Beaverton Adventist Church

Pastor Rodney Payne II was born in Portsmouth, Ohio and comes to Beaverton with 16 years of ministerial experience. Pastor Rodney graduated from Southern Adventist University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology with minors in History, Practics and Biblical Languages. He then graduated from Andrews University with a Masters of Divinity in Theology. After ministering in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference for 6 years, Rodney was invited to start a young adult ministry here at Beaverton before becoming Lead Pastor. His concern for the spiritual growth and needs of children, youth and young adults continues to this day.

During his ministry here at the Beaverton Church, Pastor Rodney met and fell in love with his now wife Brenda. They have two young children, a son ‘Roddy’ and daughter Amelia. Family hobbies include water adventures in their small sailboat, as well as most outdoor activities.

Growing up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Pastor Sara Marie Withers is a native to the Northwest. In 2005 she attended Southern Adventist University, in Collegedale, Tennessee, majoring in Classical Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, and Theology. During her time at Southern University she traveled extensively, including trips to Europe and the Middle East on archaeological study tours and excavations, a summer in Argentina to conduct an evangelistic series and a year as a student missionary serving as a youth pastor in Australia. In May of 2010, Sara graduated from Southern Adventist University with her degrees in Theology and Archaeology.

For two years Sara pastored as an intern at the Valley View Seventh-day Adventist church in Medford, Oregon. In May of 2011 she married Josh Withers who also grew up in Oregon. Then in August of 2012 Josh and Sara moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan to complete her Masters of Divinity degree at Andrews University. In October of 2014 Josh and Sara moved back to the Northwest to minister to the Beaverton Seventh-day Adventist Church where Pastor Sara now serves as an Associate Pastor.

Josh Withers grew up in Gresham, Oregon and attended Southern Adventist University. In 2011 he married Sara Bowers and the following year moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan. While there, Josh completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion. In 2014 he and his wife moved back to Oregon where he is now the Youth and Young Adult pastor at Beaverton Church and the Bible teacher for 9th grade at Tualatin Valley Academy.

Carissa Ness was born in Bellevue, WA but spent most of her life in Portland, OR. She attended Walla Walla College (now University) and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in French. After marrying Reuben in 2008, she went back to school and received her Master's of Education in Special Ed from University of Phoenix in 2012. She taught for the Vancouver School district as a Substitute and a Reading Intervention Specialist for 9 years. She recently resigned from teaching to be able to stay at home more with her children.

Carissa and Reuben are raising their two boys, Sander and Haldan, in Mulino, OR. She has been attending the Beaverton Church since 1988 and feels a strong connection with the church and her church family. She is excited to be able to serve the church in the position of Office Assistant.