As 2024 is well upon us, I’m excited to share some updates about the state of our membership. 2023 was a year of significant growth in our membership. We’ve also grown in our knowledge and understanding of our members. We're thrilled to share insights and statistics that showcase the assets of …
Juneteenth and God’s Redemptive Blessings
Juneteenth celebrates the effective end of lawful slavery of African American people on June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people would be freed. The troops arrived two and a half years after the signing of the …
Continue Reading about Juneteenth and God’s Redemptive Blessings →
Healing Through Trauma-Informed Community Development
Upon returning from several military tours in Iraq, Rev. Paul Abernathy became aware of an alarming fact. He noticed there were higher instances of people affected by trauma in his hometown of Pittsburgh than there were among those he engaged with in a war-torn environment. Understanding that …
Continue Reading about Healing Through Trauma-Informed Community Development →
Collective Imagination: Seminary Students in Portland Embrace Collaborative Influence
An Old Question with a Dangerous New MeaningSince the Covid-19 pandemic my pastor friends here in Portland, Oregon have been asking an important question: “What is our new vision?” In a place like Portland, this question has a history of leading the church toward collaborative partnerships between …
From Expectations to Partnership
What expectations do you have of the communities you are engaged with? What expectations do the people in the communities feel are being placed on them? Do you expect to help or to partner with the individuals in your community?During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and …
Peace Over Troubled Waters
Content Warning: This blog contains references to child abuse.Peace for cities is when everything works for everybody all the time, and no one is left out. Peace is God’s goal for our cities.H.P. SpeesOver ten years ago, I started the journey of becoming an ordained pastor. I read Pastor: The …
Lāhainā Nine Months Later
It’s been nine months since wildfires devastated western Maui. Nine months. The same time it takes for a term birth. The same time it takes for students to complete a school year. It seems that nine months is a duration where so much growth and development can happen. It was nine months ago that our …
I Don’t Know What To Call This
Asian AmericanASIAN AmericanAsian AMERICANI am an immigrant’s childBorn and raised in your countryI didn’t migrate myselfNo accentNo credibilityOthers see my parentsOthers hear my parentsLanguage, accents, or no EnglishThey see what I eat at homeSmell fried fish on my clothesThey see my flat noseThe …
