Reader's Digest Highlights Portland Citywide Prayer-Care-Share
Reader's Digest singled out evangelist Luis Palau's "Season of Service" (SOS), as the "Best Group Service Project" in America. It's part of the Digest's cover story "Best of America," giving readers 75 reasons why every American should love their country. Last year's Season of Service project in Portland, Oreg., mobilized 550 churches, 68 nonprofits and local businesses, and 27,000 volunteers to take on more than 300 community service projects. The Portland SOS included mentoring school dropouts, helping homeless individuals, providing food for the hungry, and cleaning up public school grounds, among other things.
Christian Volunteers Ease Cultural Divide in Portland Area
In a region known for being one of the least-churched in the nation, churchgoers near Portland are doing a good job putting Oregon's faith community on the map. The 2009 Season of Service, organized by the Luis Palau Association, based in Beaverton, asks communities what they need and then gets to work. This year's effort started with a $100,000 check from 15 area churches to the city of Portland. Money was used to help public school students and the city's homeless population. In August alone, more than 5,000 volunteers helped spruce up 70-plus school campuses.
Community Gives Church Extreme Makeover - PORTLAND / VANCOUVER
About 500 people from 8-10 congregations did an "Extreme Makeover" for a church in Vancouver, Wash., "The Lord's Gym," which ministers to those in the most needy area of the city. Some of the volunteers were "walk ons" from the neighborhood who saw the activity and joined in. Major renovations were completed in 13 rooms of the 15,000 sq. ft. building, the outside was painted, significant landscaping, and a sprinkler system were installed. When a city official tried to shut the project down 24 hours before it started, the mayor (with whom the churches had developed a very good relationship) was ready to intervene on their behalf. |