Tuesday Evening Service

Jihan Haddad began the service playing an impressive Beethoven piece on the piano, and then was joined by Savannah Lee, Moriah Copko, and Katie Lee in singing a version of “Seek Ye First.”

To open the testimony service, the choir sang “God’s Unchanging Hand.” One testimony was from Kristen Lee, who said she is thankful God showed her that she needed to be saved when she was just a young girl. She remembers noting some family members who seemed to have everything, yet were not Christians and did not have happiness in their homes. On the other hand, she also saw family members who led simple lives but served the Lord, and they had real joy. She is thankful God showed her those examples and helped her see the benefits of serving Him.

Brother Bob Downey began his sermon by reading Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” He told the account from 1 Kings 17 of how God miraculously met the Prophet Elijah’s need by sending ravens to feed him near a brook. When the brook dried up, it did not mean that God had abandoned Elijah, but that God would meet his need in a different way. God sent Elijah to the home of a widow who was almost out of food herself, and miraculously He supplied both of their needs. Brother Bob said we do not always know what God is doing, but as we obey we can rest in His promise to provide our need.

Friday Evening Service

Brothers Sam and Jon Cantrell began the meeting with a brass duet, which was followed by a women’s trio singing “Go Ask.”

Brother John Musgrave read a report from Brother Darrel’s trip to Africa. He recently met with two regional kings and a deputy governor, and all were very friendly towards the Apostolic Faith organization. Brother Darrel was also interviewed by some news reporters, who were kind as well. In addition, he has been going to meetings in local churches, visiting church construction sites, and also attended a ministers’ meeting with over two hundred ministers.

The choir sang “There Is Glory in My Soul,” and then Amanda Blackburn testified about something that happened this week. She had to drive to Forest Grove for work, and prayed for a safe trip before leaving. On the way, her car was swerving a lot and she was very worried. After arriving safely at work, someone pointed out that one of her tires was nearly flat. She said she is thankful for God’s protection.

Brother Gary Lee preached about counting the cost of opportunities we have. He read Mark 10:29-30, “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time . . . and in the world to come eternal life.” Brother Gary said that when we take the opportunities God gives us to serve Him, we will see immediate short-term gains in this life, and also long-term gains in eternity. When we count the cost, we see that the Gospel is worth everything!

Sunday Morning Service

The service opened with a brass ensemble playing “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “Come Thou Fount.” Then the Canaan Bound Quartet perfectly harmonized “Boundless Love.”

Before the message, Tyler Kaady sang of meeting God for the first time in Heaven and bowing low in “When My Knees Touch Gold.”

Brother Dwight Baltzell read John 2:11, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” He said that the pulse of the Gospel could be felt at the wedding in Cana, but only by those who were plugged in to the heartbeat. Mary knew she could look to Jesus for a miracle; the servants obeyed Jesus and were part of the miracle; the disciples saw the miracle and believed on Jesus. They were all plugged in to the heartbeat of the Gospel. The governor, though, came so near the pulse of the Gospel and missed it entirely. He didn’t realize he was witnessing a miracle. If we will plug into the heartbeat of the Gospel, the change that God makes in us will be just the beginning of miracles. Listen here.

Sunday Evening Service

The orchestra played “Learning to Lean” and “Power in the Blood.” Sisters Mimi Witham and Imelda Nedelcu sang a graceful “On the Wings of a Dove.”

Brother John Musgrave read us another report from Brother Darrel in Africa, reminding us to pray for him and his son, Randy, as they return at the end of the week. The main purpose for the trip, the first Commencement ceremony at Crawford University, will be held Thursday, November 19.

Janice Calhoun testified that recently while visiting in Norway she lost her expensive new contact lens in the chaos of helping her daughter move. She prayed and the Lord spoke to her heart to look in the bathroom sink at the old house. She did and there was the lens, caught in the drain.

Cliff Paulsen said that the Lord got his attention when he was fourteen years old. A house in his neighborhood went up in a natural gas explosion and the thought came to him, “If that had been your house, you would not have been ready.” He gave his heart to the Lord shortly thereafter.

Del Barrett sang “The Choice is Mine,” and then Brother Earl Phillips read his text from Mark 13:37, “And what I say unto you I say unto all, watch.” Brother Earl urged us to keep the watch. We don’t want to grow slack and be caught in the wrong place or be caught saying or doing the wrong thing when the Lord returns. He said that in the example of the ten virgins, they all started out with lamps and oil, but five of them let their oil run out. There won’t be time to buy oil when Jesus returns, so we need to be ready at all times.

Read last week's Portland Recent Happenings here.