2010 Local Conference Pastor Report
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The document provides a report on the ministries and programs at Oregon City Evangelical Church in 2010. It summarizes the activities in each program area over the past year, including children's, youth, music, prayer, and outreach ministries. It highlights growth in areas like youth involvement, Growth Groups, and community outreach programs. It concludes by praising volunteers and looking forward to continued growth under God's direction in the coming year.
2010 Local Conference Pastor Report
- 1. Raising up generations of faithful and prepared followers of Jesus Christ. Oregon City Evangelical Church 2010 Local Conference Report to the Supt. Chris Neilson and Church Council Presented by Pastor Tom Hurt ~ March 30, 2010 "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." … “when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." … They all met together continually for prayer. … On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus' resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 1:4-5; 7-8; 14; 2:1-4 (NLT) Jesus did not allow his disciples to get comfortable and complacent. Instead He gave them the uncomfortable task of “waiting” for what He promised, a season of praying as they waited and, once the Holy Spirit came, they went out into the mission He had assigned to them. The “gravity” that pulls toward comfort and complacency is strong, never ending and is often the wolf disguised in the sheep’s clothing of being “conservative” and “steady.” When we look at Jesus in the climate of the religious culture around Him, we observe a radical who pushed against the accepted “norms” and called individuals to follow Him into action. He is calling OCEC to raise up faithful and prepared followers of Jesus Christ to follow Him; not our past, our traditions or even our ideas. I believe He still wants us to wait upon the filling and direction of the Holy Spirit, to pray as we wait and, once the Spirit directs, to move out into His mission assigned to us. There is no doubt that God intends for us to build up His followers, which we have done and must continue, but with eyes clearly focused on His mission. I believe that God is directing more and more that we point our arrows out to the world which is only footsteps from the walls of our church. The days in which we live can motivate us to individualism and isolationism or to unity and engagement. The clear way of Christ is unity as His people engage lost humanity in unfamiliar territory and in non-traditional ways. I am so thankful for ways in which OCEC has been looking outside its walls to engage people in Christ- a Sunday morning Bible Study at KCs Midway Bar & Grill, a weekly Bible Study at Parrott Creek Boys’ Ranch led by several men, providing for families in the community at Thanksgiving and Christmas, 15 different service projects completed on Love in Action Sunday in August, a quick response when tragedy hit OC High School, serving as a homeless shelter during two weeks in the winter, regular trips to serve at Warm Springs Reservation, high school youth monthly serving at CityTeam, sponsoring Celebrate Recovery and helping to start Free on the Outside, an adult only worship service. These are a great expression of the heart of Jesus for our community and must be pursued further as 2010 continues to unfold before us. I am looking forward to the church adopting Mt. Pleasant Elementary School and possibly Gardiner Middle School as our own- to love and care for the students and staff as Jesus loves them. A first step is to help deal with hunger issues through a Back Pack Buddies program that will begin the week following Easter. It is incredible experience to watch as children, teens and adults grow and develop as Jesus followers at OCEC. The Sunday and Wednesday preschool, children and youth ministries are fantastic. On Wednesday nights the number of young people in S.W.A.T. and youth ministries whose families do not regularly attend church is nearly 50%! The Inn, a ministry to young adults 18-30, is moving forward and reaching out to many who have turned away from the church. Our sermon-based Growth Groups are helping people connect with each other, God’s Word and to pray. Praise God for great leaders that facilitate excellent ministries and coordinate so many volunteers who serve our King! As summer 2010 arrives, several opportunities to extend our touch into our community open before us. Summer Ministries is a prime means of raising up the next generation of leaders as they are trained to support Vacation Bible School, Summer Blast church-based day camps, and, new this year, an outreach soccer camp in partnership with Ambassadors rd in Sports. In August, we will have our 3 Love in Action Weekend which will include Worship Through Service projects on Saturday and Sunday with one abbreviated worship service on Sunday morning sandwiched in-between. I praise the Lord for a great staff and fantastic team of volunteers who provide ministry week after week. It is exciting that the church is out of debt and has completely “paid ourselves back” from internal borrowing. Soon we will get the final word that the Rivercrest Neighborhood lawsuit is completely over. When we do we will rejoice! I’m thankful that with a reduced budget and tight finances the church has continued to seek to be generous in helping others in need. It is my prayer that we will remain faithful to God, be willing to risk for the Kingdom of God and trust God when it doesn’t look logical. I pray that we will learn more about prayer and place our trust in the promises of The Great Provider and work boldly and in unity for the purposes of our King.
- 2. 2009-10 Sunday School Average: 399 (down 5 from 2008-2009) High of 490 in February 2009-10 Worship Average: 541 (down 12 from 2008-2009) High of 933 on Easter (Up 166 from 2008) 2009-10 Total Attendance: 927 (up 4 from 2008-2009) High of 1049 in February. Preschool Praise the Lord, preschoolers were brought by moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and neighbors, and introduced to Jesus by a loving staff of adults and teens each week! I believe the Lord is leading us to encourage and equip families to establish regular times of worship and devotions in the home Grade School Praise the Lord…A staff of 100+ highly committed adults and teens devote their time every week to sharing Jesus with grade school children at OCEC – through Sunday School, listening to memory work, KLUB JESUS and S.W.A.T. (Students With A Testimony) they are helping kids learn to worship, pray, read God’s Word and serve others. I believe the Lord is leading to new ways of developing effective leaders in the children and teens of today through a new S.W.A.T. Leadership Team of children (beginning April 2010) and through increased mentoring relationships of Summer Ministry Team members and assistants. Junior High Praise the Lord we have seen a steady increase of youth coming to church and getting plugged in, the spiritual life of the jr highers is the best that I have ever seen, this past year we have brought 15 jr highers to the Lord and at the end of February baptized 4 jr highers. We believe the Lord is leading to increase the number of jr highers that are in a discipleship relationship with older people within the church High School We are praising the Lord that He is raising up students who will faithfully and boldly follow Jesus wherever He leads. This next year, we look forward to developing our student leaders to be a part of the ministry to their peers. Next Gen. Praising God for the leaders within The Inn. In April we will take our third staff retreat and there will be 24 leaders involved in planning ministry for Next Generation. Praise God! Goal is to have these 20+ volunteer staff actively growing, training and involved in the life and ministry of The Inn. Music Ministry Praise the Lord for many musicians using their gifts in worship leadership and ministry, including worship teams, Adult Choir, Handbell ensemble and a larger-than-ever children’s choir (Friendship Co.). Last December, more than 100 volunteers also helped OCEC present Four Tickets to Christmas in 5 dessert theatre performances. We believe the Lord is leading us to develop music and worship leaders for generations to come, including our worship intern, Brian See, and our expanding ministries to and through children. Prayer Ministry Praise the Lord for the prayerful labor of the Prayer Development Team this past year that resulted in Council approval of a 3-page “Strategic Prayer Plan” that will guide OCEC’s progress toward becoming a House of Prayer. We believe the Lord is leading us particularly to promote and encourage intercessors committed to praying for each of our pastors and prayer teams praying for each of our services. Women’s Ministry God has been faithful in answering our prayers to have the younger and the older women, both in years and spiritual growth, come together in studying the Word, praying, mentoring, enjoying fellowship and serving. Women from our church fellowship and the community are involved. Looking with anticipation to what the Lord will do in Women’s Ministry as we streamline our program, incorporate a new director and meet the needs of our women in their season of life. Marriage Ministry Praising God for a good year of encouraging marriage through church sponsored Date Nights and Family Life Weekends to Remember. To nurture, encourage and provide resources to help every marriage grow more healthy. Growth Groups Praise God for an incredible leadership team of six. When we started there were no more than 12 to 14 groups meeting on a weekly basis. Since introducing the Growth Groups to OCEC we have more than doubled with approximately 50% involvement as individuals grow in prayer, study of the Word and fellowship. Our goal is to have better than 60% involvement from within the church including every age group. Senior Visitation Thankful for the lay people who are willing to visit and encourage our shut-ins. The goal for the coming year is to gain more involvement from lay people to visit and encourage shut-ins. Prime Time Min. Praise for all the volunteers who make Prime Time group run so smoothly. The Lord is leading the group to reach outside the church through ministries like Backpack Buddies.