Standing in the Gap for Oregon

Latourelle Falls In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6 Many prayers have gone up for Multnomah County and the City of Portland. We wrote about an early minister, Archie Word of the Montavilla Christian Church established in about 1915, and his impact on the community. You can read more about Archie Word and his church here . Read more about the area  here , and here .  We have been thinking about the power of prayer, specifically the Prayer of Agreement, and aligning with those pioneers who prayed over the region before us. It has been challenging to locate recorded prayers over Oregon, but they do exist. We will keep searching. In the meantime, one type of prayer that is recorded is those said by legislative chaplains during the opening ceremonies for the legislature. On the federal level, the chaplains’ prayers are archived and easily found online. State accounts are more difficult, but one that was not only recorded but made news...

Portland and Mount Hood Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 14:23 We have now come full circle around the state praying for those in leadership in each county, now back in Multnomah County.  Multnomah County is, of course, home to the largest city in the state, Portland, which is also the county seat. It is the smallest by area, about 474 square miles, with the largest population, 815,428. Its northern border is the Columbia River, and it lies just to the west of Hood River and north of Clackamas County. The county was formed in 1854 out of parts of Washington County and the northern part of Clackamas County. Multnomah is Chinookan for “lower river.” Multnomah County, Oregon Numerous denominations were established in Multnomah County, especially in the growing city of Portland, in the early pioneer days. Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Episcopalian a...

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...

  But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed . Isaiah 53:5 Thoughts are turning to the 2022 elections in Oregon. The candidate lists are still being determined, but the primary is May 17 th , a date to keep in prayer. The election itself is November 8 th . The spotlight is on the governor’s race, but there are other positions open that are nearly as crucial to the future as the governor’s race. I tend to think of Multnomah as synonymous with the City of Portland, but of course there is a bit of country to the east of Portland that is outside the city limits and more rural. Troutdale, Wood Village, and Gresham as well as smaller, unincorporated communities are in Multnomah County. Portland is the county seat. We wrote earlier about Multnomah County and Portland . Multnomah is the smallest county in the state at 433 square miles, and the largest by population. It’...

  Hayden Island, Portland, OR …. nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6: 10-11   Prohibition was passed in Oregon in 1914, and took effect in 1916, four years before it went into effect nationally in 1920. The Christian Women’s Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League were campaigning for the banning of alcohol from the late 1800’s through the early years of the 20 th century. Those in favor of prohibition saw it as a solution to the problem of men who spent their time – and money – in taverns, instead of supporting their wives and children. Alcohol consumption contributed to domestic violence, child abuse and other social ills. By banning this evil, those promoting prohibition believed it would free those affected from the debilitating effects ...

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much .  James 5:16   At the beginning of the twentieth century terms such as “most dangerous port,” (in the west, the country, the world) were used about Portland, as well as “wide open.” The police customarily fined illicit businesses such as gambling houses, brothels, and opium dens, but otherwise left them alone.   However, there were other forces at work in Portland in the early years of the twentieth century. We can touch on some of them.   The Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, which had been in the planning stages for several years, took place June 1 to October 15 th of 1905. The city merchants and the state government had cooperated to produce what amounted to a world’s fair to showcase Oregon. The preparation for this event improved the infrastructure of the city and boost...

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 Usually we focus a Spotlight on lesser-known or out-of-the-way communities in Oregon, but this time we want to look at Portland, the state’s largest metropolitan area, situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.    If you google religion and Portland, you get numerous headlines declaring it the most unchurched and non-religious city in the country.    It was not always so.   A lot happened in the 1840’s. Settlers began coming to Oregon on the Oregon Trail, many farmers drawn by a PR campaign that promoted the rich, fertile land in the Willamette Valley. Some of those early settlers included Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove who are well known for flipping a coin in 1845 to determine the name of the town they were establishing on their 640 ...