Standing in the Gap for Oregon

Willamette Falls, Clackamas County, OR This says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come…” Isaiah 56:1 Clackamas County is part of the Metro area of Oregon, meaning it is one of the three counties that make up Portland: Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington. However, Clackamas County has other areas of interest as well. The south-eastern portion of the county is largely rural and extends into the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The county seat is Oregon City. I was born in Oregon City because the hospital was here. My parents were living in those foothills at the time. A couple of years ago I moved to Oregon City and have now learned something about the history. The town was platted, originally, by Dr. John McLoughlin, and his influence is everywhere. The park site where his house and grave are located is a couple of blocks from me. The McLoughlin Promenade is also a couple blocks away and has views of much of his original land claim, inc...

  Canyon Trail, Silver Creek Falls, Marion County Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls… Jeremiah 6:16 Marion County was one of the original counties in Oregon, created in 1843 as Champooick District, then Champoeg County, then Marion in 1849. The county seat is Salem, which is also the state capitol. The Methodists are well-documented in Marion County with Jason Lee’s mission established in the mid-Willamette Valley in 1834. The Methodists Episcopal Church had a strong presence in Marion County, but there are other religious groups who also played an important role in the early settlement of the Willamette Valley. Marion County, OR From the last decade of the eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, America experienced the Second Great Awakening. While established Protestant denominations such as the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians benefited...

Jordan Valley Church, Malheur County, OR May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. Psalm 122:7 NIV A very large county, Malheur lies in the extreme southeast corner of the state. This is the final county in our Oregon Outback region. Idaho is to the east, Nevada to the south. In size, it is second to Harney, with 9,926 square miles and a population of around 30,000. It still holds the distinction of having the worst crime rate in the state. Vale is the county seat with Ontario being the largest town. I have fond memories of Malheur County. Since the time I was a college student there, being a border town has had both perks and problems for those on either side of the state line. Residents in Idaho could purchase goods across the river and not pay Idaho sales tax, for example. At one time the legal drinking age was lower in Idaho, as well as the qualifications to graduate high school. That has changed, but now another issue has raised its head. Malheur...

Harney County Courthouse But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 While we might have questions about Klamath or Lake Counties, there is no doubt at all that Harney County is in the Oregon Outback . It is in the southwest corner of the state, bordering Nevada, and is five hours from Portland, but only three from Boise, Idaho. At 10,622 square miles it is the largest county in the state – in fact, in many states - and Oregon’s sixth least populated by total population, but the most sparsely populated when calculating people per square mile. The county seat is the town of Burns, with Hines, just next door, being the other incorporated town in the county. Harney County, OR The Harney County Sheriff currently is Dan Jenkins. The office recently hired two new 911 dispatchers and two patrol deputies. While still short staffed, the...