Pastor Alf - Associate Pastor - was born and grew up in South Africa. At age six, and while World War II was being fought in Europe and North Africa, his parents became Seventh-day Adventist Christians.    Alf was educated in the Adventist educational system from an early age. He is a graduate of Helderberg College near Cape Town, South Africa, and also earned a masters and Doctor of Ministry degree from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.  He entered the ministry in 1957. Since then he has served as a pastor, evangelist, departmental director, Conference  and Union President, and as a Union and Division Secretary. In 1985 he was elected as Church Ministries Director for the South Pacific Division serving in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific islands.   Since 1989, when he was invited to the Oregon Conference, he served as Oregon Conference Sabbath School Director, North Pacific Union Conference Church Ministries Director and later as NPUC Executive Secretary. In 1994 he was elected President of the Oregon Conference. He retired in September 2001 following which he became a part time associate pastor of the Meadow Glade Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he still serves at present.     

    The Birches became citizens of the United States in 2001, and now regard themselves as South African/Australian/Americans! Alf and his wife Estelle have three children - Ray and his wife Debbie, granddaughter Megan, and Pam and her husband Barry. Their youngest daughter, Diane, lives in New York.

As a Christian and Pastor I know what Jesus has done and is doing for me.  He is my source of life, strength, and hope, my best friend.  Because of this, my greatest desire is to provide the best opportunity for people to meet Jesus so that surrendering to Him is easier, and following Him is a joy.