A Deeper Look: Praying for Portland

Portland, Oregon

Thus says the Lord:“Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it then you will find rest for your souls..." Jeremiah 6:16

 Portland is the largest city in Oregon, and as such, many eyes are on the city. In focusing our prayers on Portland, we have previously looked at the early history and places and events that indicate a need for repentance and for spiritual cleansing of the city. The early “crimp” trade along the waterfront, the bootlegging during Prohibition and instances of corruption among early officials are all areas for repentance and healing. Many local Christians have prayed and pulled down the spiritual strongholds established in the rough-and-tumble history of Portland, and we need to continue to stand in the gap for the Metro area.  

We speak of re-digging “old wells,” but Portland’s history seems more like multiple underground streams when we research the various Christian influences that have visited the area. This quote from a book published in 1870, indicates that the early settlers of the city of Portland were known for their quiet industry and respectability.

The population of Portland is now from eight to ten thousand, who keep Sunday with as much strictness almost as Puritanic New England does, which can be said of no other population this side of the Rocky Mountains at least. Samuel Bowles, Our New West.

 In researching some of the early churches established in Oregon in the early pioneer days, we find a variety. One denomination that was very active was the Church of Christ or Disciples of Christ, whose members began arriving with the very first wagon trains in the early 1840’s. Many of the Oregon immigrants were from the mid-west and were strongly influenced by the Awakening that started in 1800 in Kentucky. The Methodists, of course, were already in place and arrived early due to Jason Lee.

In 1905, Portland, by then known as the most dangerous seaport in the world, shared in some of the renewal that was spread by the Welch and Azusa Street revivals. That was the year J. Wilbur Chapman, a Presbyterian, organized a city-wide revival meeting in Portland attended by tens of thousands with many cottage prayer groups springing up, and businesses agreeing to close three hours daily for prayer.

J. Edwin Orr, researcher into the history of religious revivals, wrote about the revival of 1905 in The Flaming Tongue:

 

One report from Portland, Oregon, describes the deep incursions of “religious enthusiasm” (revival) not only into the church and hearts of individual Christians but into the very fabric of the everyday life of the culture. 

 

Chapman was Presbyterian, a respectable mainline denomination, but the not-so-respectable Pentecostals were on the move as well.

Portland has some interesting connections with the Pentecostal movement and the healing ministries that arose with it. A minister named Charles F. Parham is credited with being the founder of the Pentecostal movement beginning at a Bible school he opened in Kansas. One of his students, William Seymour, traveled to Los Angeles and started the Azusa Street revival of 1905, which led to the establishment of numerous Pentecostal denominations. 

After 1905 Charles Parham’s influence declined, although he continued to preach. In the 1920’s he held evangelistic services in Portland, Oregon. A young teenager named Gordon Lindsay was converted in one of his services at John G. Lake’s church. A few years later Gordon Lindsay began working with John G. Lake, a well-known name in Pentecostal and healing circles, who had a church and healing ministry in Portland during the 20’s and 30’s. In the 1920’s there were several Pentecostal preachers with large followings who held meetings in Portland including Aimee Semple-McPherson (founder of the Foursquare Church) and Smith Wigglesworth. But not all the divine healers were Pentecostal.

James Moore Hickson, an Anglican from Australia and England was drawing huge crowds during this time. His first visit to the U.S. brought him to Portland, and the Oregonian printed a lengthy article of the healing miracles that took place at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. The March 7, 1920, headline reads, “Sufferers Testify to Healer’s Power: James Moore Hickson lays hands on thousands.”

Larger crowds than ever thronged the vicinity of Grace church yesterday to feel the healing touch of Mr. Hickson. Probably 2000 men, women and children thronged about the modest little edifice that, within the last two days, has been the mecca of sufferers from bodily ills. That many were helped was the general declaration of those in attendance.  The Oregonian, March 7, 1920.

Interestingly, these early revival and healing ministers such as Charles S. Price, Aimee Semple-McPherson and Smith Wigglesworth all died within a short time of each other in the 1940’s. In their stead came a stronger wave of healing ministries, beginning with a man named William Branham and eventually a long list of others, including Oral Roberts, many of whom held services in Portland during the 40’s and 50’s.

Our Portland teenager, Gordon Lindsay, by this time was pastoring a church in Ashland, Oregon, and was introduced to Branham in 1947. They joined forces, with Gordon promoting Branham’s ministry and then the whole healing movement through his magazine, The Voice of Healing. He went on to write over 200 books and to found “Christ for the Nations,” an international missions ministry and college.

All of that to say that Portland has not been left out of God’s revival movements over the years. There are many “old wells” in Portland’s past.

How do we pray for Portland?

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. “So rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:12-13

Pray the old spiritual wells of revival left by our spiritual forefathers - whether the early descendants of Puritans, the evangelists of 1905 or the mid-century preachers of healing and deliverance - be renewed and joined as one, turning Portland’s heart to the Lord.