Recently, my family has been listening to some old cassette tapes from a program called “Your Story Hour,” by Aunt Sue and Uncle Dan. They were given to us as a gift. I ordered a portable cassette player from Amazon so we could play them. The recordings are probably from the 70s or 80s but [...]
Years ago, I memorized Colossians, chapter 3. It's a rich chapter that speaks to so many parts of my Christian journey. I especially like what Paul wrote in verse 15. "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful" (Col. 3:15, ESV). I recognize it isn't [...]
September 18, 2021 was a high Sabbath for The Dalles congregation as they celebrated the long-awaited grand-opening of their new building in The Dalles, Oregon. Many weeks, months and years of sacrifices have served to lovingly construct this project. From the initial framing by the Maranatha volunteer team in June of 2018, to the hours [...]
Ten years ago, Steve and Karen Nicola felt impressed to reach out to people going through grief. After losing their son to Leukemia, they personally understood the need for healthy grief training. The Nicolas, from Auburn, California, traveled up to Auburn Adventist Academy in Washington at the end of September 2021 for a special grief [...]
The Impact Your Health Portland team had worked for months to organize their annual free community clinic in 2020. A date was scheduled and then postponed as pandemic health and safety concerns grew. Another date was chosen but, as it approached, the team realized holding the clinic still wasn't a safe option. The event was [...]
When Terri Miller took a COVID-19 test in order to travel to Maui, she got the surprise of her life. She tested positive, despite having no symptoms. Convinced the result must be a false positive, she took another test. It, too, said she was positive. Terri was unvaccinated, as was her husband, David. “David and [...]
In Oregon's Rogue Valley, in the small community of White City, a Samoan Adventist congregation is thriving. In 1991, the White City Church became an official group and began gathering each Sabbath for worship. Thirteen years later, the growing group became an Adventist Company. On Dec. 10, 2009, it was organized and accepted into the [...]
Mientras que las iglesias han comenzado el trabajo de la reorganización e identificación de nuevos voluntarios y ayudantes para cubrir las responsabilidades de los diferentes ministerios; encontrar miembros dispuestos a colaborar, ha venido a ser un desafío, especialmente para los pastores. Hace unos sábados atrás, mi esposa y yo visitamos una iglesia Hispana, y como [...]
While congregations have begun reorganizing and identifying volunteers to cover the responsibilities for various ministries, finding members willing to collaborate has become a challenge, especially for pastors. My wife and I saw this firsthand on a recent church visit. Because many of the congregations we visit invite me to preach, I'm usually prepared. But this [...]
A fire broke out the morning of Sept. 10, 2021 at Three Sisters Adventist Christian School, just outside of Bend, Oregon. No staff and students were harmed. However, the school's shop was destroyed and the attached bus barn was damaged. The fire was first reported around 9:00 a.m. as a barn fire, but it was soon discovered [...]
