Bern, August 16, 2012. [CD-EUDNews]. On a warm August-evening, former pastor Roland Vertallier passed away. He was 92 year old. After a fruitful life, having served our God and the church for over 50 years, he is now resting.
Pastor Roland Vertallier was born in Paris, January 25 1920. His mother became an Adventist as Roland Vertallier was still a child. His father, Ferdinand was from Berry, a region South of Paris, his mother, Marcelle Quarre, from Dunkerque.
From his childhood, Pastor Roland Vertallier struggled to defend his religious positions. Thus, he went to a Jewish school in order to avoid problems with the Sabbath-rest. He followed the Estienne-course, and acquired the title of printer. With this diploma, Roland Vertallier started to work in the French-Adventist publishing house, in Dammarie-les-Lys.
During this period, he decided to become a pastor. Thus, a few years later he joined the French Theological Seminary in Collonges-sous-Salève.
In 1942 he met Rosly Frank, t
he woman who would become his tireless lifelong mission companion. They were married three years later, in 1945.
After a two year internship as an evangelist in Anger and Saumur, under the supervision of Pastor Pierre Lanares, who became a promoter of religious freedom in France and in other European countries, the Vertallier started their work for the church in the mission field.
Pastor Roland Vertallier was a missionary for 5 years in the La Réunion Island, from 1946 to 1951. During this period Bruno Vertallier, the Euro-Africa Region president, was born. Pastor Bruno has an older brother, Daniel, who was born in Thun, Switzerland. After a period in La Réunion, the whole Vertallier family moved to Algeria, where they lived for three years, until 1954.
The missionary experience was very important to Pastor Vertallier, enriching his Bible-teaching competences, as a lecturer and pastor.
The Vertallier family went back to France in 1954, where Roland Vertallier continued to serve as a pastor in different Adventist churches: Lyon 1954-1960; Nice, 1960-1964; Bordeaux, 1964-1970; Collonges-sous-Salève, 1970-1978; Valence 1978-1988.
As a pastor, lecturer, also in Beirut, for a few months’ period and Bible teacher, Pastor Roland Vertallier nurtured his faith and that of his audience, throughout his 45 years of ministry.
Pastor Roland Vertallier passed away with the peace of the Lord and the hope in the resurrection. He died in the peacefulness of his house in Montélier (Southern France).
The funeral ceremony was celebrated August 14, 2012, on a beautiful sunny day, in the church of Valence.
The Euro-Africa region family expresses their heartfelt condolences to Rosly Frank Vertallier and to the whole Vertallier family, and joins in their hope of seeing their missing and beloved Roland when Jesus returns. We hope as quick as possible.
