Name: Jamie Clark

Age: 33

Occupation: Planner—Landscape Architect

Home Church: Meadow Glade Church, Battle Ground, Washington.

What do you look for in a church?

“Friendly vibrant people.”

How did you know you had found your home church?

“I went to school at Columbia Adventist Academy. After spending several years in college and working out of the area, I moved back to the Vancouver, Washington, area. The Meadow Glade Church had an active young-adult group and most were my classmates from academy and college. I felt right at home and have been here ever since. Even though our group doesn't meet every week like it used to, now that most of us are raising families, we are all still very close.”

How are you involved in your local church?

“I coordinate hikes for my church, other churches, and anyone else in the community. I enjoy getting out in nature and hiking on Sabbath afternoons. The mountains, trees, water, and sunshine are a stronger pull in my blood than the dinner table and the couch. So I started an e-mail list and started organizing hikes. If anyone would like to join us, send me a message at: clark98604@yahoo.com and put “add to hiking e-mail list” in the subject line.

“I am also a member of a men's praise team at church. And I'm involved in health ministry and will occasionally give talks promoting the benefits of healthy diet, exercise, and the other eight laws of health.”

How did you get involved in your church?

“I volunteered for the hiking group and was asked to be a part of the praise group and to give the health talks.”

Why is it important for young adults to be active in the local church?

“We are now the adults of the church. We are of age, so to speak. Our church can't afford for us to weasel out of our duties as many of us have done in the past. Many of us are now parents. We are the deacons, we are the elders, and some of us are even the pastors. We will become the older adults and seniors sooner than we like to think. The mantle is not going to be passed, it has been passed. We are the rock upon which the church will continue to be built just as our parents and grandparents were before us. Without young adults, the church is in decline. With lots of young adults our church will continue to grow and thrive.

“We and our fellow church members are part of a family. It is the responsibility of each of us to contribute our talents to the family, no matter what age we are. We all have unique talents to share, something that we do well and have a passion for. I believe our real contribution blossoms when we give of our strengths and talents with a cheerful heart.”

For profiles of more young adults, go to: gleaneronline.org and click on the Oregon Conference section.