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What People Are Saying

Click image below to watch a video highlighting the impact last years Advent Conspiracy video had on individuals in the Portland area.

Last years gift funded the Credit Recovery program, instituted by Portland Public Schools, and the Home Again Mentoring Project which provided mentoring and programs for homeless seeking to get off the streets.

Quotes

Stories

Vancouver, Washington

Mayor Royce Pollard was awestruck when he was approached in the spring of 2008 by Vancouver area churches that wanted to serve. They didn’t have a hidden agenda. They weren’t advocating a cause. They hadn’t come with picket signs or petitions. They simply wanted to serve the city.

“I couldn’t be happier,” the mayor said. “I see this as nothing other than the opening of the floodgates of what our churches could do to help our communities.”

Serving Portland Area Schools

Read the March 7, 2009, Oregonian article: Evangelicals walk a fine line in public schools.

Deborah Peterson began to cry as she watched a thousand volunteers pile off buses, tools in hand, coming to clean the school that she loves. As the principal of one of Portland’s most historic schools, Roosevelt High, every day she noticed the school’s need for a facelift.

It is estimated that by the end of the day, this one project alone saved the school district $200,000.

Roosevelt was one of many schools touched by church congregations, business leaders, and government officials through the Season of Service. Schools throughout the Northwest were blessed through campus clean-up days, tutoring and mentorship programs, literacy programs, day camps, and a ministry known as “Packed with Love” that provided backpacks stuffed with school supplies for underprivileged students.

“For the Church, love has to be a verb,” said the volunteer coordinator for Roosevelt’s clean-up day, Kristine Summer-Maxwell. “And this is what it looks like.”

Compassion Clinics

Driving down a street in her neighborhood, Marsha Barton noticed a sign for a Season of Service Compassion Clinic. She pulled in to find free food, free medical and dental care, and free chiropractic treatment for tension caused by her use of a cane.

The Compassion Clinic at which Marsha was a guest was one of many across Oregon where doctors and dentists, social workers and lawyers, business leaders and pastors all donated their time, energy, and resources to offer practical assistance to thousands of people.

Dr. Bob Sayson’s reward came with each and every individual he served. “We see lives transformed a hope shining in people’s eyes where there was no hope before because they had no way to get help,” he said. “My Savior is the one who led the way; He came for the needy and the poor. I do this now to show His love to people.”

Caring for Kids

Well-stated by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, “Hunger doesn’t stop with the school year.” Thousands of children across the state are on free and reduced lunch programs, but where can they go for daily nutrition when the school year is over?

This summer the state and church partnered together to care for these kids. The state provided lunches while churches and ministries provided volunteers with loving arms to embrace kids yearning for stability. At more than 400 locations each weekday, thousands of youth found a fun and upbeat atmosphere to receive a solid meal, enjoy reading times, play games, be active, and listen to concerts.

Cindy Allen, a coordinator at Shute Park, and hundreds of others like her, reached out with the love of Christ in a practical way. They offered hope where there was none.

“That’s why I do this,” Cindy said with tears in her eyes as she looked across the park filled with 400 children. A smile spread over her face. “That’s why.”

He Said, She Said (Quotes)

From the Inaugural Season of Service (Portland, 2008)

“I don’t think people can hear love if they have a toothache. I don’t think people really want to hear the Gospel if they haven’t eaten in the last two days. You have to get help to people to even be heard. It’s a loud message, when you meet a need. All of the sudden you have relationship. You’ve earned the right to be heard.”
Bill Russell
Executive Director, Union Gospel Mission

“I do this because I want them to know how much God loves them, and that there is hope.”
Dr. Bob Sayson
Volunteer doctor at Compassion Rockwood “

I got to see a physician, which is great because I was really worried about a knee problem that I have. I also got to see a chiropractor who worked on some of the problems that I have from walking with a cane.”
Marsha Barton
Compassion SE Guest

“We all have these voids in our hearts, in our bodies, in our souls, and in our spirits that we try to fill with things that aren’t meant to be filled with anything but Christ. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who haven’t experienced what Christ has for them. I’m hoping that the people who are here, and through the compassion that is shown to them here, will fill that void just a little. That is what will open that door to them saying, ‘Wow; that is powerful! I want some more o f that.’”
Jeffrey Palen
Union Gospel Mission, Lifechange / Volunteer at Compassion SE

“Because of CityFest (and the Season of Service), we became involved in the lunch program. At our VBS (vacation Bible school), 25 percent of the  kids came from the lunch program. Through this experience, our church is open to the community for a free meal each week.”
Pastor Dave
Tigard Covenant Church

“I’ve lived here off and on since I was 18 years old. I have a history in this neighborhood and I have never every seen anything like this. This is the first time I’ve ever seen an organization – a number of organizations – come together and present something like this to the public in this neighborhood. It’s really needed.”
Dave Johnson
Union Gospel Mission, Lifechange / Volunteer

“When good people of goodwill come together and honor one another and believe in hope, miracles happen. That’s what’s happening today.”
Deborah Peterson
Principal, Roosevelt High School
 
“Service proclaims the Gospel of Christ in ways that validate the explanation. So, it’s a demonstration and explanation that together becomes a proclamation.”
Clark Blakeman
Local Mission Pastor, Imago Dei Community Church

“For the church, love has to be a verb. And this is what it looks like.” Kristine Summer-Maxwell
Missions and Outreach Director, South Lake Church
Volunteer Coordinator, Roosevelt High School Clean-up Project

“Today we have many different denominations of churches that have dropped their denominational hat. They’re just pitching in to help each other, and side by side with them are social agencies that don’t have any sort of religious affiliation at all.”
Rob Howell
Director of Development, Union Gospel Mission

“Palau has done a superb job of uniting the churches in Portland.” Milan Homola
Co-Founder, Compassion Rockwood

“The church is saying to the community that we want to care for you outside the walls of our building. We love you, we care for you, and we want to serve you."
Chris McFarland
Director, Portland CityFest

“Meeting people’s immediate physical needs, I think, is important because the Gospel is for the whole person. For years we’ve really focused almost exclusively on the soul. And yet the Gospel, at least according to Jesus, is for the totality of the person. That means their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.”
Clark Blakeman
Local Mission Pastor, Imago Dei Community Church

“It’s been helpful to get the dental exams for my kids, and get anything else that we’ve needed.”
Katrina Henson
Compassion SE Guest

“Service says more than our words. I mean, we could lie to people, but service you can’t lie about. Either you deliver it or you don’t."
Bill Russell
Executive Director, Union Gospel Mission
 
“It’s a common bond that everybody is here to serve. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from or what age you are; it’s all about service.”
Mike Chamberlain
Principal, Five Oaks Middle School

“Because everybody came out and did this work for the school district (Roosevelt High School Clean-up Day) we saved over 200,000 dollars. But I must say it’s more than just the monetary value, it shows that the community cares about our schools and that’s awesome.”
Jerry Lively
Project Manager, Portland School District

“If you have an idea, start it up and the support will be there. Absolutely.”
Aaron Persons
Vice Principal, Five Oaks Middle School 

“In serving I find deeper purpose and meaning. I want people to come and experience the same thing.”
Milan Homola
Co-Founder, Compassion Rockwood

“Everybody’s needs get met because everybody gives a little bit.” Michele Kelso
Volunteer, Portland Season of Service