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New pastor begins duties at local church

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Albany News

By Sam Waller

Rev. Bob Heidecker has assumed the duties as pastor of Albany Methodist Church, taking over for Tim Trimble.

Heidecker, who has spent 43 years in the ministry, comes to Albany from Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Amarillo. His first sermon in Albany was Sunday, July 3.

“I’d been praying about some place to be minister of a church and also be closer to family,” Heidecker said. “Albany is about four hours closer to our children.”

Heidecker and his wife of 41 years, Hazel, have six children and 17 grandchildren with another on the way.

The new pastor is a Native of Wilmer, Minnesota. He served more than six years in the U.S. Air Force, attending seminary after his military service. He holds three associate degrees and a bachelor’s, is working on a master’s degree with plans to achieve a doctorate.

Heidecker has served churches in Minnesota, California, New Mexico, and Texas.

His arrival in Albany came just as the local congregation was preparing to vote on leaving the United Methodist Church.

“The United Methodists used to be Biblical,” Heidecker said. “They have what they call the Doctrine of Discipline and have strayed away from some of the scriptural things in there. That’s why there’s this separation going on in the Methodist Church.”

Heidecker said his vision for his ministry fits well with the beliefs of his new congregation.

“The direction this church is going is in the Biblical way of teaching the Bible,” he said. “That is the way I preach and teach the Bible. I don’t differ from it or say things for people’s ears.”

Heidecker said he tries to keep his message simple.

“The word says ‘my message is plain and simple and true’,” he said. “I prayed about how I should preach, and the Lord told me just plain simple words. That’s the way Jesus taught in the Bible – plain, simple, and direct so people could understand Him.”