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Welcome to Bring Your Neighbor
Day!
09/19/2004 "They
devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders
and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together
and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Acts 2:42-47
Welcome to the Portland
International Church of Christ family! We are very honored by your presence and
hope that you will feel "at home" during our Sunday worship.
As with the church in Jerusalem
in Acts 2, we are a congregation that is "devoted to the apostles'
teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer." We
believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and was physically
resurrected from the grave on the third day.
We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. We believe that a
true Christian is a baptized disciple that "loves God with all his
heart, soul, mind and strength." (Matthew 22:37) We believe that
the mission of Jesus' church is "to seek and save the lost."
(Luke 19:10) We believe that true religion is "to remember the
poor" (Galatians 2:10) and "to look after orphans and
widows." (James 1:27) We believe God desires His church to be an
exciting family that daily encourages each other to live a righteous, pure and
fulfilled life.
The Portland International Church
of Christ shares in a worldwide fellowship of disciples in over 150 countries
around the world. Our congregation began with 40 members in 1991. Rob and Pam
Skinner, who were trained in the San Francisco International Church of Christ,
initially led the congregation. Needs were such in the Seattle Church that the
Spirit took the Skinners away after seven brief, but inspirational months of
labor for the Lord. The next several years the Portland Church enjoyed steady
growth until the membership was around 300 and the attendance was around 400.
Then in April 2003, our congregation began to experience a series of attacks by
Satan. During the spring months of 2003 many members left the congregation.
In mid-July Kip and Elena McKean
accepted the invitation by the leadership to become the Lead Evangelist and
Women's Ministry Leader for the Portland Church. The focus of the fall months
was on becoming a congregation of solely "sold-out" disciples. Small
group Bible Studies, composed of five to twelve Christians were organized
throughout the Portland metropolitan area. Every member was encouraged to choose
a "discipleship partner." Discipleship partners meet once a week to
pray and discuss how God can help each other through the challenges of life. It
was hoped that this relationship would mature into becoming best friends.
Essentially, the autumn was spent rebuilding the "foundation of
Christ" in the congregation. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
In January 2004, the Holy Spirit
sent out from Portland a small group of disciples to plant a new congregation in
Eugene, Oregon: the Eugene International Church of Christ! In February, we
selected new Deacons and for the first time have "Elders-in-training."
In March, God initiated a Spanish-speaking ministry, when the Gonzalez family
moved to Portland. (Presently, about 50 people attend Spanish services!) In
April, the married disciples participated in an awesome retreat at Cannon Beach,
where many of us renewed our love for God and our spouses. In May through the
leadership of the Prestons and Craig Fabian, we began a "CR" (Chemical
Recovery) Ministry to help people with alcohol and drug addictions. In June, we
hosted our first annual World Missions Jubilee*!
500 disciples attended from around the world to learn from one another and to
hear how God healed the hearts of the Portland Church so quickly! In July, we
hosted the "Northern Lights Soccer Tournament" where teams of
Christians from congregations in Seattle, San Francisco, Boise, Vancouver
(Canada), Missoula and of course Portland played a two day soccer tournament.
(San Francisco beat Seattle in the championship game which was held Sunday
afternoon after an incredible outdoor church service!)
Not only has God blessed our
Married and Children's Ministries, but the Womens, Singles, Campus, Teen and
Middle School Ministries have all begun to flourish through the power of the
Spirit. In eight months, God had increased our numbers through baptisms,
restorations and move-ins (who were searching for a dynamic congregation) from
120 to 209! Our Sunday services are nearing 350 in attendance!
Every member has had their life
changed through the cross of Jesus Christ. We believe it is not by chance that
you are worshipping with us today. (Acts 17:26-28) We are praying that today's
service will touch your heart and you will either begin to seek to know God or
join us in striving to walk with Him. Again, thank you for sharing in our
fellowship and we hope that you will be able to "break bread" (lunch)
in one of our members' homes after service!
In Christ's love, The Portland
International Church of Christ
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