Good News Reports from across the Oregon Pacific District

From Grand Ronde: Pastor David Crabb is thrilled that at his recent membership class the Lord worked through his teaching to bring 4 people to accept Jesus as Savior. We are rejoicing with the angels!

Pastor David Shankle of Oregon City reports, "What an exciting 80th anniversary celebration the Lord gave us. Dr. Manker delivered powerfully the Word of the Lord to us Sunday morning (August 22). We had a total of 328 in the service. We Baptized 27! (10 children, 13 teens, 4 adults). We had over 300 at our dinner with 6 former senior/staff pastors in attendance. But more importantly was the beautiful presence of the Lord who manifested Himself throughout the day. We had prayed Saturday evening at our prayer time around the altar for God to be with us and receive all the glory. . .and that is exactly what happened. Tears of joy were seen on faces throughout the congregation as children, teens and adults were baptized and their testimonies read."

Pastor Gary Johnson, Grants Pass The Pursuit, reports that this past Sunday, August 15, was an amazing day. "We celebrated our local community (Allen Creek) by hosting The Allen Creek Family Fun Faire. We invited a Country Gospel Band, had bounce house, games, dunk tank (for the Pastor) and a wonderful BBQ. All was free to the community, including hundreds of prizes. We had somewhere between 350-400 in attendance. We received new information on at least 32 new families, many of whom said they were coming back for worship. To say it was an incredible day would be a gross understatement; it was amazing. Even though it was a huge undertaking, we plan to make it an annual event and perfect it as we go."

Pastor Rick Green, Brookings, reports that Sunday, July 11 was very positive. "We had 286 in attendance - a big Bar-B-Que afterwards with a ton of food.  That was the end of our 6 month prayer challenge.  We celebrated with some positive reports—two baptisms and two new Nazarenes." 

"Also, On Monday there were 13 riders going on our annual 3 day ride.  Stacey Hanson (Creswell) and Jamie Snodgras (Sandy) came along as well.  We had a great time."

Shawna and Jesse Rench report on Primary Camps last week..."Thanks for praying! We had an awesome week at our primary camps!  Between Primary Camp 1 and Primary Camp 2 we had:

124 Campers
80 Volunteers
26 Kids commitment their lives to Jesus!!!!!  Celebrate!!!!!
32 Kids Re-Commit their lives to Jesus!!!
5 Kids Called to Ministry – “You are never too small to hear God’s call!”

Praising God!"

Sandy and Gresham Springwater Partnership  Sandy Pastor Jamie Snodgrass reports 5 new familes in May and growing attendance at Sandy.  Their Sunday service is coming alive with the ministry of 3 pianists, a guitar player, a saxophonist, a drummer and several vocalists.  The church had been fervently praying that the Lord would use them in their community as a witness to His grace and power and they feel as though  that time has come!  Part of what makes this possible is the commitment of the Gresham Springwater church to help Sandy financially for a two-year period.  We are so grateful to the Springwater Church and Pastor Bob Bretsch for their vision and investment in what is being called a "Highway 26 Nazarene Consortium".  (Our Sandy and Springwater churches are just 7 miles apart.)

Seaside Welcome Home (ReStart) Pastor Mark Watt sent the following report: We have some good news from the North Coast we've just got to share! David , a guy who refused to go to church, because "they're all the same" came to our church. He needed a place to stay so he could visit with his daughter. One of our members said he could stay at his house, but he had to go church with him in the morning. He came just thinking to 'get through it' but left a different person! David gave his heart and life to Jesus that same Sunday! He hasn't missed a Sunday since that Sunday four weeks ago. He keeps telling me how much his life is different now. His relationship with his ex-wife is better and his relationships with his daughter and step daughter are blooming to new heights as well! His girls love coming to church and are planning to attend Camp Kellogg this summer! David will be baptized next Sunday at our Family Fishing Day event at Cullaby Lake! God is growing our church in these days.

Portland Central Pastor Jerry Warren reports the following from "some blessed days from Christ":

1. Our Latino congregation is now averaging in the 100s
2. Our Vietnamese congregation had two amazing things happen:
     a. The offer of ESL to the Vietnamese in the area had 80+ respond and begin to attend class
     b. On 18 April a Sunday morning service was attended by two Vietnamese who saw the sign and just dropped in. They accepted Christ.
3. The young adult portion of our Anglo church is coming alive and leading the church forward spiritually and in service.

Florence Pastor Brian Fitch shares that the church prayed and worked hard for a great day on Easter 2010 (265 in attendance with 2 new converts!) but they are rejoicing for the great Sunday the church had following Easter Sunday.  A new sermon series entitled "Desperate Households" was begun and the response around the altars was tremendous.  But what happened at the annual "Night of Celebration" that evening was powerful.  As Pastor Brian wrote: "We had done our voting a couple weeks ago but that night we recapped the highlights of the last year. I expected about 80-90 people, we had about 160. We were scrambling to put up tables wherever we could fit them in. We had uplifting reports, a great slide show of services, events, etc., baptized seven and closed with prayer for the new board around the altar. We had two very significant testimonies from two newer people who have grown so much.  We also had family members of those being bapized, people who have never been in our church before. I was so thankful that those guests heard those testimonies. It was get out the hanky time. I beleive the guests had a great time and they were very warmly welcomed. Seeds were planted that we're praying will bear fruit in the coming days."

LaPine Grace Fellowship- Pastor Richard Lighthill reports that the church had its first Sunday with over 100 in attendance- 110 to be exact- on Easter Sunday.  In addition, there were five baptized in that service.  We praise the Lord for His working in LaPine!

Oregon City- Pastor David Shankle shared the "wonders of God happening in our midst" in a note to Dr. Reeder.  "Our Sunday Morning worship service continues to be filled with the presence of Almighty God."  "...People are being healed, families restored, many are finding salvation and the sense of unity is beautiful.  We see new people coming every Sunday morning...."  Sunday School attendance is up as is the Sunday evening youth service; Caravan is now running upwards of 50.  The Wednesday night service is the fastest growing, however.  Four years ago there were about 19 people attending on Wednesdays; today there is an average of 166!  The people are also growing in their obedience to God's word and stewardship.  The church raised over $4,000 for Haiti and through their weekly H.O.P.E. ministry serve over 1,500 people per month.  These praises are shared to do what scripture says to do in Psalm 105: "Give thanks to the Lord.  Call upon His name and make known His deeds among the people.  Speak of all of His wonders."

Grants Pass The Pursuit (NewStart) Pastor Gary Johnson shared with Dr. Reeder: "Since last we spoke a lot of Good Things have happened in Grants Pass. On March 21st we went to three services. Friday night a laid back come as you are approach, Sunday morning at 8:30 for the early risers and 10:30 for the main crowd. Amazing, in that change alone we picked up between 30-40 individuals. We have had visitors in every service, last weekend 5 new family units. On the 21st we capped off the day with a wedding for a couple, in recovery, and then we baptized them along with 6 others.

The Ashland Gracepoint Church Board (Pastor Jim Curty) voted to bring its commitments for the World Evangelism Fund and Education Fund up to date by paying them out of general operating funds.  Soon, God lead the people to a great offering that more than covered the commitment.  On a Sunday soon after the church received $13,176 in offerings on the first Sunday of the month- a Sunday when the usual offering would be between $5,000 and $7,000!  Fantastic financial momentum may just have been started by the church board's step of faith to pay its "shares for others".

Molalla Pastor Max Jetton recently wrote the district office that their worship leader, Tim Friesen, would like to get the word out that the church's worship team would like to offer themselves to our smaller churches for a Sunday of worship leading.  They recently took about 10 people  to Eagle Point and led music before Pastor Kim Linder preached.  There would be no charge to the church for this ministry the worship team feels called to do.  Contact Pastor Max at 503-829-9339 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bend Church of the Nazarene and Northwest Nazarene University student, Arielle Askren has been selected to minister cross culturally in a Creative Access Country through the dynamic ministry of Youth In Mission in the summer of 2010. This ministry supports and enhances the missionary endeavor of the Church of the Nazarene.  Participants will experience a deeper walk in their spiritual journey as a result of their time with Youth in Mission.  As the church continues moving forward, God is using young people to advance His work.  Pray for Arielle and the 45 other students involved in YIM this summer.