First Baptist Church in the 21 st Century

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Earl Chambers
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Volume 74, No. 8 First Baptist Church in the 21 st Century Our congregation has a wonderful history. All we have to do to remember this is to set foot in our gorgeous 1894 sanctuary.

And we have looked beyond our own well being as we have fed hungry neighbors, sponsored missionaries around the globe and welcomed strangers.

Fields through the sponsorship of FBC, beginning in 1975.

generations participate in our Sunday School and Youth Group.

1 Volume 74, No. 8 First Baptist Church in the 21 st Century Our congregation has a wonderful history. All we have to do to remember this is to set foot in our gorgeous 1894 sanctuary. For generations FBC has been home to public servants, business leaders and notable citizens of greater Portland. And we have looked beyond our own well being as we have fed hungry neighbors, sponsored missionaries around the globe and welcomed strangers. I was reminded of this last weekend as I officiated at the wedding of a young woman who is the granddaughter of one of the first Cambodian families who found refuge in Portland from the Killing Fields through the sponsorship of FBC, beginning in Many from her generation have scattered far and wide across the salad bowl that is contemporary America, but many are still active members of our congregation, and children of the third and fourth generations participate in our Sunday School and Youth Group. Nevertheless, longtime members of FBC often feel discouraged when they see fewer people gathered at our weekly worship services than they vividly reminder. I have addressed these feelings with responses both theological and practical. Theologically, I have reminded our members (and myself!) of the promise of Christ, that the gates of hell shall never prevail against his church (Matthew 16:18), and that Christ himself is the same, yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Practically, I have encouraged an expansion of our network of partner ministries, such Solid Rock, Transitional Youth and Shared Housing, who contribute resources to our shared service of Christ and his people, and carry out specific ministries Continued on page 2 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SW 12th and Taylor, Portland, Oregon

2 Continued from page 1 with different target groups and competencies than our own. Today s FBC is up and running 24/7. Nevertheless, from a practical and strategic standpoint, we need to take an unflinching look at the demographics of our present congregation and the community around us today, and dream and plan and make choices about how we will maintain a faithful and effective witness for Christ in the first third of the twenty-first century. All churches have social, cultural and class identities, core competencies and cherished, defining convictions. What have ours been historically? What are they in the present moment? Today we include several generations and multiple social classes. Are there common matching convictions and desires across this panorama of participants? Do our historic ways of organizing our congregational life, conducting public worship and discipling believers mesh well with the challenges and opportunities presently before us? Pleasing God: The Stewardship of Life God is not impressed with loveless giving God looks at our heart. It is from the base of love, obedience and commitment to God that God is pleased. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:6). Page 2 Also, we must ask ourselves tough questions about funding our congregational life going forward. Each year the portion of our budget underwritten by partner ministries and facilities usage grows, and the portion underwritten by congregational giving diminishes. And like many mainline congregations across our nation, we receive the majority of our tithes and offerings from older, retired members. How do we best engage younger members in faithful stewardship? What kinds of decisions will we make about professional leadership and the ministry of the laity going forward not just from financial exigency, but for strategic purposes? In the New Testament Church there is no distinction between professional Christians and recipients of Christian services; we are all ministers. In the midst of my sixth year as your senior pastor, I feel a deep urgency that we confront these questions together. FBC staff and a vibrant, diverse group of FBC members had preliminary conversations about Dear First Baptist Church, Thank you! The support, love and prayers of the congregation and others during Sharon s years of pancreatic cancer and related surgeries has been greatly cherished and deeply appreciated. Though greatly missed we are grateful that her suffering is over and she is resting with her Savior and Lord. The Bruce Rich Family these issues this spring. Summaries of those conversations are available at the Welcome Center or, upon request, electronically or through the mail. The next step is coming. If we have your on file, you will soon be receiving a list of specific questions about present and possible ministries and directions for FBC. Or, you make look for hard copies at the Welcome Center, or request a copy through the mail. We covet your responses. Then, on Saturday, October 6, from 9 til noon, there will be an open meeting to discuss the responses to these questions, and to plot a way forward. You are invited. And your prayers are vital. This is Christ s Church. But we are all Christ s servants. Dr. David L. Wheeler Beth Moore Bible Study to begin in September Plans are underway for the Beth Moore Bible Study group to begin in September. Stay tuned for more details to be announced soon! If you have any questions, please contact Karen Brophy ( ), Trudi Bils ( ), or Mary Olson ( ). Visit to learn more about this facinating woman. Mission Websites of Interest International Minsiteries (IM) Christian Community Credit Union

$Cambodian Congregational News dmnwgdl'bykcmnum\ eyigxδ MsUmEfÂgGMNrKuNdl'BYkCMnuMeyIgEdlVn GeJ IjeTAcUlrYmkar bkbk~a nigkarsik a BHKmõIrenApæH xδ M nigpæhelak si sium rdωω k*sumgrkundl'karttyl$

3 Cambodian Congregational News dmnwgdl'bykcmnum\ eyigxδ MsUmEfÂgGMNrKuNdl'BYkCMnuMeyIgEdlVn GeJ IjeTAcUlrYmkar bkbk~a nigkarsik a BHKmõIrenApæH xδ M nigpæhelak si sium rdωω k*sumgrkundl'karttyl y"agrak'tak'rbs'mças'pæhdl'eyigxδ umpgedr. BYkCMnuMeyIg GacnwgTTYlkar bkbk~aenhenacugq~s ÉedImq~SfµIxagmux enhvnedr sumtak'tgnwgxδ MedIm IerobcMeBlevla. ena Ex9enH GaTit TI2 eyignwgttyltangaharcarebob ptlak'e kaybikarf aybgñm BHrYcenAbnæb'Vy«n BH vihar ehiyena esar_ TI15 eyignwg bkbk~aenapæh elak si rum XIg ehiyena esar_ TI22 bkbk~aenapæh elak si eglisabit xwm evlaem"ag 6knÂHyb'. kunekµgenak~ gmnëlrbs'eyigmanesckirikray y"agxâsge kaybikarttylvnm"asiunepâig1e KOgsMrab' esckï tèvkar«nskkmµpabenaeblyb'rbs'ek xδ Mk*sUm GrKuNdl'karKS Tr nigesckigfisωωanrbs'bykcmnumeyig eyigk*sumgrkundl'elakta TYn egom nigelak si rum nag EdlVnCYydg aysmrab' m"asuinepâig1e KOgenH. sum BH btanbrdl'bykcmnumtsggs'k~ grduvekaenh! p aydmnwgedayelak Kè PIFW Gwum We would like to give thanks to the families of Sim Rath and Shirley Im for hosting Bible studies at their homes, and for those who joined these fellowships as well. On average, we had good attendance during August in the Cambodian ministry. We have two home Bible studies in September at the King and Khem homes. We will have other activities this fall as well. On Sunday, September 2, right after church, we are hosting a potluck dinner. You are invited to join us for authentic Cambodian food, served once again, right after all the hot weather in August. At the Cambodian Children Center, the children are excited about evening activities, since they got a generator (providing light) last month. We thank you all for your prayers and financial support toward this project. Special thanks to Toun and Rom Neang for sponsoring this particular project. Please check our website for more progress in our CCM ministry: Please continue to pray for our Cambodian Children Center ministry. Pastor Peter The Cambodian Children Center Page 3

4 Faces from the 2012 All-Church picnic Photos by Paul Newman Page 4

Youth Ministry News Back in July the youth had an amazing mission experience in their own backyard called

Now that summer is over and most people are back in town the students thought it would be a good time to

iquest and Camp Arrah Wanna. What better way to say thank you then by hosting a dessert in your honor.

about both iquest and Camp Arrah Wanna. There will be pictures and maybe even a video from both events.

So if you contributed in any way to the trip or camp, we want you to attend the special Summer Recap

In fact even if you were unable to contribute to iquest or Arrah Wanna but you want to hear from our

If you would like to attend please RSVP as soon as possible by calling the office (503-228-7465) or

This year we took students to High School Camp and 4 students to Elementary camp.

5 Youth Ministry News Back in July the youth had an amazing mission experience in their own backyard called iquest. In August we had several children and youth attend Camp Arrah Wanna. Now that summer is over and most people are back in town the students thought it would be a good time to say thank you to all who contributed, either through prayer or financial support, to the success of iquest and Camp Arrah Wanna. What better way to say thank you then by hosting a dessert in your honor. At the dessert, students will not only wait on you hand and foot but they will share their experiences about both iquest and Camp Arrah Wanna. There will be pictures and maybe even a video from both events. And of course there will be a great selection of dessert choices. So if you contributed in any way to the trip or camp, we want you to attend the special Summer Recap Dessert on Friday September 28th at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall. In fact even if you were unable to contribute to iquest or Arrah Wanna but you want to hear from our students about what God did in their lives this summer, please feel free to join us. If you would like to attend please RSVP as soon as possible by calling the office ( ) or sending an to Joy (jfasbender@fbc-portland.org) and telling how many will be attending with you. This year we took students to High School Camp and 4 students to Elementary camp. Among the many activities that students participated in was the high ropes course where high schoolers were challenged to conquere their fears. Anthony Preston, Nik Rose, Anthony Im, Jeovanny Rufureza, Edgar Guterez and Anthony Mendez receive instruction before attempting the course. Page 5

6 SEPTEMBER SUNDAY 27 MONDAY 28 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 29 Choir rehearsals resume Cambodian Potluck following 11:00 service, Cambodian Committee after potluck FBC offices closed LABOR DAY Return of the Wednesday Night Dinners 5:45 pm Choir Retreat 9:00 am 2:00 pm Worship Committee 7:00 pm Mission Outreach 4:30 pm C.E. Committee 6:30 pm Trumpeter Deadline White Cross 10:00 am Downtown Fellowship 10:00 am Diaconate 6:35 pm Next Trumpeter Mailing Youth Mission Stock Holder s Dessert 6:30 8:00 pm 30 Page 6

7 Sermon Schedule September 2 What s It For? Isaiah 35: 3 7 Mark 7: Communion Sunday September 9 Foolishness Psalm 98: Corinthians 1: September 16 The Tongue Psalm 19: 1 11 James 3: 1 12 September 23 The Greatest Mark 9: James 3: September 30 Looking Out for Each Other Numbers 11: James 5: Member Birthdays Louise Freeze... 9/1 Bunchan Chan... 9/1 Lauralee Ware... 9/1 Al Hodgin... 9/3 Bunly Lay... 9/4 Dan Velasquez... 9/4 Esther Winn... 9/4 Pisey Sok... 9/5 Sreyhiek Seng... 9/5 Sreyroat Seng... 9/5 Sorn Theang... 9/5 Wendy Berglund... 9/7 Sopheap Khim... 9/8 Karin Irwin... 9/8 Hieng Lam... 9/9 Arne Anderson... 9/10 Kimseng Ty... 9/10 Bruce Borquist... 9/11 Jason Falone... 9/12 Ron Shepherd... 9/13 Douglas Sanchez... 9/14 Trinity Myers... 9/14 Diane Platt... 9/15 Merica Fooks... 9/15 Manny Perez... 9/16 Jim Townley... 9/16 Peter Im... 9/20 Regina Callahan... 9/21 Katie M Reed... 9/21 Lee Potampa... 9/22 Vanna Tan... 9/22 Maxine Eggers... 9/23 Nick Gherasim... 9/23 Sophy Puth... 9/24 Lois Chartier... 9/25 Elizabeth Harnish... 9/25 Forrest Wyler... 9/25 Connie Shearer... 9/26 Carolyn Zwaschka... 9/26 Michele Lee... 9/26 Jim Watson... 9/27 Nancy Ponce... 9/28 Alan Martin... 9/30 Weekly Schedule and Activities SUNDAY 9:00 Contemporary Service 10:00 Sunday School for all ages 11:00 Worship Service, Sanctuary Cambodian language, Rose Chapel Children s Church for ages 3 through 2nd Grade, follows the Time for Children at 11:00 6:00 & 8:00 pm: Solid Rock SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY 5:00 pm: Transitional Youth MONDAY SATURDAY 6:00 8:30 am: Eye Opener (AA meeting) MONDAY & THURSDAY 2:00 4:00 pm: Drop-In Center TUESDAY 5:30 pm: Dinner And A Movie WEDNESDAY 5:45 pm: Wednesday Night Dinner 6:15 pm: Youth Choir 6:30 pm: Adult Bible Study 6:45 pm: Kindergarten Midweek 7:35 pm: Choir Rehearsal FRIDAY Office closed 6:00 pm: FOCUS SATURDAY 8:30 10:30 am: Cambodian Men s Fellowship Bible Study Page 7

8 (USPS ) is published monthly at First Baptist Church, Portland OR Periodicals postage paid at Portland, Oregon. Postmaster: Send address changes to: 909 SW 11th Avenue Portland, OR (USPS ) is published monthly Find us on the worldwide web: and cambodianministries.org The next Trumpeter deadline is September 17, Please send articles to Dr. David L. Wheeler Senior Pastor Ed Stelle Senior Adult Ministries Peter Im Cambodian Ministries Rick Francis Interim Minister of C.E. and Discipleship Travis Hatton Music Director Keith Ponce Facilities and Events Manager Cathy Francis Business Administrator Eldon Trichnor» a n d h i s a c c o r d i o n «Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 10:30 AM

September, 2013 Volume 75, No. 8. Workin!

September, 2013 Volume 75, No. 8. Workin! Volume 75, No. 8 Workin! In a congregation I pastored in Southern California there was a lean, bearded brother named Dan. He was single, and lived in a mobile home on a rustic lot at the edge of town.