley Heights and willingly accepted his responsibility to help in the new church. For twelve years he served as pastor, part of the time without salary. From 1920 to 1929 he received the sum of $25 a month. Most of his services were conducted in the Swedish language. The first confirmation class he taught was in 1928. In 1929 he resigned as pastor but continued to teach the adult Bible class for many years and was a pillar in the church until his death in 1954. |
Rev. Milton Opsahl
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In 1929 Rev. Milton Opsahl, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, accepted a call to the vacant pastorate. It was at this time that English became the accepted language of the church although Swedish continued to be used in the adult Bible class. This was a needed change as the young people were growing up and had been advocating a change to English for some time. Rev. Opsahl pastored the church for two years and his ministry was blessed of the Lord. When he left for another field of labor, the Wiley Heights Church was without a resident pastor until 1937. |
| Interim period 1931-1937 |
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Rev. C. F. Pihlstrom
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However, the church was not without regular services during the interim period. For several years during this time the Rev. C. F. Pihlstrom, then pastor of the Selah Covenant Church, held services at Wiley Heights on Sunday afternoons. In spite of the rather unusual hour, the services were well attended and the Wiley Heights members considered themselves fortunate in being able to share in the ministry of this outstanding servant of God. He taught the confirmation class of 1934 and conducted tent meetings at Carlson Road and Occidental Avenue one summer. |
Mr. R. S. Kelly
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It was also during this time that Mr. R. S. Kelly (pictured on the far right), a Yakima business man and lay preacher often filled the pulpit. His booming Scotch brogue and prophetic messages will always remain the heritage of those who heard him. Sunday School picnics were his special delight and many of the present members remember "Mr. Sly" and his bag of flour. The ministry of home missionaries, Rev. Axel Anderson, "Sunshine Anderson," and Rev. M. Anderson (also pictured) was also greatly appreciated. |
Rev. Arvid Johnson
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Coming from Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Rev. Arvid Johnson, wife Ethel and three sons, was the first family to occupy the new parsonage. His ministry was an energetic one as he sought to widen the influence of the church in the community. He served as pastor from 1937 to 1940. |
Rev. J. Irving Erickson
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In 1941 the Rev. Irving Erickson came to the church. He was just out of seminary but was already well known to the church through his ministry with the North Park quartette. Rev. Erickson's work with the choir as well as his faithful preaching kept the church moving ahead. He remained for three years. |
Rev. Carl Janson
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The Rev. Carl Janson accepted a call to the church in 1945. Again he was a young man just out of seminary with a keen sense of humor and his fresh ministry was a blessing to young and old. He too stayed three years before going on to another pastorate in 1948.
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Raymond L. Johnson
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The Rev. Raymond L. Johnson came to Wiley Heights in 1949. He had served at Spokane and was well acquainted with the Northwest. His service to the church brought real blessing to the community. He is especially remembered for his faithful visitation ministry. Rev. Johnson remained until 1956. |
Alfred H. Johnson
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The Rev. Alfred Johnson became pastor of the church in 1957. His warm hearted ministry embraced the whole community and it was his vision and drive that got a new church building program under way. He was also an avid outdoorsman and that appealed to the male sector of the church. He served until 1961 and as interim pastor for six months in 1995. |
Vernon Anderson
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The Rev. Vernon Anderson arrived in the fall of 1961 at the Wiley Heights Covenant Church and served as Pastor until 1966. During his ministry the new church building was completed, with the first communion service on April 5, 1963, the laying of the cornerstone on April 21st, and the Dedication Sunday Service on May 26th. In 1966, the congregation celebrated its 50-year Jubilee. |
Rollin Swanson
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The Rev. Rollin Swanson family of six came from Rhode Island in the fall of 1966. He challenged the congregation that "if we are to be alive to the work of Jesus Christ, we must also be alive to people's needs". In 1971, he was instrumental in starting a Sunday School in Tampico, nine miles west of Wiley Heights. He served as Pastor to 1972. |
George Laug
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Rev. George Laug and wife, Mildred, were called as interim pastors from Idaho Falls, Idaho and came to Wiley Heights Covenant Church in 1972. They were retired missionaries and had served in Japan for several years. Their ministry included preaching, sunday school teaching, Bible studies, visitation plus a very gracious hospitality format. They served here until 1975. |
John M. Miller
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Pastor John Miller and wife Sandy began their ministry at Wiley Heights Covenant Church in 1975 and continued to 1985. He was a young man full of zeal and ready for the "year of new beginnings." During his service premarital counseling was implemented and well used for the eight weddings held in 1976. A YVCC student, Mike Messenger, was hired from 1976-1977 as a part time senior high youth director, and he helped develop summer programs in 1977. Pastor John acquired a Covenant volunteer, Dave Potts, as an assistant from 1978 to 1979. John and his wife purchased the parsonage in 1976 and later built additions. In 1985 they moved to Minnesota. |
Evert Hallstrom
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Rev. Evert Hallstrom and wife Vivian came as the associate pastor in 1981 to approximately 1982 and later returned as Interim Pastor. Their ministry consisted of outreach to shut-ins and community visitation, preaching at Sunday morning and evening services, and Vivian's singing in the choir. |
Eric Josephson
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In 1985 Pastor Eric Josephson and wife Esther responded favorably to our pastoral call and moved to Yakima. His years of service were dedicated to Sunday services, home, hospital and shut-in visitation, weekly Bible studies, organizing the Awana program for K-6th graders, and being a faithful and compassionate Pastor and friend. During his tenure, the church celebrated its 75th anniversary on June 15, 1991 and in the fall of 1993 hired a talented Youth and Music Director from Nelson, BC, Andrew Thompson. Pastor Joe retired from full-time ministry in 1994 but has continued to serve as visitation pastor to date. |
Peter Kozushko
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Pastor Peter Kozushko with wife Clare and little Sheldon arrived at Wiley Heights Covenant Church from Chicago, Illinois in 1995 and served to Fall 2000. His desire to serve the congregation and be a witness of God's love was evident as he and Clare reached out to others with care and compassion. Four new Bible studies were formed, a Covenant School of Prayer was conducted. He was instrumental in assisting to plant a new church in Yakima called New Hope, with Spanish services; and also to contemporize our worship services geared toward the younger generation. A Christmas Eve service was implemented in addition to the already existing early morning Christmas service. Peter and his family left Wiley Heights for a ministry in Shorewood, Oregon. |
| Interim period 2000-2002 |
During this interim while the search committee was working, the church was blessed by the ministry of gifted retired Pastors - Eric Josephson, Harold Swanberg, and Carl King plus messages from missionaries on furlough and other local speakers. The services of many lay persons in the congregation were greatly appreciated during this period. |
Stan Shipley
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In September 2001, Pastor Stan Shipley accepted the call from Wiley Heights as Interim Pastor. He was later voted in as Senior Pastor in January 2002 and installed April 21, 2002. He came from an Assembly of God background and two pastorates. He graduated with a Bachelor in Family Studies in 1994 and a Masters in Education Administration in 1998. Taking a break from the ministry, he was employed as supervisor at Boise Cascade Plywood Plant from the mid-1990s to 2000. He and his wife Connie have three children and five grandchildren. |
| Interim period 2007 - 2008 |
During this interim, while the search committee was is working, the church is blessed by the preaching ministry of lay pastor George Helton, Dave Elzie, retired pastors, messages from missionaries on furlough, and other local speakers. The services of many lay persons in the congregation are greatly appreciated during this period. |
Pastor Mark Swanson
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Mark Swanson was called to be pastor to Wiley Heights Covenant Church in September of 2008. Mark was born and raised in Minnesota. He attended the Covenant Bible College in Strathmore, Alberta, before attending North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. After some time working for a non-profit and doing community work in Chicago, he went to North Park Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Prior to Wiley Heights Mark served as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Family at Prairie Hills Covenant Church in Sioux Falls. Mark is excited with what God is doing at Wiley Heights and in the West Valley transforming lives and communities, as people practice the Great Commandment of loving God and loving their neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40). Mark is happily married to the wonderful and lovely Megan. When he’s not at church mark enjoys getting lost in the great outdoors, a good book, lively conversation, and it’s all the better if he has a cup of coffee in his hand. Megan and Mark are blessed with a young son, Oscar. |
