Church of the Nazarene pastor plans to retire

Pastor Richard Sales of Camas Church of the Nazarene will retire on Jan. 1 after more than 50 years of service in the ministry.

Pastor Sales and his wife Joanne began their ministry in 1959, serving with the First Church of the Nazarene in Livingston, Mont. After a call to Oceanside, Calif., he later served as pastor in Midway City. He and his family moved to attend Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Okla., where he also served as pastor in Stigler, Okla.

Following graduation, he was called to a church in San Bernadino, Calif. After serving with several churches in southern California and some time spent with a church in Las Vegas, the Sales’ moved to Washington, where they have pastored for the past 25 years.

Sales came to Camas Church of the Nazarene in 2004 as interim pastor while Pastor Dan Thompson served as army chaplain in Iraq. In 2006, he was called to co-pastor with Pastor P.D. James. He then assumed the role of senior pastor in 2008.

According to a press release, the church has grown under his leadership, tripling in membership. One program that has had a significant impact on the community is Celebrate Recovery, which helps those with “hurts, habits and hang-ups.”

After retirement, Pastor Sales and Joanne plan to remain in Camas, where he will continue to be active in Celebrate Recovery and other ministries as needed.

The public is invited to attend a celebration service for the couple on Sunday, at 10:45 a.m. A potluck honoring them will follow.

The church is located at 2204 N.E. Birch St. For more information, call 834-3433.