The new pastor of the California United Methodist congregation is the Rev. Eugene Moeller, who most recently served as church pastor in northwest North Dakota.
In actuality, he and his wife, the Rev. Marilyn Moeller, served as co-pastors in the parish. She is now pastor of the New Horizon United Methodist Church, Columbia. They reside in California.
They have served pastorates in the Dakotas (North and South Dakota) United Methodist Conference for nine years.
"We both grew up in South Dakota and were happy serving in the Dakotas conference," Eugene said. "But to be the kind of grandparents we wished to be for our two grandsons, we decided we would have to be closer than 18 hours away from them. We are now only two hours away. That is much better."
The request was made of the Missouri United Methodist conference office to consider the Moellers to be pastors in Missouri, so that they could be closer to family, who live in a St. Louis suburb.
The Moellers were overjoyed when the conference did indeed have pastoral positions for them. It's going to be different for them, though, since up to this time, they had served together as co-pastors.
"Marilyn and I are grateful for the warm welcome we have received, since moving here on June 29," he said. "The moving van did not arrive until July 7, so folks were great in sharing chairs, pots and pans, and food."
"Since moving here, I admit that I am not a fan of the heat and humidity. But I seem to be acclimating myself to the change," Moeller said. "It was somewhat difficult leaving North Dakota, as it was warming up and the fields of canola were just turning golden yellow.
"We missed both celebrations in North Dakota that commemorate the beginning and ending of summer. It's called the Fourth of July!
"We will not miss the North Dakota winters. Last winter was particularly difficult, with blizzards and shoveling snow from December through March."
But there are many blessings, in addition to being so much closer to grandchildren.
"I have been excited ever since the introduction to the California UMC council and remain excited to serve such a vibrant church family," he said. "The church building is a beautiful facility to worship and gather in already. And after the current renovations that are going on are complete, it will be even more appealing and welcoming."
Speaking of his background and call to the ministry, Moeller said, "I grew up on a farm in South Dakota where we grew wheat, corn, alfalfa and barley as the main crops. The main livestock enterprise was hogs, but also had cattle.
"I graduated from South Dakota State University with an ag education degree. I have been a loyal Jackrabbits fan ever since. After graduation, I taught vo-ag two years at (the) high school level.
"The next 27 years, I held various ag-related positions," he said. "I co-managed a 440 sow-to-feeder pig operation with my wife; was Dairy Herd Improvement Association supervisor; worked for a Pioneer seed salesman; farmed on a small-scale farm raising hogs, cattle, sheep; and butchered 1,500 chickens that we raised each summer.
"The ten years before becoming a pastor, I was owner/operator of a high-pressure washing business. I mainly cleaned out hog confinement buildings."
"My call to full-time ministry, in looking back, was one that took place over the course of my lifetime," Moeller said. "One significant moment came in 2006, when I read the Sunday school Bible lesson to the children in September.
"One verse spoke to my heart. It was the ending of James 2:26 when it said 'faith without action is dead.' I did not know what God was calling me to, but I knew it was something more than what I had previously been doing.
"My wife, Marilyn, was also being called to something more and so, since July 1, 2008, we have been pastors in the United Methodist Church.
"The cultures are somewhat different here than the Dakotas, but God does not change and with that the message remains the same, no matter where any of us call home.
"Marilyn and I are home in California."