Former North American Division Vice President Passes to His Rest

Gordon Pifher, former vice president for media ministries for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD), passed to his rest early Friday morning, October 9, after a brief illness. He was 79.

Pifher spent more than 50 years in ministry in the Adventist Church, serving as a pastor, youth director, and administrator before retiring in October 2021 after seven years at the NAD.

“Gordon was a tremendous colleague in ministry. He was a trailblazer for the NAD in that he was the first vice president for media after closing the Adventist Media Center in Thousand Oaks, California,” said G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president. “He was not only a colleague but a friend and a true Christian leader. We will miss him and look forward to seeing him again in the heavens and earth made new.”

“Gordon was an amazing person and an extraordinary leader who was passionate about his Savior, Jesus, and able to make his faith in God attractive to others,” said David Jamieson, president of Upper Columbia Conference.

Pifher was born and raised in Paris, Ontario, Canada, and began his denominational service in 1969 as a conference-sponsored seminary student in the Maritime Conference, where he later served as a pastor and assisted with evangelism. In December 1975 he moved to Ontario Conference, where his assignments included serving as associate pastor at Oshawa College Park church in Ontario, chaplain for Kingsway College, and lead pastor at Bowmanville church. Pifher then worked at the Ontario Conference as Youth director, helping develop Pathfinder and Adventurer youth and camp ministries until 1985.

From 1979 to 1985 Pifher also directed Camp Frenda, where campers knew him as “GP.” His campfire stories, sometimes unfolding over several evenings, were a memorable part of camp life. He encouraged campers and staff to dedicate their lives to serving God and others. Pifher’s connection with the camp continued into retirement. In 2025 he returned for its staff alumni weekend, sharing a Sabbath message and offering a prayer of dedication for Pifher Point, a planned lookout tower and climbing wall named in his honor.

He left the Ontario Conference in October 1985, moving to the Upper Columbia Conference (UCC), headquartered in Spokane, Washington, where he served as director of youth and Camp MiVoden for the conference before moving, in 1994, to what was then Walla Walla College church as associate pastor for youth. From 1996 to 2005 Pifher served as the vice president for administration for the UCC. In 2005 he was elected president of the British Columbia Conference. Under his leadership British Columbia became one of the fastest-growing conferences in North America.

In 2011 Pifher accepted an invitation from the North Pacific Union Conference to serve as director of Stewardship, Leadership, and Innovation. He began that assignment in January 2012. In October 2014 he was elected vice president for Media Ministries at the North American Division. There Pifher was responsible for developing and implementing a media ministry strategy for all such ministries across a territory that included the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Guam, and Micronesia. As part of his work as NAD vice president, he served as president of Breath of Life, Faith for Today, It Is Written, Voice of Prophecy, La Voz de la Esperanza, Jesus 101, and LifeTalk Radio.

Pifher joined the division during a significant transition for its media ministries as they relocated from the Adventist Media Center in Simi Valley, California, to different locations across the division. At his retirement celebration in May 2021, colleagues recalled his optimism, willingness to listen, and ability to encourage creative thinking through the changes.

“Your passion for Jesus is infectious. It makes walking with Jesus attractive,” said Richard Parker, then human resources director for the media center, during the retirement tribute.

After his retirement in 2021 Pifher and his wife, Marie, returned to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to their daughter Ginger. Pifher served on several boards in Upper Columbia Conference, including Renew Spokane and Shine 104.9 FM. He was an active member at Spokane South Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church before his passing.

Pifher is survived by his wife, Marie, and daughter Ginger. A celebration of life service has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on November 15 at Spokane Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Spokane Valley, Washington. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel.

—Article by Dustin R. Jones for the Upper Columbia Conference, with additional reporting from Ontario Conferenceand the North American Division news site.