This spring, I traveled several times to the small southern Oregon town where I grew up to assist my parents with selling the home they built and lived in for over 60 years. It was a bittersweet day when the house and property on Goode Lane in Prospect transferred to new owners. As the ink dried on the closing documents, a chapter closed for my parents and our entire family.

Over the years, I have driven the road between Salem and Prospect more times than I can count. The season of the year and weather conditions dictated which route I'd take. The fastest was 1-5 south to the Canyonville exit, then 54 miles of narrow winding two-lane road following the South Umpqua River until reaching Hwy 62, where we would turn east and travel 22 miles to my parents home. The most beautiful route was over OR-58 to US-97 S and then up OR-138 W toward Diamond Lake, connecting with OR-62 and on to Prospect.

With each trip to the same location, a person becomes acquainted with everything from road conditions and signs to stretches of highway where you are wise to pay attention to the speed limit. The route becomes like an old friend. You know where you are going and what to expect along the way.

A financial budget serves in much the same way. Year after year, revenue and expense patterns develop, allowing you to project income streams and expenditure needs. Instead of shooting from the hip, the budget becomes an itinerary that allows leadership to prioritize and maximize the funds that God's people provide for God's purposes. In this way, the budget becomes like an old friend, helping to advance God's mission in your community and worldwide effectively.

The attached article, offers insight and advice for developing a church budget. I trust it helps you as you strive to maximize your resources for the sake of God's Kingdom. https://baptistnews.com/article/whats-happening-with-church-budgets-and-personnel-expenses-in-a-post-pandemic-world/

Boyd Powers, D.Min.
Lead Pastor of Administration & Missions

A historic event is one that stands out as having had a significant, history-changing impact. The April 1914 organizational meeting of the Assemblies of God that convened in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with the goal of providing accountability, structure, and unity so that early Pentecostals could better carry out the mission of God in their communities, cities and around the world certainly has had a significant, history-changing impact. Darrin Rodgers, director of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center and editor of Assemblies of God Heritage magazine, writes,

“This vision transcended the racial and social divides, the Assemblies of God grew to become a multi-ethnic and international movement. The approximately 300 men and women who came together in Hot Springs organized a fellowship that in 100 years would become one of the largest families of Christian churches in the world."

            Fast-forward 109 years. From a humble beginning in 1914, we have grown to nearly 70 million constituents with 2,640 global workers currently serving in 252 countries, provinces, and territories. The Oregon Ministry Network is a member of this amazing global family. I’m thankful to be able to report that the fire that burned in the hearts of those early Pentecostals, enabling them to do exploits for God, continues to burn bright in the hearts and lives of our Network family, as evidenced by your response during our recent Summit.

         Accelerate the Now was an ambitious initiative to raise $1 million for one million university students attending Oregon's universities today and in the coming years. On Tuesday evening, following an anointed message by General Superintendent Doug Clay, there was an unprecedented response as the Holy Spirit moved across the sanctuary and hearts of those in attendance. A total of $746,000 was committed to the Accelerate the Now initiative. An additional $58,000 was given in the annual missions offering. The total given that evening for advancing God's redemptive mission across the street and worldwide was $804,000. Without question, this was a historic moment for the Oregon Ministry Network.

            During the Summit business session, Lee McCloud was elected as the ninth Network Lead Pastor (Superintendent) of the Oregon Ministry Network. During a special luncheon on June 13, the Ministry Network team expressed love and appreciation to Bill and Joy Wilson for their sixteen years of outstanding leadership. Plans are underway for the entire Network to have the opportunity to honor them at a future event.

            June 14 marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Ministry Network as Lee McCloud assumed leadership as the Network Lead Pastor. While Lee’s sixteen years serving as the assistant lead pastor has prepared and positioned him for the task at hand, he needs our support and prayer as he faces the complexities and challenges associated with his new role. Join me in praying that his leadership will have a significant, history-changing impact.

Our best days are ahead.

Boyd S. Powers, D.Min.

How many of you have ever played golf, thrown a ball, or swung a bat? Though these activities are quite different, at least one skill is common to them all. It’s called follow through.  After contact is made with the ball, or after the ball is released, the arm continues in an unbroken arc or swing for maximum effect.

The Scriptures tell us,

"Better is the end of a thing [a completed arc or swing, as in our analogy] than its beginning."

Ecc. 7:8 ESV

Our backswing may be impressive, but the follow-through determines the outcome.

In Luke 14 Jesus lays out the terms of discipleship. Crowds were following Jesus. People loved the miracles, healings, and free food. Jesus was the talk of the town. But he knew their hearts. They loved all he had to offer, but not the life he was calling them to. So, he challenged them to “count the cost” (v. 28). In other words, he talked to them about follow through!

Follow through begins with the will and a commitment to carry an action through to its ultimate completion, regardless of the cost or the difficulties along the way. Disciples are not immune to hurt and heartache. In following Jesus, the loss of relationships, dreams, material things, or even our lives is a possibility. So, when the going gets tough, one has the choice of either giving in to the difficulty or following through on their faith commitment.

As I have been thinking about faith and follow through, COVID-19 comes to mind. The environment the pandemic has spawned has added to the weight and pressure those in vocational ministry have experienced. All of us have struggled to some degree through a time most have never encountered before. Although the global curse is no longer the primary topic of the evening news, we are still experiencing the residue of those long months of waiting, watching, and wondering what the outcome would be. What do I mean by residue?  In the past few weeks, I’ve experienced being held longer than usual on the telephone due to staff shortages, canceled airline flights due to a pilot shortage, and even substandard adjusters our insurance agent attributed to the absence of qualified staff. Everywhere you look, companies are pivoting as they try to adapt to the new reality. The same is true for missionaries, pastors, and churches.

The disruption we have experienced has touched all areas of our lives, affecting people’s equilibrium:

Some ministers have caved into the pressure caused by this disruption and have joined the ranks of what has been described as the Great Resignation. Rather than giving in or giving up, we need to consider Paul’s admonition:

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless”

1 Cor. 15:58 NLT

Remember, our backswing may be impressive, but the follow through determines the outcome in both life and ministry!

A wise man once said, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps”

Proverbs 16:9

For many years Brad and Roberta Shimomura prayed and prepared to serve as world missionaries. While serving on staff at Pendleton First Assembly they determined the time was right and applied for appointment as Assemblies of God World Missionaries to Japan. In March 2016 they were approved by the World Missions Board and began the process of developing financial partnerships in preparation for reaching the never-reached of Japan. 

They returned to Oregon in June 2021 and began reporting back to those who had partnered with them during their first term as well as seeking new financial partners for their second term of missionary service. Then they were to return to Japan in July 2022. They made their plans, but the Lord has determined their steps elsewhere. Over the past few months, they have been confronted with family health issues that require immediate attention and they have made the difficult decision to resign their appointment. Though this wasn’t their initial PLAN, it became obvious that this was the STEP the Lord had determined. 

You may be wondering, “What can I do to help the Shimomura family?” First and foremost you can pray for the health issues they are dealing with and the emotional disruption brought about by this unexpected adjustment in the direction of their life and ministry. Second, please continue their financial support through June 30 as they finish out their assignment.

As you are praying for Brad and Ro, I would ask you to pray about the possibility of transferring your support for the Shimomura’s to one of our missionary units that will serve in a sensitive country. We have the opportunity to fully fund them. Please contact our office to learn more about who they are and how to transfer your support. I want to thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.

Your partnership in reaching the nations is deeply appreciated. Your prayer and support are essential to completing the unfinished task.

Sincerely, Contending for God’s mission,

Boyd Powers