Christian News Northwest, February 2023

Celebrating the Victory

It will be a story on how people can be engaged in life when Corban University’s theatre department performs its spring play, “The Phantom Tollbooth,” starting March 16. The play, based on a book by Norton Juster and adapted for the stage by Susan Nanus, will have two matinees, March 16 at 10:30 a.m., March 26 at 2 p.m., and four evening shows, March 17, 18, 24, and 25, all at 7:30 p.m., at Corban University’s Psalm Center, 5000 Deer Park Drive SE, Salem.

“The Phantom Tollbooth” is a story of a young boy named Milo who is convinced that his life is boring. But one day, returning home from school, he discovers a package in his room – a magic tollbooth. With nothing better to do, he drives his electric toy car through the toll booth, and he immediately

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ACTIVITIES

Together We Advocate offers enrichment and education opportunities for pro-life advocates

finds himself in a whimsical country called the Lands Beyond.

Corban says it’s a story that appeals to young and old alike and that the whimsical characters and comical situations delight children while the word play tickles the more intellectually inclined. While the play is full of fun and fancy, its conclusion drives home a few transformative truths: we can choose to be engaged with life; our curiosity and imagination can transform even mundane moments into beautiful and silly memories; and taking a few simple steps outside of ourselves can open up a whole new world. According to Corban, the story reminds all of us that we live in an interesting and captivating world, but we must open our eyes to see the wonder.

The play will be directed by Jeremiah “JP” Price, an American stage actor and director with performance credits at the Richard E. Wildish Community Theater and the John G. Shedd Institute for the Performing Arts. He has directed productions at the Richard E. Wildish Community Theater and the Arts Integrated Ministry (A.I.M.) of First Baptist Church of Independence, of which he is the incumbent board chair. This is his fifth production at Corban University, having directed “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “The Tragedy of King Saul” the last two spring semesters.

To purchase tickets for “The Phantom Tollbooth,” visit: https://our.show/corban/ tollbooth.

Pacific Justice Institute has launched what it describes as a full-scale attack against employers in Oregon who discriminated against employees who sought religious exemptions from state mandates requiring that they be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Since late August, Ray D. Hacke, PJI’s Oregon-based staff attorney, has filed seven lawsuits against employers who either denied employees religious exemptions or subjected them to discrimination under the guise of “accommodating” their sincerely held religious beliefs. The employers PJI is suing include Asante Health Systems, which operates a chain of hospitals in southern Oregon; Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland; Cascadia Behavioral Health in Portland; Legacy Health, which operates multiple hospitals in the Portland metro area; Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, located roughly 80 miles east of Portland; Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, which operates multiple hospitals in northern Oregon; and Springfield Public Schools in the Eugene area.

“Even in a pandemic, Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and equivalent state laws require that employers accommodate their employees’ religious beliefs, if at all possible,” Hacke said. “The employers we’re suing could have provided a variety of accommodations that would have enabled their employees to keep working while limiting the spread of COVID-19. These employers chose not to accommodate them, but to punish them for not abandoning their sincerely held beliefs concerning vaccination. For that, they should be held accountable.”

In August 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, pursuant to a mandate from Governor Kate Brown, the Oregon Health Authority (“OHA”) required all healthcare workers and public-school employees in the state to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The OHA did, however, allow employers to grant exemptions to employees who could not, in good conscience, take the COVID-19 vaccines then available in the U.S. market for religious reasons.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of employees across the state thus submitted requests to their employers for religious exemptions. Their employers either flatout denied the employees’ requests for reasons not involving undue hardship – which PJI says is the only lawful

see PJI FILES LAWSUITS, page 4

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ to debut at Corban University on March 16

PJI is making effort to protect Christians in Oregon’s workplace

Foundations for Life Christian Conference will highlght evidence of creation on March 3-4

Dove Award-winning artist David Phelps will play Elsinore Theatre in Salem on March 3

On Our Cover:

Celebrating a Victory, Continuing the Battle

More than 3,000 gather on Jan. 28 at annual March for Life at Oregon Capitol

By TIM HIRSCH CNNW Publisher

It was a celebration of last June’s Roe v. Wade victory, but also a call to action when Oregon Right to Life hosted its annual March for Life event outside the Oregon Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Prior to the march around the Capitol, a full slate of speakers reminded the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 in attendance of the monumental victory when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe. v. Wade, but they also urged people to get involved here in Oregon where abortion remains legal.

“It was exciting to celebrate together that Roe v Wade has been reversed, and the acknowledgement and the purpose that we have in continuing to work here in Oregon,” said Lois Anderson, executive director of ORTL. “Sometimes, when you’re by yourself doing this work in the culture that we are in this state, sometimes people can feel isolated. So, one of the powerful elements of the March for Life is you have this place where you can look around, and everyone there is joined in your purpose and (you know) you’re not alone. We (have more) work to (do). In some ways, our work is just beginning.”

Speakers at the event included Arch Bishop Alexander Sample, of the Archdiocese of Portland; Melody Durrett, president of ORTL’s Board of Directors; Danielle Bethell, Marion County Commissioner; and Cynthia Brunk, an author and speaker who just recently completed a tenure as executive director of Hope Medial Clinic in Hood River.

“Brothers and sisters, we know, in many, many ways, that we are engaged in a spiritual battle really for the soul of our country,” Sample told the crowd. “The evil one and his legion don’t just hate God, they hate the image of God that is in each and every human person who comes into this world. The attacks on the unborn child that still go on is an attack on the image of God in the womb.”

He also focused in on the fact that while the overturning of Roe was a pivotal moment, more work remains to be done — particularly in Oregon.

“It seems to me that the striking down of that horrible Roe v. Wade decision is like D-Day,” he explained. “It’s like we’ve landed on the beaches of Normandy, and we’re going to take this all the way. We know that, ultimately, the war’s already been won. And we just have to fight out the final battles, but we know the outcome already because God is in his heaven and his will will be done.”

And acknowledging that abortion remains legal here in Oregon, he urged pro-lifers not to lose heart but to engage.

“Don’t lose heart,” he added. “It can happen again in Oregon. That’s why we gather here in front of this building, because this is where we have to make it happen, but it’s going to take our continued efforts and our prayers. We didn’t get here on human effort alone. We got here by the power of prayer and faith that God can change hearts and convert hearts to Him and once a heart is converted to Him, it’s converted to life. And so we need to continue our efforts. It’s a spiritual enterprise as much it is a political enterprise and we need to keep both.”

“I think both (Cynthia) and Danielle did a good job in focusing how important it is for an individual person to take action, that you shouldn’t wait until you feel that

you have a whole group of people behind you to do something — that the individual action of one person can save a life, and we need to be aware of that,” Anderson told CNNW She said that Bethell’s willingness to share her abortion story was particularly moving.

“I think Commissioner Danielle Bethell’s really personal comments about what she went through as a young woman was really powerful. It’s not often that you get a public official that’s willing to share something that personal and to share it in front of a crowd of more than 3,000.”

For Anderson, one of the most moving elements is always the 6-minute long ringing of the bells for those babies killed via abortion over the decades it has been legal across this country.

“The bells are incredibly powerful — to just stand there in silence listening to that,” she said. “It just brings into focus the magnitude (of babies who have died) in a really, powerful way. Every year it just brings me to tears. It has that effect.”

Looking toward the future and the 2024 March, Anderson that ORTL’s Board of Directors is beginning to grapple with whether to continue to hold the event in late January or to move it to a new date.

AN ESTIMATED 3,000 TO 4,000 attended Oregon Right to Life’s March for Life at Oregon’s Capitol in Salem on Jan. 28. Attendees were first greeted with talks by several pro-life activitists including (below, l-r) Arch Bishop Alexander Sample, of the Archdiocese of Portland; Melody Durrett, president of ORTL’s Board of Directors; and Danielle Bethell, Marion County Commissioner. The crowd was encouraged by the speakers to keep fighting against abortion, which remains legal in Oregon despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June.

“We will have an event, but the question of when we’re going to have it hasn’t been solidified,” Anderson said, adding that while some think it’s best to keep the traditional date, others see a new date as the better solution.

“(Some) people (believe) we should keep it at this time (and some think) we should have it at a different time, but that it should be when the legislature is in session. Other people advocate to moving it to June 24, which is celebrating a victory.

“Our board is going to discuss it. Across the country, other states are starting to do it at different times,” she said. “They’re starting to do their marches at different times during the year that makes sense for their state. We’ll have that discussion about when makes sense for us.”

The 2023 Oregon March for Life was the first since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. However, Dobbs did not directly change policy in Oregon where abortion is still legal until the moment of birth. In fact, taxpayer funds cover approximately 60 percent of abortions in the state, and abortions are available during every stage of pregnancy.

Photo by Tim Hirsch

Photos by Tim Hirsch

Multnomah student, advisor win Hatfield Prize

Multnomah University student

Kailiani West and school faculty advisor

Greg Burch, Ph.D., were announced as winners of the Hatfield Prize from the Center for Public Justice, a Christian civic education and public policy research organization based in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Hatfield Prize honors the late Senator Mark O. Hatfield, a U.S. Senator from Oregon known for integrating his Christian faith and his public policy commitments. This prize is made possible through the generous support of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

This year’s awardees are three student-and-faculty pairs: West and Burch, from Multnomah, together with Emily Steen (‘23) and Mark Mulder, Ph.D., at Calvin University; and Adriana Cisneros Emerson (‘23) and Isabella Cavalcanti Junqueira, Ph.D., at LeTourneau University.

West (‘23) is a student at Multnomah University studying global studies with a concentration in culture and diversity. She serves as the student intern for the school’s Voices of Scholars program. She led the Global Outreach committee at her former college and now teaches English at Pamoja House International. She will be conducting research for the Center for Public Justice concerning undocumented women’s access to food and nutritional assistance programs.

Burch is associate professor and chair of the Global Studies department at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon where he also serves as director for the Graduate Degree Program in Global Development and Justice.

West, who is advised by Burch, will focus her research on undocumented women, refugees, and immigrants and the need for accessible WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) resources in Rockwood. Aware of the socialeconomical barriers in the marginalized community of Rockwood, West wants to assist women through timely, achievable solutions.

“I am thrilled to join Multnomah student Kailiani West in her research project focused on supporting vulnerable women and children in need of supplemental nutritional support through WIC programs,” said Burch. “In addition to researching the needs of women and children in Rockwood, a community very close to the campus of Multnomah University, the opportunity to amplify voices and agency is critical to the heart of this project.”

West has firsthand experience with the programs she is researching.

“Not only was my mother a recipient

continued from page 1

Starting the New Year off with prayer

of WIC when I was a child, but millions of women in the United States also receive WIC. But the problem is that many women who qualify for WIC do not receive WIC. This research on WIC access is important [because WIC] provides a range of services for mothers, helping the mothers and their infants and young children in their first few years of important growth.”

“Many refugee and immigrant women don’t realize that they are eligible for government assistance from programs like WIC,” said Emily Fromke, program director of Shared Justice at the Center for Public Justice. “Kailaini’s research, supported by Greg, will help communities like Rockwood learn how to ensure that those who need food assistance the most — like new moms learning how to navigate a new country — are able to access the programs created to assist them.”

Through the Hatfield Prize reports, award recipients integrate faith with academic scholarship, pursuing today’s pressing social challenges through a public justice framework that recognizes the unique roles and responsibilities of government and civil society. Students, with support from their faculty advisors, articulate the normative principles that ought to guide society’s response to issues like the social safety net, and then make practical applications and recommendations for ways in which government and civil society can promote human flourishing in their local communities.

To learn more about The Hatfield Prize or CPJ, visit https://cpjustice.org/ resources-for-you/students-and-scholars/ awards/. Students and faculty advisors are available for interviews regarding their research plans and topics.

The Hatfield Prize awards funding annually to three student-faculty pairs from Council for Christian Colleges and Universities institutions to conduct research on policies that impact vulnerable children, families, and communities. The Hatfield Prize is made possible through the generous support of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Shared Justice is the Center for Public Justice’s program for college students and young adults exploring the intersection of faith, politics, and public justice. Shared Justice provides Christian young adults with access to mentorship, a learning community, and a platform for practicing citizenship.

The findings and conclusions presented in The Hatfield Prize reports are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of these foundations.

PJI files lawsuits to defend religious liberty in Oregon

reason for which an employer can refuse to accommodate an employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs pursuant to Title VII – or placed them on indefinite unpaid leave as their “accommodation.” PJI says placement on leave was not a true accommodation, but a suspension aimed at financially pressuring employees into getting vaccinated.

According to PJI, many of the employees who were denied accommodations were ultimately fired for adhering to their religious convictions concerning COVID-19 vaccines.

“The pandemic served as a convenient excuse for healthcare employers, public school districts and other employers to get rid of employees whose religious beliefs they found unacceptable,” PJI President

Phelps to play March 3 at Salem’s Elsinore Theatre

THE SOUNDS of multi-Dove and Grammy Award-winning recording artist, David Phelps will be featured in Salem on Friday, March 3 at the Elsinore Theatre. This concert event begins at 7 p.m.  Once a childhood musical prodigy from Tomball, Texas, Phelps earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Baylor University. Since then, he has become a nationally celebrated vocalist. Perhaps best known as the powerful tenor for the multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band, Phelps continues to constantly build on his groundbreaking career. With his leading voice in Christian music, he has performed for audiences all over the world for more than two decades. He’s also performed at numerous prestigious venues across the globe, including the White House, New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. This 2023 After The Downbeat Tour stop, featuring David Phelps, as well as Phelps’ musical entourage, will feature songs from more than a dozen multi-award winning recordings he has to his credit. He’s known for his impressive vocal range, which extends more than three octaves, coupled with his gift for communicating a song, moving audiences from all walks of life, crossing generational and stylistic barriers. For more information, visit davidphelps.com or etix.com.

Brad Dacus said. “Unfortunately, this is just another continuation of purging people of faith from the workplace. PJI is committed to standing up and fighting such purging across America. Employment discrimination laws at the state and federal levels exist specifically to protect people of faith from having to choose between adhering to their sincerely held beliefs and remaining employed. PJI is firmly committed to obtaining justice for people of faith who have endured financial hardship because they were fired or suspended for refusing to abandon their sincerely held beliefs. We are working hard not just in Oregon, but nationwide to ensure that their employers do not get away with unlawful discrimination.”

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2023 Friday: 7:00 pm - 9:15 pm

: 9:00 am - 5:15 pm

Courtesy photo

MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS of the Newberg community joined Newberg Mayor Bill Rosacker, a man of reportedly strong Christian faith, the morning of Jan. 1 to pray for unity and the Lord’s blessing on Newberg as the New Year began. Above, at right, Newberg School Board Chair Dave Brown gives Rosacker a congratulatory greeting at the event.

Photo courtesy of John Fortmeyer

Attendance, enthusiasm up at Mission Connexion

An estimated 1,450 attend two-day conference to learn about mission

By TIM HIRSCH CNNW Publisher

An estimated 1,450 believers interested in missions gathered at Portland’s Sunset Church, Jan. 20-21, to hear from the likes of Will Graham, visit with mission organizations at more than 80 booths, and get enriched via 100 workshops that addressed a variety of mission-focused topics such as apologetics, business as mission, Christ-centered community transformation, city-wide kingdom collaboration, crosscultural training, developing senders, digital disciple making, effective evangelism, ethnic and cultural challenges in missions, preparing your family for missionary service, local outreach and more.

Graham, vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was just one of four plenary speakers that helped to fill Sunset’s sanctuary at the event. Others included Steve Richardson, president of Pioneers-USA; and Dr. Mary Ho, international executive leader of All Nations. Filling in for scheduled speaker Dr. Eric Joseph, president of Multnomah University, who couldn’t make it, was Adrian Reeves, executive director of NAAMC. KPDQ radio host Georgene Rice served as the event’s emcee.

With the theme of “Here I Am…What’s Next?” the event took inspiration from Isaiah 6:8 when the prophet Isaiah responds to God’s call, saying (as recorded in the ESV) “Here I Am, Send Me.” And each of the speakers shared messages around this mission-seeking question.

“My friends, we must be waiting and listening to hear the word of the Lord, to hear God speak to us, and when he calls, we must answer: ‘Lord, here I am. Speak,’” Graham said. “When we’re called, and we answer, we must be willing to answer that call. And it may be something that is not a friendly message. God’s word is not always going to be sunshine all the time. There’s going to be times God is going to call, and he’s going to rebuke us; he’s going to rebuke the world.”

Graham also said that like Samuel when he told Eli the full — but not embellished — account of what the Lord spoke to him, we, too, need to tell the truth — even if it costs us our popularity.

“My friends, as communicators of the gospel, that’s what we’re to do,” Graham

opportunities, engage in enrichment

from God’s word.”

The event also had a large online presence with each of the plenary sessions being streamed online. In total, the total streaming count was 1,992 for all four sessions, though that number is for the number of streams, not necessarily unique participants (meaning one person could have accounted for 4 of the total if they watched all four talks). As well, according to registration details, 355 churches were represented by attendees, but that doesn’t account for those that didn’t include information on their church.

The event also attracted interest from across the globe via the streaming of the plenary speakers.

AN ESTIMATED 1,450 mission-seeking Christians attended the 2023 Mission Connexion conference, Jan. 20-21 at Sunset Church in Portland. In addition to attending more than 80 mission-focused information booths such as the one above, attendees heard from the likes of Will Graham (at left), Adrian Reeves (below, at left), Steve Richardson, (below, center) and Mary Ho (below, at right). Those who missed the event can still stream the speakers at https://missionconnexion.global/ northwest/.

“People from China, Germany, UK were tuning in online for the plenary sessions,” said Bill McLeod, director of Mission Connexion. “I was really surprised at how strong the attendance was.”

Those who missed the event can still stream the speakers at https://missionconnexion. global/northwest/.

Another topic that McLeod said proved popular during the event was the recent creation of MissionWorks, a merger between Mission Connexion and Standards of Excellence. That created a one-stop service for many elements of short-term missions. MissionWorks features Mission Connexion (conferences), Mission Guide (list of mission organizations), Mission Linked (fundraising tools), Mission Armor (mission insurance services), and Mission Excellence (tools to improve mission standards), each an element critical to a successful mission trip. For more information, visit https://missionworks.global.

“There were a lot of individuals and a lot of organizations signing up to access what we can now offer that we didn’t offer before,” McLeod added. “It’s really catching on.

He also reported an abundance of positive feedback, responses that included compliments on how organized it was as well as comments on how it ministers to attendees.

added. “We don’t hold anything back. We say the good, the bad and the ugly. We call sin, in a world that does not want to see it. They want to redefine it anyway they can, but God’s word stands firm. We’re not called to be popular in this world. We’re called to be obedient.

“So many people are worried about their popularity or their likes more than they are the Word of God. I see it in churches today, and I think that’s why we’re in a mess in America. We’re to love people, yes, but you got to tell them when they’re wrong, they’re wrong. We do not cut from God’s word; we do not add

“(One person said) ‘it’s great to see what God’s doing,’ (and another that it was an) ‘excellent event that provided much food for thought.’”

Amongst the 100 workshops, McLeod said that, as has been the case in previous years, apologetics was the number one workshop in attendance with more than 387 attending. Disciple-making was number two.

Photos by Tim Hirsch

The Truth Behind Creation

‘Foundations for Life’ to focus on evidence of creation

Believers are being invited to bolster their faith, March 3-4, when the Foundations of Life Christian Conference will highlight evidence of creation from the shores of the Galapagos Islands, the slopes of Mt. Saint Helens, from historic rock layers and fossils throughout the globe and from the intricacies of dinosaur soft tissues.

Hailed as a grand tour that will reveal the magnificence of God’s creation and how believers should interact with it, the free conference will be held at Castle Rock Christian Church, 542 Huntington Ave. S., Castle Rock, Wash., from 7-9:15 p.m. on Friday, March 3 and 9 am.-5:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. To register in advance (not required) or for more information, visit foundationsoftruth.org/ conference/.

The event will also feature five featured speakers. The program will include Mark Armitage, Keith Holcomb, William “Bill” Hoesch, J.D. Mitchell, and Keith Swenson.

The schedule will start at 7 p.m. on Friday with Armitage’s presentation on “Dinosaur Soft Tissue Hunting: the soft side of a mean dinosaur.” Armitage is the lead microscopist at Dinosaur Soft Tissue Research Institute. His scientific work in microscopy has appeared in 17 journals, including new parasite host records in estuary fish, snails and birds. His recent discovery of intact peripheral nerves in triceratops condyle from the Hell Creek Formation was awarded the March 2021 cover of Microscopy Today.

Starting out the presentations on Saturday, March 4 will be a session

titled “Mt. Saint Helens – Testimony to a Worldwide Flood,” presented by Bill Hoesch, director of Mount St. Helens Creation Center. Prior to taking that position in 2021, he worked for 17 years at the Institute for Creation Research in southern California as an information officer, speaker, tour leader and research assistant.

Following that, at 10:30 a.m., attendees will have the choice between two breakout sessions. Aviator Keith Holcomb, a co-founder of the Dinosaur Soft Tissue Research Institute and current captain for American Airlines, will speak on “Simple Man Science,” while educator Keith Swenson will host a talk titled “Mt. St. Helens, The Hidden World Behind a Rapid Recovery.” Swensen is a retired medical doctor who teaches biology and geology at Multnomah University. He also served for 20 years as president of Portland’s Design Science Association.

After a lunch break, Swenson will lead a 1 p.m. session titled “Galapagos Islands, Showcase for the Creation and the Flood.” That will be followed by “Worldview, Fossils and Dinosaurs for Kids,” a 2:30 p.m. presentation by J.D. Mitchell, who leads a creation science ministry called Creation Engineering Concepts. Previously he served as executive director of the Institute for Creation Science, which formerly met in Portland (from 2005-2018). A second session at 2:30 p.m. will be Hoesch’s session on “Rock Layers, Millions of Years or Catastrophe?”

The final session of the conference will be a Foundations of Life Chalk Talk by Adam Fischer.

The longer a man waits, the greater risks to his health and future. The longer a man waits, the more he loses, be it marriage, home, family, job(s) and ultimately ... his life and eternal soul.

Get

make

truly

decision. The Lord has promised a future and hope to those who will step out in faith and make

THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE will feature presentations by featured speakers (l-r) Keith Holcomb, Bill Hoesch, Keith Swenson, J.D. Mitchell and Mark Armitage.

Courtesy photos

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LIFE CONFERENCE

Feb. 9-11. Life Bible Church, 23650 Peoria Rd., Harrisburg. A weekend of impartation with special speakers Tony Kemp and Tim Carscadden as they speak into the theme of “The Canopy of His Witness,” based out of Isaiah 4:5. For a detailed schedule and to register, visit https://www.lifebiblechurch.org/ life-conference-2023.

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Suggested

UPWARD TRAILS HIKE

AT SCAPONIA PARK/CZ TRAIL

Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit meetup.com/upward-trailschristian-hiking-meetupgroup/ to sign up.

DESIGN SCIENCE

ASSOCIATION:

THE WORK OF HIS HANDS

Feb. 18, 9 a.m. Greater Portland Bible Church, 2374 S.W. Vermont St., Portland. “The Work of His Hands: A View of God’s Creation From Space,” presented by Col Jeffrey Williams (U.S. Army, retired). Also livestreamed at designsciencenw.org/.

TOURING

RICE ROCK MUSEUM

Feb. 18, 10 a.m. Rice Rock Museum, North Plains. $10. visitmeetup.com/upwardtrails-christian-hiking-meetupgroup/ to sign up.

AFTER 5 CONNECTION:

‘HEADS UP’

DAVID PHELPS CONCERT March 3. 7 p.m. Elsinore Theatre, Salem. Perhaps best known as the powerful tenor for the multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band, Phelps is a leading voice in Christian music. For more information, visitdavidphelps.com or etix.com.

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Feb 21, 6-7:30 p.m. Ma’s Restaurant, 2416 S. Santiam Hwy., Lebanon. Special feature: Dala Johnson, community policing officer of Lebanon, will share tips for electronic devices safety. Guest speaker: Stephanie Carmichael, of Seal Rock, will share her experiences “From Darkness to Light,” and her “Victory Over Cancer and Fear,” also the title of her book. $18 inclusive cost. For reservations, contact Sherri, 541-258-6414 or Nancy, 541-259-1396.

CHURCHES AS NEIGHBORS

(CAN) MEETING

March 1, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Thomas Covenant Church, 546 High St., NE, Salem. Focus: “Stories From Sites” To RSVP for lunch, contact Dwayne Hilty at dwayne@ salemlf.org.

DAVID PHELPS CONCERT

March 3. 7 p.m. Elsinore Theatre, Salem. Perhaps best known as the powerful tenor for the multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band, Phelps

is a leading voice in Christian music. For more information, visit davidphelps.com or etix.com.

FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE

CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE

March 3-4. Castle Rock Christian Church, 542 Huntington Ave. S., Castle, Rock, Wash. Conference will highlight evidence of creation from the shores of the Galapagos Islands, the slopes of Mt. Saint Helens, from historic rock layers and fossils throughout the globe and from the intricacies of dinosaur soft tissues. Register at foundationsoftruth.org/conference/.

‘TOGETHER WE ADVOCATE’

March 4. 8-5 p.m. Rolling Hills Community Church, 3550 S.W. Borland Rd., Tualatin. Featured speakers include former Planned Parenthood clinic manager Mayra Rodriguez; medical director of Abortion Pill Reversal and Culture of Life Family Health

Center George Delgado, M.D.; abortion survivor and pro-life advocate Denisha Workizer; pro-life speaker Rebekah Hagan; and speaker, writer and coach for Equal Rights Institute Emily Albrecht. $60 adults. Visit ortl.org/conference/.

UPWARD TRAILS HIKE OF HAMILTON MOUNTAIN March 4, 9:30 a.m. Visitmeetup.com/ upward-trails-christian-hiking-meetupgroup/ to sign up.

UPWARD TRAILS HIKE OF LITTLE BEACH ROCK AND POOL OF THE WINDS March 4, 9:30 a.m. Visitmeetup.com/ upward-trails-christian-hiking-meetupgroup/ to sign up.

To have your event added to Christian News Northwest’s calendar, email your information to cnnw@cnnw.com.

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abortion survivor and advocate for life. The Conference is scheduled for March 4 at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin.

Encouraging the Fight for Life

Oregon Right to Life to host ‘Together We Advocate’ on March 4 in Tualatin

By TIM HIRSCH CNNW Publisher

Pro-life advocates are invited for a day of education and encouragement when Oregon Right to Life hosts its 2023 “Together We Advocate” event, an annual get-together that ORTL executive director Lois Anderson says has something for both the seasoned supporter as well as individuals just embarking on a journey of defending life in Oregon.

FILLING OUT the “Together We Advocate” slate of speakers are Rebekah Hagan, pro-life speaker; and Emily Albrecht, speaker, writer and coach with Equal Rights Institute.

suicide, maternity homes and abortion pill reversal.

has one or more things that really appeal to them because of their background or their skill set. So, part of the goal of the conference is to help people see what their opportunities are (and where they can get) plugged in.” She also noted that it’s a particularly important topic in light of the “noise” and “lies” in the world that asserts that the “pro-life movement is just trying to sensationalize something that never happens for political reasons.” Anderson said that is definitely not true.

Held at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin, the event will run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. Featured speakers include former Planned Parenthood clinic manager Mayra Rodriguez; medical director of Abortion Pill Reversal and Culture of Life Family Health Center George Delgado, M.D.; abortion survivor and pro-life advocate Denisha Workizer; pro-life speaker Rebekah Hagan; and speaker, writer and coach for Equal Rights Institute Emily Albrecht.

“The goal is to provide inspiration and education for pro-life advocates,” Anderson told CNNW “We try to appeal to a lot of different levels. There’s always going to be something for people that are just starting out in their pro-life advocacy, and there will also be information that will help the most seasoned advocate. We have some people that come that have been (there) every year for decades.”

In addition to three general sessions hosted by the event’s featured speakers, the day of inspiration will also feature 12 different workshops, which will feature topics such as running for school boards, physician-assisted

“It’s another important issue,”

Anderson said about the abortion pill reversal topic, which will be served by both a general session and followup workshop at the conference.

“It is a deeply traumatic thing to go through and to survive,” she said. “We may never run into someone in our circle who has had that experience, but we also might, and being able to be understand what survivors go through and the fact that they exist, (can be helpful).”

Anderson said that the event also serves as a productive way to meet others with a heart to serve in the fight for life.

“One of the great opportunities is just meeting new people, people that are also really interested in pro-life work and making new connections.” she said.

As well, there are opportunities to connect with exhibitors, each of which represent a different pro-life organization.

“It’s an opportunity to look at their materials and just talk with the different exhibitors about what their ministries are,” Anderson added. “We really want it to be a full opportunity for people to be inspired. I think everybody in the pro-life movement

“They do happen,” she said. “Babies do survive abortions, and their legal status is murky. Without an explicit law that says they need to be protected, the doctor, basically, the doctor and the mother in charge (decide) about whether or not that born human being lives or dies.”

Registration, available at https:// www.ortl.org/conference/, is $60 for adults, $50 for senior citizens, students, and current or former members of the military. In addition to registration fees, the event is sponsored by supporting businesses.

“(Amongst the) feedback we’ve had over the years for pro-life advocates is it’s a powerful thing for them to be able to tell somebody ‘I was in the room with someone who survived a late-term abortion. They’re a real person so I know that this is true.’ We’ve had feedback that hearing those personal stories, just like with the abortion pill reversal, makes a difference for them when they’re in these conversations with people. That’s one of the reasons why we bring in speakers with personal stories. It’s emotional for us to hear it, but the feedback we’ve received is that’s a powerful tool for people when they’re talking with others about these issues.”

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The Body of Christ is not found in a building. It exists in the hearts and lives of those who accept the tenets of the Holy Bible and believe Jesus Christ sacrificed His Life for their personal sins.

Bend, 106.1 FM.

For KEAR-FM, Calif, or KQFE-FM, Springfield: Family Radio; 1-800-543-1495 Ashland, 90.7 FM; Newport, 89.3 FM; Florence, 92.5 FM.

Para “Radio Nueva Vida” (Español): Camarillo, CA,: 805-482-4797 Ashland, 101.5 FM; Klamath Falls, 91.5 FM, Medford, 91.1 FM, Portland, 95.9 FM.

For “Air -1”: Educational Media Fndn: 1-888-937-2471, Eugene, 90.3 or 90.7 FM; Newberg, 97.5 FM; Portland, 92.7 FM.

For “Boost”: Gateway Creative Broadcasting; 314-909-8569, Portland, 103.7 FM.

For “K-Love”: Educ. Media Fnd.; 1-800-525-5683, Coos Bay, 91.7 FM; Eugene, 100.9 or 107.3 FM; Hood River, 91.1 FM; La Grande, 88.9 FM; Newport, 89.9 FM; The Dalles, 90.9 FM; Tillamook, 90.3 FM; Centralia, Wash., 101.7 FM.

For “K-Love 90’s”: Educ. Media Fnd.; 1-800-525-5683, Medford, 96.5 FM.

For KBVM-FM, Portland: Catholic Broadcasting NW; 503-285-5200, The Dalles, 99.1 FM.

For KMME-FM, Cottage Grove: Catholic Brdcstg. NW; 503-285-5200, Eugene, 94.9 FM.

For KDOV-FM, Medford: “The dove” Radio: UCB USA, 1-800-373-5368, Ashland, 107.9 FM; Azalea, 102.3 FM; Central Point, 92.1 FM; Cave Junction, 106.5 FM; Grants Pass, 88.1 FM; Pinehurst, 105.9 FM; Yreka, CA, 106.5 FM.

For KHPE-FM, Albany: Extra Mile Media; 541-926-2233, Eugene, 96.9 FM.

For KCMS-FM, Seattle: Crista Ministries; 206-546-7350, Longview, Wash., 103.9 FM; Aberdeen, Wash., 92.1 FM; Chehalis, Wash., 104.3 FM.

For KTJC-FM, Kelso, Wash.: CSN Int’l; 1-877-422-5852 Woodland, WA, 102.5 FM.

For CSN Int’l: KAWZ-FM, Calvary Chapel Twin Falls, Idaho 208-734-4357 Ashland, 97.3; Baker City, 88.5; Brookings,

OREGON RIGHT TO LIFE’S “Together We Advocate” pro-life conference will feature speakers Mayra Rodriguez, a former Planned Parenthood clinic manager and whistleblower; George Delado, medical director of Abortion Pill Reversal and Culture of Family Health Care; and Denisha Workizer,

o 12 issues $33

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Church at the Park awarded $50,000 grant

In support of its mission to serve America’s churches so they can focus on building the Kingdom, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company and the Brotherhood Mutual FoundationSM recently announced the inaugural recipients of Kingdom Advancing Grants.

Funded through the Brotherhood Mutual Foundation, four church programs — including Church @ the Park of Salem — were awarded a total of $150,000 in Kingdom Advancing Grants in 2022.

Church @ the Park was awarded $50,000 to add a portable shower facility to its managed micro-community. The portable facility includes four pods — each with a shower stall and toilet — fixed on flatbed trailers. Church @ the Park is dedicated to helping transition those experiencing homelessness to stability.

CHRISTIANnorthwest

HELP WANTED

Grant Administrator With CPA or Banking Background

Private Christian-based charitable foundation seeking a grant administrator. Duties include assisting executive director with communications with grantees and maintaining accurate records of grantmaking activities. No prior grant administration experience is required as training will be provided. Candidate must have extensive CPA or Banking experience, an active Christian faith, and be in support of the mission of helping the poor and marginalized. Position is remote and part-time with the possibility of becoming full-time. This is an ideal second job for a retired or established CPA or Banker looking to make a difference. Please send resume with cover letter and references to annette@lippoldholland.com.

Brotherhood Mutual® leadership along with the Grant Council developed the granting opportunity to support Christian church programs that are transforming local communities through service and ministry. The goal is to support sustainable initiatives that can be replicated by other churches around the country.

“What a privilege it is to learn about the many innovative new programs that churches are developing, and to be able to do our part in helping them succeed, expand and eventually, be duplicated in other parts of the country,” said Mark Robison, Brotherhood Mutual chairman and president. “These faithful servants of God are making a profound impact as they establish unique ways to engage with the community and reach souls for Christ.”

The Kingdom Advancing Grant is designed for a church program or initiative that is: directly overseen by the church; intended to help build the Kingdom by introducing people to Jesus or

strengthening their relationship with Jesus; involves a unique idea that’s innovative, creative, and new, and that other churches are not already doing; can be sustained over time; and can be replicated by other churches.

In addition to Church @ the Park, three others received funding. Life Church – Do Unto Others Mobile Mission (DUO), of Cookeville, Tenn., was awarded $25,000 for new equipment and upgraded electronic health record software for their Dental truck. This is one of six buses/trucks the ministry uses to reach those in need of dental, wellness, vision, food, and outreach.

Grace Church - Bath CampusMomentum Marketplace, of Akron, Ohio was awarded $25,000 to develop curriculum and run a pilot program that helps teens understand their potential to be called to do God’s work in the business marketplace. Leaders from the business community are trained to serve as spiritual disciples and mentors.

Mosaic Community Church, Mosaic After-School Program, Jeannette, Penn. was awarded $50,000 to expand its tutoring and program services and to add staff. Mosaic was asked by their local public school district for help in meeting the needs of underserved students in grades 3 to 6. Additionally, services such as parent training, conflict resolution, 1-to-1 advocacy in the school, and free legal support are now available.

Read their full stories at brotherhoodmutual.com/kingdomadvancing-grant/recipients.

“Providing these innovative ministry programs with a financial boost and the guidance of mentors is one way we can help advance the Kingdom of God,” shared Robison. “If your church has a

OREGON RIGHT TO LIFE PRESENTS:

program that’s focused on spreading the gospel through increasing community engagement, meeting the practical needs of your community or establishing creative revenue streams to expand your impact, we invite you to apply for a 2023 Kingdom Advancing Grant.”

HOW TO APPLY FOR A 2023 KINGDOM ADVANCING GRANT

The number of grants awarded each year will vary, based on the scope and financial need of the projects. Applications for grants are open Jan. 9-March 31, 2023.

Each Kingdom Advancing Grant recipient not only receives funding for their initiative or program, but also is paired with an experienced ministry leader who can provide guidance and assistance.

For an initiative or program to be considered eligible for a Kingdom Advancing Grant, it must be directly overseen by a Christian church that meets each of the following requirements:

A tax-exempt charitable organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

In good standing with the IRS; If the 501(c)(3) tax exemption was previously revoked by the IRS, it must have been reinstated for at least one full year prior to applying for the Kingdom Advancing Grant.

The Kingdom Advancing Grant Council will make final decisions in July. The Grant Council is made up of more than a dozen pastors, administrators and executive leaders from some of the most influential churches and ministries around the country. Many of these will be the same individuals providing mentorship to the grant recipients.

For more information or to submit an application, visit brotherhoodmutual.com/ kingdom-advancing-grant.