Oregon

I have a friend here at the seminary who has spent the last 14 years as a pastor in Oregon. He would definitely say that its mission territory

 

I like that area because there is not much infighting in and among churches. Churches are trying to encourage one another because they are in the battle together. The churches there do not get much publicity if any. Very few people go to church.

I love it because people will see through you real fast if you are not genuine. Often it takes a long time to win somebody to Christ. A lot of the easy believism stuff goes out the door because those living for Christ see through it.

Take a look at where the majority of the televangelists live. It is not there.

 

Our present DOM was a DOM in Oregon for 8 years. I have been told that Pacific Northwest is the least evangelized area of country. Also, perhaps, the most liberal in their theology.

 

Don't know if you know it or not but some of the fastest growing evangelistic churches are in Washington. I know of one church in Mt. Vernon that is about five years old that runs about 800 on a Sunday. They have started nine new churches since they began. That preacher preaches the stuff. When you walk in the door you know the place is different. They are no nonsense and serious about their faith. Those people are mostly new Christians and are not afraid to share their faith. Some of the strongest Christians I have met are from that area.

Many SBC churches all over the west coast are dying because they do not do evangelism. Many in the SBC there are former southern SBC folks who have been transplanted.

My closest Christian friends from when I lived there who came to know Christ in college still communicate with one another. One of them has a ministry to pastors. Two have been pastors and the other is a medical doctor. Everyone of them are still living for Christ and discipling people 33 years later.

The non-believers and liberal churches are quite liberal in their theology. The evangelistic Christians are the most evangelistic of anywhere I have been in the US. Being a church-goer is not a cultural thing and the society is more anti-church. Personally I like that because it keeps me praying and sharing my faith. The fact is that I have won more people to Christ there who remain strong than anywhere I have lived. Most of the time the decisions for Christ are not made quickly at a whim in an altar call. People are led to Christ often through much prayer, friendship and Biblke study. The society generally doesn't go to church much and they do not know anything about the gospel.

The pastor of the church I attended knocked on doors reguarly. Many of the people in the church had been long term and/or short term missionaries.

However the SBC folks that are there now realize the problem and do not welcome pastors from the south unless they are willing to work hard and do things differently from the south. In fact if you want to go there to plant a church through them you will get very highly scrutinized. The church plant leaders will not accept you near as easily as in the south. If you go there you had better be in it for the long haul. You will need to work much harder than in the south. However the congregation will not want you to visit them much like in the south. They do expect you to work hard and pray and study well.

People there do not care about the name on the sign but rather about the genuineness of the people inside.

 

It is probably in Oregon or Washington. Washington is where I grew up and found Christ. I find it refreshing without all the religious nonsense. I think many who live in a religious culture are shackled and don't even know it. People there are ashamed of the shamans (televangelists) on TV.

What you will find is that few shamans will go there to try and get money from the Christians who live there. One time there was a man coming to the town I lived in and a group of Christians took out a fullpage ad in the newspaper warning of the idiot coming and how crooked he was. The man never showed. It was the Christians in the city that warned everyone one of the man who was coming to take their money in the name of Jesus.

I believe non-Christians have respect for Christians who will stand against those shamans who come in the name of Jesus.

 

Dear Gb,
Thanks for thr info. Most of my thoughts were from 2nd hand sources, although, I also, read the same statistics as SaggyWoman.

 

Our Pastor just came to us last year from that area, We are leaving for (Yakama ? spelling) Washinston in july to do VBS and door to door evangelism with churchs in that area.
I have a friend who is a pastor in upstate N.Y. he says that area is also in need of much help.

 

I agree that Oregon (and Washington, where I live) is "mission territory". But I would also have to add Alabama, Texas, Florida (and all of the states and countries of the world), as "mission territory".

None of us were BORN Christians. ALL of us are adopted by God upon our belief in Christ Jesus. That makes ALL of us (as individuals) a mission territory.

If we ever stop evangelizing, the church is dead. Pray to and praise God that He won't let that happen!

Bill

 

Servent, the spelling is Yakima, but the Indian tribe for which it is named is Yakama.

Go figure!

Welcome to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Keep praying for us up here, and have a good mission trip. I will be praying for your group as you travel and work here.

Bill

 

I would have said 'no' but talked to my sister in law (who lives in Oregon since 1974) when Jim's aunt was killed and she said they'd left the Baptist church and are now Lutheran's. The reasons she gave are personal so won't list them here. Her husband was born and raised Catholic tho.

 

Several years ago we had the distinction of being the least churched state in the union, probably hasn't changed a whole lot.

Most churches are into the usual greeting time, chorus time and preaching that will make one anemic, if not dead.

Mission field? Well maybe, but it is well evangelized by those that are here so I personally say there are better places to send missionaries, like to the countries that have no witness. Not to argue with God if He sends someone out here

"Liberal in theology" - we have a realatively good mix of liberal conservative as does most of the rest of the country.

Liberal in politics? Very definitely, one of the most liberal, though there are some signs of a positive future. Small signs, but there seems to be a conservativism born of the liberal spending and foolish laws the liberals have been passing.

A Christian senator, twenty-five years ago introduced a unthanasia bill. We have a doctor assisted suicide law and have had for several years.

Lots of feel good, fuzzy wuzzy preaching to those that love to hear it.

Many Christian's love to argue against anyone that takes a stand for the Lord, just to show how tolerant they are I guess.

I find a better listening ear for things spiritual in those that are lost, than in believers - sweeping general statement - wife has had a number of good conversations with lost interupted by believers that would rather disagree than assist in helping someone in spiritual need.

If someone is considering coming as a missionary I'd be glad to answer more specific questions.

One pointer, it is ore-gun, not ore-gone

 

Thanks for bringing me up to speed, from one who lives there.

 

We have 2 population centers in Oregon taht are a hotbed of liberal democrats, that hate God and everything He stands for. the Portland metropolitan area, and the Eugene Springfield area have a large enough voting block to keep the whole rest of teh state at bay. I think you would find many Christians living in Oregon, but we are overwhelmed at the poles. Oh yes the southern city of Ashland is also a den of homosexual activists and voters. If our family weren't here and it weren't so beautiful, we'd move.

 

Then there is the capital, Salem, where the state workers/union support liberals. Actually most of the west side of the state

Don't you have a lot of radical rights and nuts in your area as well hillclimber, used to be anyway.

If anyone wants to hear the "rights" take on the state try http://www.larslarson.com

 

Oregon is mission territory!

Illinois is mission territory!

Texas is mission territory!

Alaska is mission territory!

New York is mission territory!

Mexico is mission territory!

Russia is mission territory!

England is mission territory!

Monoco is mission territory!

Turkey is mission territory!

China is mission territory!

Are we not to preach the gospel to the WHOLE WORLD?

Therefore

EARTH IS MISSION TERRITORY!

Bill

 

Oregon is indeed relatively unchurched. When we go door to door for our church people are indifferent to what the Bible says. It seems so easy for young people, growing up, to leave the church. But there are committed believers who put in the time. It seems that people are always looking for what can the church do "for them" instead of what can they learn about God and the Bible and how they can get closer to God . . .

 

We are in southern Oregon, and I have never seen so many people sincere about their Christianity. Barry and I have been amazed at how many people who have worked on our home, who have served us in stores and restaurants, and even neighbors, who not only claim to be Christian, but mean it with their lives. It is a joy to live here.

 

Helen, do you see a major difference in the churches/ denominations? My sister in law lives very near you and they've actually left the Baptist church are are attending a Luteran church. They've lived there, now, for about 34 years.

Georgia has SO many not in church and SO many on Meth and other drugs. Teen pregnancy is dropping but divorce is rising. Georgia is certainly mission territory!