Stories from the Field

We have been focusing on the nature of the church body as a family, and Serena and I are encouraged by what God is doing. Church members are growing closer in their relationships with each other, and more people are volunteering to serve in the church. Several women painted the children’s classrooms. Others stepped up

Hartland Center Community Church has been working for two years toward becoming a self-supporting VM partner church. Now, in 2022, we have accomplished this goal! One reason is that God brought several new families to us. The church is so grateful for Village Missions, and there is a good spirit of love and unity! In early

We’ve been encouraged by evidence of God at work in the fathers in our church, Worley Community Church. One week in our discipleship group, a man shared that he was taking time each day to read and discuss a devotional with his three boys. He said that this time was very special. Another young father in the

The Father’s Heart Homeless Shelter of Oregon City contacted us one week before their annual Christmas dinner for the homeless. They needed ALL the food to feed over 150 people! We didn’t know how our little church could fill this huge order, but in faith, we presented the need before the congregation. Within an hour

I am learning about the power of a simple act of kindness, such as taking the time to chat with someone, offering an encouraging word, or inviting them for a meal. One morning as I was preparing a sermon, Bill walked into the church. As we talked, he admitted he hadn’t been to church in

A widow who attended our church in the past hadn’t come for some time due to poor health.  My wife and I contacted her and then visited.  She told us she had been feeling better for a while but felt disconnected from the church and hadn’t returned.  We invited her to come again but assured

“Pastor Chad, I need someone to talk to. I’m angry and bitter about a family situation, and I don’t know what to do. Could we meet?” I’ve known Sharon for over a decade. She and her husband sometimes come to our wild-game dinner or Thanksgiving dinner, but they never attended a worship service. As we

Several years ago, Jack “came back to the Lord” (as he puts it) and started attending church. Soon he became a very active church member. He often expressed concern for his wife, Patty, who had little interest in church. About a year ago, Patty told Jack, “You’ve changed. You don’t go drinking, and you aren’t

In the eight months we’ve been here, I have officiated 8 funerals.  The last one was at the high school, and more than 500 people attended it.  Because of these funerals, we are getting to know many people in the community.  Serena is substituting at both the elementary and high school, so she is meeting

Last year we installed a basketball hoop in our back parking lot. Recently one of the neighborhood kids has been shooting hoops after school. We invited him to youth group. The good news is that he came, heard the Gospel and accepted a Bible. The bad news is that he stayed at the church a

Our church has no teenagers, so we have been pleading with the Lord to allow us to minister to some youth this fall. As of the night before our first youth meeting, we knew of one teen who planned to come. The Lord wonderfully answered our prayers, though, and 8 youth and 7 leaders showed