Church Under the Bridge: JAN. 29

Hi everyone!

Well after our special December event, we are back to our regular schedule (the last Sunday of every month), and that means Church Under the Bridge is this Sunday! I hope 2012 has started well for you all.

For 2012, my biggest goal is to stop doing things my way, and to start doing things His way. This means abiding in His Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:4-5, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” And if we remain in the Spirit then what fruit can we expect to see in our lives? Galatians 5:22-23 reads: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Though we try, we can not have the fullness of these attributes apart from the Spirit. 

LOVE. The first and greatest of these fruits is love. The original word for this love in the Greek is “agape.” This means love, charity, a love-feast (a feast of charitably dear love). This is the love that is patient and kind, not envying or boasting, never proud, not rude or self-seeking, not easily angered and keeping no record of wrongs. This is the love that does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ”It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” IT NEVER FAILS (1 Cor. 13:4-8). We can work hard to try to bear fruit and do our best to extend love with our own strength, but it won’t be fruit that will last and it won’t be this Agape love. ”If I speak in the tonguesof men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). We can only expect this perfect love to pour out of us through the power of the Holy Spirit.     

With that, here is our schedule and information regarding general needs for Sunday, Jan. 29:

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

Barbeque Hamburgers and Hot dogs
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Fresh Fruit
Baked goodies
Coffee and Hot chocolate

COOKIES FOR CUB:

 Please check out our Cookies for CUB sheet below to sign up and bring baked goodies for Church Under the Bridge. You may bring them downtown or leave them at New Life’s info. desk at any weekend service on the last weekend of the month. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akfftn6YyWiRdDRkWkpLRDJpSU5hS2Zha3ozQVdrakE&hl=en_US

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LIGHTLY USED MEN AND WOMEN’S CLOTHING.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).

Church Under The Bridge Gathering for December, 2011

Hey Everyone.   Just wanted to let you all know that we will be joining our friends with Ncompass for the 3rd annual Christmas Festival for the Homeless under the Morrison Bridge on Sunday, December 18th from 11:00 to 3:00 pm!   As in years past, we have chosen to gather with them for this incredible outpouring of God’s love in place of gathering under the Steel Bridge at the end of the month.   THERE WILL BE NO ORGANIZED GATHERING FOR CHURCH UNDER THE BRIDGE UNDER THE STEEL BRIDGE FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

Please contact Emily at ncompass.ero@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us and volunteering.   We will be emailing to all who are on the CUB distribution list the volunteer positions available to choose from.  Hope to see you on the 18th!    Emily’s message concerning the event follows: 

Hello!
 
It is that time of year again for the 3rd Annual Ncompass Christmas Festival for the Homeless.  We are holding the event on Sunday, December 18th under the West side of the Morrison Bridge.  The event will run from 11 AM – 3 PM.  We are going to ask that all volunteers stay the duration of the event, but we will move you between two different volunteer positions if you desire.
 
Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering at this years event along with the following information:
 
Name of Volunteer(s):
Top 3 Volunteer Positions Desired:
 
Thanks again and please let me know if you have any questions at this point!

Emily Rose-Traylor
Event Director
Ncompass
P.O. Box 1429
Beaverton, Oregon 97075
503-349-1183
WorldNcompass.org

Church Under the Bridge: NOVEMBER 27

We will be gathering downtown THIS weekend to share a meal with our friends. This week, as always, we consider the things we thank God for. Our families, our homes, food on our tables, a bed to sleep on, cars that run, our jobs, our church family, and God’s grace which is sufficient in every circumstance. For all of this, I am feeling so blessed. I know that not everyone, even in the United States and including many of our friends downtown, can say that they have all of the things I’ve listed. But please take time to consider the following words of Paul from Philippians 4:10-20:

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 ¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Following is our schedule and information regarding general needs for Sunday, Nov. 27:

Date: Sunday, November 27, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

COOKIES FOR CUB:

 Please check out our Cookies for CUB sheet below to sign up and bring baked goodies for Church Under the Bridge. You may bring them downtown or leave them at New Life’s info. desk at any weekend service on the last weekend of the month. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akfftn6YyWiRdDRkWkpLRDJpSU5hS2Zha3ozQVdrakE&hl=en_US

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LIGHTLY USED MEN AND WOMEN’S CLOTHING.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” II Corinthians 6:10

Praise Report

Just passing along a message we received from a friend we met under the Steel Bridge two years ago.   We thank God for her testimony concerning the healing she has received and the grace she has been extended through Union Gospel Mission and Shepherd’s Door.   We also thank God for allowing those who partner with us under the Steel Bridge to be a part of her story of restoration.  

Hi!
 
My name is Danielle.
 
I just wanted to thank you for providing food and clothing to me when I was homeless about 2 years ago. I was 21, addicted to heroin, homeless, without God and without hope in this world.
Since then, I have been in recovery at the Union Gospel Mission, and more recently transferred to Shepherd’s Door, which is an all women’s facility.
 
I just wanted to encourage you with my story because it is truly a miracle. Thank you for being a part of it.
 
May God bless you!

Danielle’s story is one of victory through Christ and her story is what fuels us to continue to follow Jesus under the Steel Bridge each month.    We join Danielle in giving thanks to God for the healing & restoration she has received!

Church Under the Bridge: OCTOBER 30

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, Oct. 30:

Date: Sunday, October 30, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

BBQ Cheeseburgers and Hot dogs
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water and Hot Coffee

COOKIES FOR CUB:

 Thanks to the ladies from New Life Women’s Connection, we have enough baked goodies for this upcoming weekend! 

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LIGHTLY USED MEN AND WOMEN’S CLOTHING.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

“You are our Healer, and You know what’s broken. We are not a mystery to You.”   -Watermark (Mended)

 

Church Under the Bridge: SEPT. 25

It’s that time again. Time to gather under the Steel Bridge and join together with one purpose: to share the love of God with friends!  In Colossians 3:17, Paul says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” On the last Sunday of every month, all we can do is love and serve in the name of Jesus, giving glory to our Father. As long as we’re doing that, our sovereign God will do the rest!

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, Sept. 25:

Date: Sunday, September 25, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

BBQ Cheeseburgers and Hot dogs
Potato Salad
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies (Please click on the Cookies for CUB link to sign-up to bring baked goodies)
Bottled Water and Lemonade

 COOKIES FOR CUB:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fspreadsheets.google.com%2Fspreadsheet%2Fccc%3Fkey%3D0Akfftn6YyWiRdDRkWkpLRDJpSU5hS2Zha3ozQVdrakE%26hl%3Den_US&h=hAQB6Nc7f

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LIGHTLY USED MEN AND WOMEN’S CLOTHING.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

 

 

“And the Lord,  He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

Church Under the Bridge: AUGUST 28

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, August 28:

Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

BBQ Cheeseburgers and Hot dogs
Potato Salad
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies (Please click on the Cookies for CUB link to sign-up to bring baked goodies)
Bottled Water and Lemonade

 

COOKIES FOR CUB:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fspreadsheets.google.com%2Fspreadsheet%2Fccc%3Fkey%3D0Akfftn6YyWiRdDRkWkpLRDJpSU5hS2Zha3ozQVdrakE%26hl%3Den_US&h=hAQB6Nc7f

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LIGHTLY USED MEN AND WOMEN’S CLOTHING.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

 

“‘I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me…’

‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.’”
Matthew 25.35-40

 

Loaves and Fishes

We had a wonderful time downtown this Sunday. The sun was shining, and many people came out for a meal. So many in fact that we were sure we were going to run out of food! After seeing the line of people, one person said to me, “I’m praying for loaves and fishes.” Well we didn’t have 5000 people to feed as Jesus did in Matthew 14:13-21 when He multiplied five loaves and two fishes for the whole crowd, but the result was the same: “They all ate and were satisfied” (Matt. 14:20)! However it worked out, it worked out and we had enough food to serve everyone who came out. Thank you to all who joined us, prayed or helped in any way this month.

A note to all who help out with Church Under the Bridge or who are looking for a small way to become involved: we are in need of baked goods each month. Every month we need about 25 DOZEN baked goods items for Church Under the Bridge. So keep your eyes open for a link to a “Cookies for CUB” online sign-up sheet. Once you sign up, your baked goods can be dropped off at the info. desk at New Life Foursquare Church on the weekend of Church Under the Bridge, or you can bring them downtown with you.

Here is the link for the “Cookies For CUB” sign-ups:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akfftn6YyWiRdDRkWkpLRDJpSU5hS2Zha3ozQVdrakE&hl=en_US

Church Under the Bridge: JULY 31

It’s time again to gather together under the Bridge. By now, Church Under the Bridge is an established and growing ministry. We believe that every time we meet God will continue the work that He started. Philippians 1.6 reads that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We trust that God will continue to water, prune and shape this ministry and all who are a part of it. 

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, July 31:

Date: Sunday, July 31, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

Cheeseburgers and hot dogs
Potato Salad
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LIGHTLY USED MEN AND WOMEN’S CLOTHING.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1.6

Church Under the Bridge: June 26

You’ve read the Bible. So you know about Jesus and the kind of life He lived on this earth. You’ve read about how He overcame temptation and was without sin. You’ve read about His teachings. You’ve read about His miracles: how He turned water to wine, how He healed a woman who bled for 12 years with just a touch of His garment, how He healed a man who was crippled for 38 years, how He multiplied food to provide, and even forgave sins. But do you keep in mind that THIS is the same Jesus who lives in YOU? Paul writes in Hebrews 13.8 that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The God we serve today is the same God we read about. He still teaches, He still heals, He still forgives.

So as we plan to gather downtown next weekend, let’s remember that this God lives inside of us. Some situations we face in our own lives or in the lives of people we meet downtown seem impossible. In Mark 10.27 Jesus said, “‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’”  In our own strength, we can do nothing. In our own strength we can bring nothing of value downtown. In our own strength we won’t make any real impact. Indeed we face situations that are hopeless and impossible with MAN. “But not with God; ALL things are possible with God!” 

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, June 26:

Date: Sunday, June 26, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

Chili Dogs
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. We are always in need of clean sleeping bags and tarps.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

“Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life is the very same voice that calls you now to rise?” -Phil Wickham (Safe)

Thankful

What a wonderful blessing it is to see this opportunity we have in print.  Broadcasted out to all those God brings into the fold, to learn and see what He is doing with those in need in downtown Portland.  Thank you for your interest.  May you be blessed and encouraged by what God is doing. No matter what is going on in your life…maybe reaching out to our poor, reaching out to those in need beyond what ever, you have experienced, will set you free.  Free from what keeps you from living a life on fire for Christ or free to just live more “simply”.  He is good and life is more simple than we make it.  We love you and hope you can come with us…anytime God calls you, we know you will be blessed and those you see, will be blessed by you!

Love Dino

Our last visit

Our time under the bridge on 11/16.  The account of the events this day are nothing short of amazing.  As the carpool of 5 cars, pulls into Grace from New Life and we start to gather, it wasn’t long before the parking lot was full of cars and over 45 people were holding hands in a circle praying for Jesus to reveal himself every step of the way.  As we arrived at Burnside Bridge and started setting up on the grass our friends-both new and old, started showing up to share our BBQ, beans, chips, sweets, cider, water, clothes and personal items.  I met one new attendee, Bill.  He epitomizes who we have seen before and who we will see time and time again.  Bill was in a tragic accident a few years ago that left him almost dead and in the hospital for over 5 weeks.  Never did I hear any self-pity, but instead he gave thanks to God for sparing his life .  He shares his faith and testimony daily as he has travled across the country.  He feels his purpose is to share hope with those he meets on the streets.  Bill mentioned that he continues to look for a way to get off the street but due to a reduction in his disability check and the increase in the cost of living he has been forced to make due without a roof over his head.  Bill, as with many of those we meet, don’t come just to receive, but to also give.  He was thankful that Jesus had set him free.  He felt that as he shares about Jesus, if even one receives hope or salvation, then his injuries have all been for a reason. 

As I write this and think about Bill and our friends downtown, I feel as though I need to ask God for forgiveness and the homeless community for forgiveness.  I have judged and thought that I had all the answers as to why they are there.  Nothing could be more from the truth.  It could be our next door neighbor next week or even myself.  It is by God’s grace that I stay healthy and gainfully employed.  Join us in praying for our economy, our health system, our homeless here in Portland and all across the county.

Staytuned for more info on our next time to gather is Sunday, December 21st.

posted by Dino for Church under the bridge

Update On Sunday, 12/21/08 outreach

After much prayer and consideration, due to the crazy weather we have had this week as well as the forecast for Sunday, we are going to be rescheduling the organized outreach downtown this Sunday. 

Dean had a chance to go downtown yesterday and check to see if anyone was down by the bridge.  He found two men, both in sleeping bags.  One man said that he had been getting into The Salvation Army every night and that he had plans to go back there at 6:00 for dinner and stay in for the night.  There was no sign of Peter or anyone else we know.  We are thankful that the shelters, churches and warming centers  have ramped up to accomodate everyone who needs to get in out of this cold.  Our prayers continue for all of our friends and for those who are serving them. 

We also extend a heartfelt thank you for everyone that has made holiday cookies, donated clothing, made scarves, and helped in preparation for the meal we were going to be serving.  If you are able to freeze and store the cookies for our next time down that would be great.  If that is not possible, we understand.   We are thankful that we will have an abundance of warm clothing to share with our friends the next time we are with them!

It continues to be our desire to have a banquet at a host home for our friends in January.  Will you join us in praying that a home for such a gathering becomes available?  We pray God’s covering and protection over all.    Merry Christmas! 

Dean & Shelly Mallon for Church Under the Bridge

Galatians 5:6 “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

“New Year Jubilee”

In the spirit of Jubilee that Andy and Serenity went forth in their very first Jubilee Diner celebration, we will be going downtown to serve God’s people.  It is our hope and prayer that in freely providing a meal, clothing, and personal items that God’s love and mercy will be freely received by all we meet.

We will be heading back downtown on Sunday, January 25th!   We are sooo excited to share time and a meal with our friends downtown after missing a whole month due to the snow.  We are planning to serve Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes & gravy, warm rolls & jam, and plenty of hot chocolate and coffee, the meal we were planning for in December.  We will be taking down an abundance of clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, underwear and tarps.  (Thank you to Kelly for all the handmade scarves!).  Donations from our H.U.G.S. project have continued to show the love and support from our youth at New Life.  Praise God for His faithfulness through His people!!! 

Thank you to everyone who helps make Church Under the Bridge the blessing that it is.  Your continued prayers fuel all that is done for the Lord’s glory.

Again, we openly extend an invitation to any and all who would like to serve our Lord by blessing some of  God’s children who may feel overlooked, but who are definitely not overlooked by God.   We count it an honor to be an extension of Christ’s love to those we fellowship with.  May God’s love shine upon each one of you!   

Date:  Sunday, January 25th, 2009 ( We will try to stay on the schedule of going down the 4th Sunday of every month).

Time:  1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm  Wilsonville, OR –  Grace Church Office Parking Lot,  Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

Galatians 5:6

Happy Birthday Peter!

January 18, 2009
 
Some time ago, while meeting under the bridge with our friends, it hit me, “All of these people have birthdays and I wonder how many times their birthdays go by unnoticed and uncelebrated.”  I was saddened by this realization and I felt the prompting of the Lord to seek out a birthday, even if it is just one person’s birthday, and purpose to recognize and celebrate that day in some special way.  Many of you who have been a part of Church Under The Bridge know Peter.  He has been present at pretty much every Church Under the Bridge gathering since Andy & Serenity and Tim & Jenn started going downtown.  We have grown to love Peter and it was a no-brainer as to who I would ask first concerning their birthday.  We discovered that he and Cindi share the same birthday .. January 20th.  We had planned on all celebrating together … our family, the Gerkman’s and Peter, but due to some scheduling conflicts for the 20th with Dean’s travel, we elected that we would go down on Sunday, January 18th, and pick Peter up to take him out to dinner.  Unfortunately, Mike & Cindi were not able to join us but we know they were with us in spirit.  Happy Birthday Cindi!
 
It took a little looking for and lots of asking questions, but we finally found Peter at the Portland Rescue Mission.  He was sitting inside watching football waiting for dinner.  By the time we found him, it was a little after 5:00.  Michael saw him sitting in the full-to-capacity chapel from across the room.  When he pointed him out to me and I saw him, he saw Michael & I and his face lit up.  We made our way to him and he got up and gave us all a big hug.  Dean told him that we wanted to take him out for a birthday dinner if he would like to come with us and he said that he would like to go.  We took him to the Macadam Pub & Grill.  It was awesome as, when we got to the restaurant, it was completely full because of the Superbowl playoff game and the gal asked if we would like to sit in their banquet room.  The room had a big-screen TV with the football game playing and there were only about ten people in their with us so it was much quieter and we could talk.  Peter loved watching the game and he had a big cheeseburger, fries and a Sprite.  He loved the coat and gloves Mike got for him at Columbia and what a joy to watch him put them on   
 
We spent about 3-1/2 hours with Peter, watching football, talking, and eating.  I know, like always, we were the more blessed to have had this time with him.  As I type this, my heart is still impacted by the time we spent with Peter.  He said everyone was asking about us last month, wondering where we were.  I can’t help but think that some of the sadness we saw on Peter’s face tonight was, certainly not in total, but possibly partially because we had missed going down last month because of the ice & snow.  I am sooo thankful that we were able to find him tonight to, if nothing else, remind him that he is not forgotten. 
 
When we took Peter back to the Mission and stood on the street with him, hugging him and telling him goodbye, I knew this was part of what the Lord had asked me when we first started going down on a regular basis, “Do you trust me with your heart enough that you are willing to have it broken?”  It is one thing to leave an entire group while it is still light outside after we have been downtown for Church Under The Bridge; it is an entirely different thing to leave one man who you care so deeply about on a street corner at night.   It was soo hard to leave Peter and drive off.  I trust that the Lord is with Him even now, just has He is so faithfully with all of us.  While we were looking for Peter earlier, we saw where he was staying … an area just underneath the Steele Bridge where all his belongings and bed were neatly placed.  He is outside sleeping tonight and I pray that his new coat and new gloves help to keep him physically warm.  It is our prayer that Peter’s heart is warmed as he goes to sleep tonight knowing that he is loved, not just by us but, more importantly, by His Father in Heaven. 
 
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
 
Posted by Shelly
For Church Under the Bridge

Superbowl Sunday

February 1, 2009

 

During our visit downtown last weekend, we agreed as a family that we would invite Peter to our home to watch the Superbowl game.  To our joy, he accepted our invite!  We picked Peter up at the Portland Rescue Mission downtown and brought him back to our home in Woodburn.  We had a great evening with him.  We watched the game together, complete with 3-D glasses for the 3-D commercials, and even though our team, the Arizona Cardinals, didn’t come up with the win, we were able to end our evening with Peter with a sense of celebration in our hearts.  Celebration, that he trusts us enough to have us pick him up and take him far from what he knows as his home to spend time with us in our home.  We shared BBQ cheeseburgers (always on the menu with Peter ) 

 

I am continually challenged after our time with Peter in feeling that somehow we are not doing enough for him and, yet, I know as well that this is a pull from my flesh that is really grounded in pride so I choose to lay such thoughts down.  We are thankful to be able to call Peter a friend and that is what the Lord is continually challenging me to use as my gauge for our involvement with Peter.  He is our friend …. treat him as such.  That whole, “I should have done more” thing can be a real hamster’s wheel and I choose to be thankful for the opportunity the Lord gave us for spending a fun evening watching football with a friend. 

 

Posted by Shelly

For Church Under The Bridge

 

Update

January 25, 2009

 

After missing our time downtown in December because of the snow & ice, we joined at Grace Chapel’s office with grateful hearts for the sunshine and all who gathered with us to take the love of God under the Burnside Bridge.  We took advantage of the open covered space where Saturday Market sets up during the spring & summer.  We had an abundance of warm clothes, scarves. H.U.G.S. donations, and food to share with all we would meet. 

 

I have had a hard time writing about our experience this past weekend as so much took place.  I have sought Lord on what He would want said about our gathering and “simple truth” is what I have heard Him say.  I believe much of what took place under the bridge was a reminder that we are carrying the light of Jesus into the darkness that surrounds our friends downtown on a daily basis.  We are reminded that we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ and we are being made ready as part of the Lord’s Army.  From setting up, laying out clothing and blankets, serving food and visiting with our friends, the Lord’s peace and unity was tangibly felt.   After much of the food had been served, Mallory Gwynn, along with his wife, Sheri, and their girls, began to sing praise songs and Mallory played the guitar while many were eating; it was like a sweet aroma rising to the Lord.  We had the pure joy of meeting Clarence, a zealous follower of Jesus who KNEW his Bible and was not afraid to stand for the truth of God’s word.  Equally, we were blessed by meeting a precious woman by the name of Vicki whose joy in the Lord was so contagious.  Just being around her, caused joy to swell up in our hearts as she spoke of her gratitude to God and her love of His people.  Whenever I was around her, I thought what a testimony this woman’s life is to Jesus …. in the natural having so little but in the Spirit having more wealth than imaginable.  As both she and Clarence spoke, that same sweet aroma was filling the air where we gathered.  After we had cleaned up and loaded up most of our things into our cars, we gathered as a group and asked anyone who wanted to to join us hand-in-hand in a circle as Clarence closed our time together in prayer.  What a victory in the Spirit as we held hands and in unity spoke the Lord’s prayer out loud!  I feel I can speak for our entire group in saying that, as we cleaned up and loaded our cars to get ready to leave, we had the fullness of Christ’s peace and much had been accomplished in the Spirit during the time we were under the bridge with our sisters & brothers in Christ.  Then, without notice, a verbal and physical fight broke out between a man and a woman.  The man had not been present while we were serving.  It was as if, in a moment’s notice, the joy & peace of God’s Spirit was being met head-on by Satan.  This was very difficult for especially the children who were with us to witness and we quickly had to get in our cars and leave.  Before we left, we had a moment to all gather around our cars and share the truth of what was happening with the kids … that Satan does not give up ground that he feels he has gained without a fight and that many of the people who we encounter when we go downtown, unlike Clarence & Vicki, don’t know the Lord.  We further shared with the kids that Jesus does live in each of their hearts and that He was with each of them, protecting them & keeping them from harm, and that we could pray with confidence that the woman and man who were fighting would come to the saving knowledge of their Savior as well. 

 

As I reflect back on all that took place, I am convinced that more than ever we should continue to take the love of Jesus to those who some would consider loveless and gird ourselves with the truth that our God is bigger than anything the enemy would ever hope to accomplish.  What happened as we were getting ready to leave is evidence that much in the Spirit was accomplished for our Lord and the enemy was mad.  As I write this, I think of Clarence who recited Scripture after Scripture, using God’s word as his authority and standing on the truth that each Scripture held.  In the same way, I encourage all who were with us and all who pray for us to yield the Sword of the Spirit on behalf of our brothers & sisters downtown and on behalf of all of God’s people who desire to cooperate with the Lord in all He desires to accomplish through Church Under the Bridge.  As we do, I know that, once again, a sweet aroma will rise to the Lord and that we will sense his assurance to not grow weary in doing good. 

 

Romans 8:35 -39

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Posted by Shelly for Mike & Cindi Gerkman & Dean, Michael & Bailee Mallon

For Church Under The Bridge

 

Our next visit 2/22

Hey Everyone!  We are excited to report that we will be heading back downtown this Sunday, February 22, 2009.  We are planning to serve lasagna, french bread, fresh fruit and lots of baked goodies.  If anyone is able to contribute to baking cupcakes or some other type of soft baked goody, please let us know by either emailing Shelly Mallon at shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman at cindi@gerkman.com. 

 

As always during this time of year, we are in need of warm clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, lip balm, cough drops, tarps and blankets.   The H.U.G.S. program in The Edge class at New Life Foursquare Church is still gratefully accepting donations of such items.   What joy it was for us to see men walking down the streets of downtown Portland wearing the scarves that we handed out at our last gathering as we pulled over at a gas station to get gas before heading home

 

We encourage all who have come before and all who have considered coming to join us downtown this Sunday afternoon as we serve a warm meal, warm clothing and the love of Christ to our brothers and sisters who may feel forgotten and unloved. 

 

Date:                       Sunday, February 22, 2009

Location/Time: New Life Church Parking Lot @ 1:00 pm to caravan to Grace Chapel Office.         Grace Chapel office @ 1:30 pm to gather, pray and head downtown.

 

 

In this time of economic loss and uncertainty, the one thing we can be sure of is God’s economy.  The more we give His love to others, the more of His love we know for ourselves.  It is our heart’s cry that those we meet downtown come to know the riches of God’s love that is theirs in Christ Jesus.  It is in our willingness to be His hands, His feet and His voice that we are given the privilege of being vessels of His unending love.

 

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat”.   Mother Teresa.

Unity

Report On Our Time Under The Bridge on Sunday, February 22, 2009

Colossians 3:12-17  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

In other posts, we have mainly felt led to share about what we discover when we go downtown in the people we meet, yet on this occasion my thoughts continue to center around those who gathered at Grace and and went downtown to pour out the love of Christ on those we would meet. When Bailee & I pulled into the Grace Church office parking lot, it was filled with cars and I said to Bailee, “Something must be going on at the office today.” As we pulled in the driveway it was clear that all the cars we saw from a distance belonged to the people who were fellowshipping in several groups in the parking lot and it quickly hit me  that it was “Church Under The Bridge” that was going on and joy rose up in my spirit!

God is doing a mighty work through His people and those who truly desire to hear from Him are doing just that. What is really exciting is they are not just hearing, they are also obeying. The unity that Christ calls us to in being His body is what we are seeing so clearly amongst those who go down. Each time we gather and go down that unity is strengthened. Somehow, even with those who come for the first time, there is an increasing and immediate bond that is building in the Spirit as we give of ourselves to be Jesus’ hands, feet and heart towards those who God loves yet may not know it. In the Spirit, it is immediately present and I see an effortlessness in how we are working together for the Glory of God under the Burnside Bridge. Something very powerful is happening for Jesus and we have the blessed gift of witnessing it with our spiritual eyes as we empty ourselves of us and ask that He fill us with Him. I am truly in awe of God who I see in the people who come and serve the homeless. It is a visual before men that says, “What God deems as important is more important than me … my time, my comfort level, my agenda.” Mathew 5:6 says,”Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” I praise God for the light of His love that is shining brightly amongst those He calls to be a part of Church Under the Bridge and I believe that light is definitely shining before we who go and those we meet downtown.

I was speaking with Lori, a friend of mine, about a comment that Peter had made to me as we were coming back from the Portland Rescue Mission. As we were walking down the stairs to go back to where we had set up to serve, a gentleman came almost frantically running up the stairs yelling at Peter to get down and get some food and clothing as things were running out. Peter was very calm and chuckled at him and told him he had all that he needed. It was then that Peter turned to me and said, “He doesn’t understand, I have you guys.” When Lori & were speaking of how much Peter’s comment meant to me in knowing that he was fully assured that if he were ever to need anything, he could call on us, Lori went further to say that his example of assurance is the same assurance we carry in our own hearts concerning the sufficiency of Christ to meet our needs. Isn’t it just like the enemy to frantically rise up and yell that we need to do all we can to get want we want before there is nothing left? Really, what Peter was saying without really knowing it is, “Christ has me covered.” Peter’s calm assurance is the same assurance that we carry in our hearts in knowing that no matter what we see with our physical eyes, our spirit agrees that every need we may have is met with sufficiency in Christ.

We welcome all who sense the call of Christ to join with us in serving the poor under the Burnside Bridge. Some powerful exchange is happening in people’s hearts as we corporately pray for Christ’s filling and then corporately pour out what He gives to us on those we meet downtown. This is an exchange that goes beyond the natural ability of our minds to comprehend because it is a filling that never ceases. We always walk away from our time downtown feeling that we were the recipients of God’s unending love & grace. More & more, like Peter, we are discovering that Christ truly has us covered. Not only are we being used as vessels for God’s love to flow to our brothers & sisters under the bridge, they are being used as vessels for His unending love to flow back to us. In this way, the unity we are experiencing is being made complete. It is God’s love that is drawing people to gather with us Under The Bridge and it is His love that is drawing so many of His people to go.

We give thanks & praise to God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you to ALL who helped organize and fund our time downtown in February. Thank you to all who helped to make lasagna & cupcakes as well as supply the remainder of the meal we served. Thank you for all the warm clothing & blankets!! Most of all, thank you for your continued support & prayers!

We will be going back downtown on Sunday, March 15, 2009 (we are going on the 3rd Sunday of March since the 4th Sunday will be during Spring Break) We are going to serve BBQ cheeseburgers!

Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009
Time/Place: 1:00 pm New Life Foursquare Church parking lot, Canby OR to carpool to Grace Chapel Church Office in Wilsonville. Meet at Grace Chapel Office on Boberg Road in Wilsonville at 1:30 pm to pray and head downtown.

With all the rain we have been having, tarps are something that is much needed! Tarps and blankets would be sooo appreciated. We will send out another post, listing out what else we are planning on serving as well as our needs for the meal in the next week.

For Christ who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, Dean & Shelly Mallon & Mike & Cindi Gerkman

Posted by Shelly
For Church Under The Bridge

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can” John Wesley

Next Church Under The Bridge – Sunday, 3/15/09!

Hey Everyone!  We just wanted to send out a quick message outlining the current needs we have for our time downtown this Sunday. 

The Meal

Hamburger Patties  (we are hoping to have enough to serve 125 people)
Hamburger Buns
Sliced cheddar cheese
Assorted Lays Chips (Costco has boxes of 50 ct.)
Bottled Water

Personal Items

Tarps
Blankets
Sweatshirts
Hats
Warm gloves
Underwear
Socks
Lip Balm
Cough Drops
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Individual packets of Kleenex
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dry dog food

Please contact Shelly Mallon @ shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman @ cindi@gerkman.com if you are able to donate or supply any of the above-mentioned items.  We appreciate all your prayers and support for those we fellowship with and serve as we gather for the Glory of  God under the Burnside Bridge. 

With gratitude,

Dean, Shelly, Michael & Bailee Mallon and  Mike & Cindi Gerkman

God is Faithful

What a GREAT time in the Lord we shared at our last gathering on March 15th under the Steele Bridge. When I think back to our time under the bridge I am filled with such gratitude. I am so thankful for each and every person who gathered with us to go downtown. The rain was falling and the wind was blowing and yet God’s faithfulness was seen by those who willingly offered themselves to be used by God regardless of their own comfort.

We were unsure of the exact location that God would provide for us to set up since Saturday Market is now in full swing. We found cover from the rain under The Steele Bridge and there was just enough room to set up for the BBQ and to put clothing and personal items out. Serving under The Steele Bridge was an eye opener for us. We were literally setting up in an area where many who we meet downtown call home. In many ways, it felt like they were welcoming us into their home.

I am thankful for the generosity that I witnessed as I watched a man stand in line to grab a cheeseburger. At the same time, he grabbed a plate of warm food for his friend, Jessie, who was disabled and unable to stand in line himself.

I was blessed to hear McKay, a humble man of God, tell me why his faith could not be shaken. He told me that his faith in Christ was secure because he fully realized that he had not sought Christ, it was Jesus who sought him. He told me he was very aware of just how far down Jesus had to go to find him and the knowledge that Christ would meet him in a gutter was more than enough reason for him to trust Him and believe. This is a man who lacks the security of an earthly home, but is fully assured of his home in Heaven and for that He is determined to make something of his life for Jesus. I counted it an honor that McKay asked if I would pray for him, that he would daily give over to Jesus his difficulties with alcohol. He ended our time of prayer, praying for those of us who had come down to spend time with him.

God provided in so many tangible ways for our time under the bridge. Even as we drove downtown the sun began to shine and the rain we did experience came in as light showers. We didn’t have access to our storage unit to gather clothing and items that had been donated in past months, yet we had an abundance of clothing and personal items to share as so many brought clothing, blankets and tarps to hand out that day. Our meal was graciously provided for by the contribution of many. Thank you Ron and Lori for providing hamburgers & hotdogs and to ALL who sacrificially gave so that we were able to serve in abundance to over 100 people. We are also sooo grateful to Shelley Toler who came downtown with us and used her gift of photography to provide a visual journal of our gathering. Pictures will be posted soon to the blog!!

We will be gathering together again on Sunday, April 26th. We are grateful for all of God’s provision and that certainly includes the prayers of many.

A post concerning our next time downtown in April will soon follow. We are excited that Forest Grove Foursquare Church’s youth group will be joining us!!! May Jesus have His way with each one of our hearts as we prepare to take His love to those He loves downtown.

For Jesus,

Dean, Shelly, Michael and Bailee Mallon
Mike and Cindi Gerkman

Update on our next time downtown – Sunday, April 26th!

Hey everyone. Just wanted to send out a message containing info on our next time under the bridge this Sunday, the 26th. We are planning on serving spaghetti and bread. We are so thankful that Karen Fort will be making the spaghetti sauce

Following is a list of our needs concerning the meal:
Spaghetti noodles
Soft rolls
Butter
Bottled water
Fresh fruit
Soft baked goodies without nuts

If anyone is able to provide any of the above-mentioned item(s) please email Shelly at shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman at cindi@gerkman.com.

Please check out our “General Needs” link for a list of items that are needed on an ongoing basis. Tarps continue to be needed as we are still having rainy nights.

We are so excited to gather again under the bridge with our friends this Sunday. We welcome all who have been a part of Church Under the Bridge before and all who are considering joining us. We are grateful for your continued prayers and grateful to our Lord for His faithfulness and goodness.

Date: Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

“The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love”
Galatians 5:6

Daniel 12:3

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever.”

This verse came alive to Dean and I during a recent Bible study in Daniel. What a truth to firmly stand upon … we have the assurance that lights willing to shine in the darkness will shine forever. In Philippians 2:14-16, we are called shining stars in the universe as we continue in the good work God has called us to. We will shine brightly in a world that is becoming increasingly dark.

Jesus always has been and always will be the heart of Church Under The Bridge. We desire to bring the light of His love to all we meet under the bridge. We are assured by God’s word that, as we bring and give the light of Jesus to those He loves downtown, we shine for His glory as stars in the universe and we are making an investment in eternal radiance. As we walk faithfully in this truth, it is our prayer that those we meet downtown will follow us straight to Jesus.

We invite any and all who would like to join us as we gather next under the bridge on Sunday, May 31st.
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

We will be serving lasagne again!
Following is a list of our needs concerning the meal:
Pans of lasagne
Soft rolls
Butter
Bottled water
Fresh fruit
Soft baked goodies without nuts

If anyone is able to help with the lasagne or provide any of the other above-mentioned item(s) please email Shelly at shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman at cindi@gerkman.com.

Please check out our “General Needs” link for a list of items that are needed on an ongoing basis. Tarps continue to be needed as we are still having rainy nights.

Shining Because of Jesus,

The Mallons and the Gerkmans
For Church Under the Bridge

Church Under The Bridge – This Sunday, June 28, 2009!!!

Our hearts are filled with joy to know we will be meeting to gather again in Jesus’ name under the Steele Bridge this Sunday!

We will be serving our first BBQ of the summer! Outlined below is a list of the things we will be serving/needing:

The Meal
Hamburger patties and buns – enough to serve 150
Hotdogs and hotdog buns
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Chips
Baked goodies
Fresh fruit
Lemonade
Bottled water

Personal Items
Tarps
Blankets
Hats
T-shirts
Shorts (men & women)
Underwear (men & women)
Socks (men & women)
Lip Balm
Sunscreen
Deoderant
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Individual packets of Kleenex
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dry dog food
Fruit snacks
Protein bars

Prayer Requests
Please pray for Princess’ safety and health during her pregnancy. Praise God that she has found medical care and someone to follow her during her pregnancy. Pray that Princess’ every need will be met through her Father in Heaven.

Please pray for Peter’s back. Praise God that he has found medical care through NORA in downtown Portland and that he has not had to leave the area in search of medical care. Please join us in praying that God would make Himself known in a real way to Peter.

If anyone is able to contribute any of the above-mentioned items, please email Shelly @ shellymedtrans.com or Cindi @ cindi@gerkman.com. We want to make this, our first BBQ of the summer, a big feast served with the Love of Jesus to our brothers & sisters in Christ. We are excited that Joey, Ben and the rest of the Ncompass group will be joining us as we gather. They are lights for Jesus that shine brightly for His glory and we are sooo thankful to count them as co-laborers in the field Jesus has given us to care for in downtown Portland. May He find us faithful.

We welcome all who have gathered with us before and all who have yet to join us as we purpose to lift Jesus up and draw men unto Him under the Steele Bridge.

Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Sunday, July 26, 2009 – Next Gathering Under the Bridge!!

Hey Everyone. Just a head’s up that we will be gathering under the Steele Bridge next Sunday, July 26th. We are excited for what God purposes to do through us as we serve one another for His glory!!

We are planning a Taco Feed! We actually had someone request tacos the last time we were downtown so we are going to take that request to heart and carry it out

We welcome ALL who have joined us before and we invite ALL who have yet to be a part of God’s kingdom downtown. What He calls us to is simple … Lift up Jesus and pour out His Love. We, His people, are the vessels He has chosen in order for this to be accomplished. As we cooperate with Jesus in bringing hope to those who have no hope, love to those who feel unloved, focus our attention to those who so often are overlooked, and share a warm meal and some of life’s basic necessities to those who often wake up and go to bed hungry, wearing possibly the same clothing they have for untold days, we are sharing in the suffering of Christ and, in doing so, He guarantees that we will share in His resurrection glory. We have seen and tasted His faithfulness. Each time we have gone, He has poured into our hearts the glory of His resurrection power and He has filled us exactly where we need to be filled. Praise His Holy Name!!

Our current needs are outlined below

The Meal
Seasoned Ground Beef
Shredded Cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Salsa
Sour Cream
Beans (Refried)
Bottled Water
Canned Whipcream
Squeeze Bottle Strawberry Jam
Soft baked Goodies (without nuts)
Fresh Fruit

Our hope is to be able to serve 300 tacos!! If anyone is able to contribute any of the above-mentioned items, please email Shelly @ shellymedtrans.com or Cindi @ cindi@gerkman.com.

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. Foot powder has been requested and we have added that to our list. We can always use men & women’s seasonal clothing that is in good condition.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Ray and his continuing struggle with alcohol. Pray that the “little voice” that Ray mentioned hearing, reasoning with him not to drink, becomes bigger than the enemy’s voice convincing him that alcohol will lessen his struggle. We know that “little voice” is God’s Holy Spirit and we pray that the power of God is released into Ray’s life. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world!

Please pray for God’s protection over Allen’s heart and mind. He has shared his struggle with schizophrenia and we are burdened by the daily fight Allen faces. Please pray that God would continue to send ministering angels to Allen. Allen’s soft and gentle spirit has certainly ministered to us. Please pray that our time with Allen is time in which he feels the safe love of Jesus.

Please pray for Ben who is serving time in prison in Nevada. If it be God’s will, we pray that Ben would find his way back to Portland. Peter and Ray miss him and it would be a celebration to have their friend back.

Please pray for Darcy and her struggle with addiction to alcohol and depression. Pray that she will find the strength to commit to treatment. Pray for God’s protection over her heart and mind as she battles feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Pray that God’s light would penetrate the darkness she professes to be surrounded by and that she will follow His light straight to Jesus for healing and restoration.

Please pray for God’s blessing over Joey and Stephanie of Ncompass who recently married. We pray that they are empowered by Jesus to serve Him in unity!

Please continue to pray for Princess’ safety and health during her pregnancy. Please pray that she has been able to successfully re-establish her coverage under Oregon Health Plan as her backpack with all her identification and medical cards was stolen.

Please continue to pray for Peter’s back. On the 2nd of July, he began cortisone injections. We pray that they have provided him with much relief.

We are excited that Andy and Serenity are back and will be joining us on Sunday!! Please pray for their continued transition back home. Pray that the Peace of Christ would continue to surround them as they seek Him concerning the work He continues to call them to. Praise God for their willingness to follow Jesus for His name’s sake!!

We welcome all who have gathered with us before and all who have yet to join us as we purpose to lift Jesus up and draw men unto Him under the Steele Bridge. If you hear Jesus calling, come join us and be filled.

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009
Time:: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace.
1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Office Parking Lot, Boberg Rd to pray and caravan downtown

The success of love is in the loving – it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done.
Mother Teresa

Report on our Taco Feed!

What an awesome time in the Lord we all shared during our Taco Feed downtown last Sunday! Warm sunshine fell on us all as we gathered under the Steele Bridge. We were able to serve an abundance of food and we were all surrounded by an abundance of God’s love. We are continuing to build lasting relationships with many who we see each time we go downtown. What a joy it was to have Andy, Serenity, Avery, Ally, and Eva with us again

My heart continues to be stretched in ways that often hurts yet feels so good as I know it is the Lord’s Spirit that is stretching me. Increasingly, we are becoming aware that as we go downtown we carry with us a fresh wave of God’s Holy Spirit. His Spirit occupies the space under the bridge we have been given to gather in and both those who go to serve as well as those who always serve us in return are being unified by the Spirit of God in a way that breaks down walls that define “us” and “them.” God is binding us together as One in His spirit as evidenced by the love that is so freely shared back and forth between all of us.

Praise to God for the prayer time that we all shared hand-in-hand after we had eaten, fellowshipped, and cleaned up. For all who go with us, please, if you are able, remain with us to pray after we have cleaned up. We have been speaking for some time about organizing a “time and place” for all who have participated in Church Under the Bridge to gather and share testimonies of what we have all witnessed of Jesus during our times under the bridge. During a time of prayer earlier in the week, God revealed to us that the “time” would be immediately following our time with our friends and the “place” would be right there with them, further cementing in our hearts that they are a part of us and we are a part of them. Peter joined us and expressed his gratitude to God for our time together. He is coming closer and closer to accepting Jesus as his Savior!!! We are seeing a softening of his heart toward the things of God and we know that Christ’s Spirit is drawing him.

The following Thursday (7/30/09) a group of us loaded our cars with coolers full of ice and water and brought cold “living water” to share with anyone we would find in need during the extremely hot weather we had this past week. We saw and shared cold water with many who we know and many others who we met for the first time. Thank God that we were able to find Princess and that she was doing okay. Thankfully, Lori was able to take her to Pioneer Square for a bite to eat and to get in out of the heat.

God also ordained a meeting with a man by the name of Vance. Vance shared with us his 30 year struggle with alcohol and how he desired to be set free from the chains that bound him. We prayed with Vance on the street and challenged him that his making the decision to get free was the first step toward freedom. Please pray that he surrenders to the recovery program at Portland Rescue Mission as he has made an attempt to get clean and sober there.

We had another ordained meeting with Felicity, the young woman who Serenity spoke of meeting a couple of years ago outside the post office on Mustard Seed Ministry’s video. We walked by a group of people sitting on the sidewalk near the train station and Serenity immediately recognized Felicity and she recognized Serenity. Tears flowed from Felicity’s eyes as Serenity shared with her how much she continued to pray for her. Serenity prayed for Felicity right there on the sidewalk, praying that she would find herself worthy to sit at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to pour His love over her, heal her, and set her free from the enemy’s clutches. We told both Felicity and Vance that we would be back downtown at the end of August under the Steele Bridge. It is our prayer that we see them then.

Our gratitude for what God is doing in us and through Church Under the Bridge only grows. We are thankful for the countless miracles of the heart, including our own, that we are given the privilege of witnessing when we are downtown. We are thankful for the outpouring of gratitude and support we receive from many we meet and from all whom we have come to know and love. We are thankful that Jesus has chosen us to be representatives of His love and grace before men. We are thankful for every prayer that is lifted up for Church Under the Bridge and its members. We are thankful to the many who give of their time and resources to bless those who meet us under the bridge. We are thankful for the children who join us each month with their families “for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” We are thankful to witness the power of the Body of Christ working together, each member effortlessly sharing the gifts they have been given, so that we all may contribute in bringing Glory to God. We are thankful that Jesus is doing a mighty work in us all!

We will be posting another message concerning our next time downtown in August soon. Until that time, may the sufficiency of God’s grace, peace, and love keep you – Shelly
For Church Under the Bridge

“Joy is the proof of the rightness of any endeavor. Joy is the compass which points to God’s direction in life.”
From the book, Mother Teresa

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Church Under the Bridge –Sunday August 30th!

Join us downtown under the Steele Bridge as we gather for another summer BBQ.

We will be serving the following Meal:

Hamburgers & Chicken Burgers
Hotdogs
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Chips
Baked goodies
Fresh fruit
Lemonade
Bottled water

*Meal needs*

Hamburgers – 100
Hamburger Buns – 150
Hotdogs & Hotdog buns – 50
Baked goodies (no nuts)
Fresh fruit

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. Foot powder has been requested and we have added that to our list. We can always use men & women’s seasonal clothing that is in good condition.

Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

Our most recent visit

To give an account of our last time downtown can only be an expression of thankfulness and awe.
It began as we pulled up under the Steele Bridge. Never had we seen such a gathering to help unload and set up. Immediately, as the tables were in place, everyone that wanted clothes (just as if we were giving directions) swarmed around the clothes tables and, those that were hungry, got in the food line. Now realize, we were having a BBQ and it takes time to get the BBQ set up and the burgers done cooking – that did not matter and, in no time, we had close to 90 in line all the way to the waterfront. We cooked and cooked until we had no more- over 2 hours of turning burgers , (with even an additional run or two to the grocery store to pick up more.) All in all, we probably cooked up hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken for around 250! Call it a God thing, because we have never seen such an outpouring of the Spirit…helping hands, grateful hearts, expressions of friendship – just like a family reunion. I stood back and watched as those that volunteer mingled, prayed, lent a caring ear and a hug – all doing the most simple of things…spending an afternoon showing the many who gathered with us that they are cared for. I could not help but think, maybe just maybe, we were simply there for one couple – Chase and Monica , who had just got into town the day before. They both were slightly overwhelmed and Monica was feeling sick from an apparent urinary infection, not knowing where to go for medical care or how to get there. Two of the group volunteered to take them up to OHSU and check Monica in for care. Chase cried as he showed his gratitude for both the food and aid to Monica from strangers in a new town. Will we see them again? That is unknown…but we do know that, just as Pastor Al shared that morning, Jesus cares for their souls, so much so, that he died for them.
We are, as always, blessed to be used, blessed to spend time with our friends downtown, and energized and encouraged to see and experience a purposeful God use ordinary men and women to show His love and grace for one another. A God who purposes to spend eternity in heaven with each of His children. How much is a soul worth? It is priceless!
Our thanks go out to all that were able to make it, those that pray, those that contribute both dollars for food, food to serve, and various other needed items. We thank New Life for use of the wonderful BBQ. Without all of you, all that takes place under the Steele Bridge would be impossible. We hope that as you read this and if our Lord prompts you to join us, you hear Him and obey. How does He want to use you? How is He trying to gain more of you? How is He desiring to use you to gain another soul for heaven? It will be priceless!!
Our next time to gather will be September 27th – See you then.
Click on our needs category as we have some specific requests from some specific friends.
Many blessings from all of us with Church under the Bridge.

Sunday, September 27th – Church Under the Bridge

We will be gathering under the Steele Bridge to share a final Summer BBQ with our friends downtown. God is doing some amazing work and he has given us the privilege to be a part of it. Won’t you join us?

The Meal

BBQ Hamburgers & Hotdogs
Karen’s Famous Potato Salad
Chips
Soft Baked Goodies (no nuts)
Fresh Fruit
Lemonade

**Meal Needs**

150 Burgers & Buns
Cheddar Cheese slices
50 Hotdogs & Buns
Individual packages of Chips (Costco)
Soft Baked Goodies (no nuts)
Fresh Fruit

**IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com**

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. We can always use men & women’s seasonal clothing in good condition. And with the weather getting cooler, warm clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, and tarps are needed.

Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time:: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace.
1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Office Parking Lot, Boberg Rd to pray and caravan downtown

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

Next Gathering Under the Bridge – October 25th!

Charity is practical. Sometimes it is easy, more often inconvenient, but always necessary. It is the ability to use one’s position of influence, wealth relative to the rest of the world, and the power of Christ’s love to affect lives for the better. Charity is singular and IT IS achievable. Will we be known as one who wears charity?”
Calvary Connection International

First, I would like to extend heart-felt thanks to all who have been praying for Dean, Michael, Bailee and I after my mom’s sudden passing into Glory. It has been the prayers of many that have kept us during this great loss. Waves of grief continue to come over us, but with each wave we are saved by God’s grace, comfort, and love and we are reminded it is that same love that will always bind us together in spirit with mom.

We are sooo looking forward to being back downtown with everyone on the 25th. We are going to be serving Karen Fort’s AWESOME homemade chicken noodle soup!!!

The Meal

Chicken Noodle Soup
Soft Butterflake Rolls and Butter
Soft Baked Goodies
Fresh Fruit
Deli Sandwiches
Chips
Bottled Water
Coffee

Meal Needs

Soft Baked Goodies
Fresh Fruit
Deli Sandwiches
Variety Lays 50 CT Boxed Chips (Four Boxes)
Bottled Water

**IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com**

General Needs

PLEASE … If you plan to join us downtown, bring along either a clean, used blanket, a new blanket, or a brown or green 5′ x 7′ tarp. The cold and rain are beginning and we want to share warm blankets and dry tarps in abundance to all who are in need. It is our prayer that, as we offer protection from the elements to our friends, Christ’s love and protection will also cover each one of them.

Please click on the General Needs link for a list of our ongoing needs. We are in need of clean men’s and women’s winter clothing that is in good condition. Coats, hats, and gloves are in great demand this time of year

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace.
1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Office Parking Lot, Boberg Rd to pray and caravan downtown

Report on our time downtown, 10/25/09

Our time downtown under the Steele Bridge on 10/25 was pure joy! We witnessed and heard of one miracle after another. When we pulled under the bridge, I was taken aback by the number of people who greeted us and quickly helped to unload our vehicles. By the time we had unloaded, I think it is safe to say there were already 75 to 100 people in line waiting to share the meal we had brought with us!

The weather has been turning quickly from the warm days of fall to the cold nights of winter and my prayers before we went down repeatedly centered around my asking the Lord to miraculously provide for our friends in the way of tarps, blankets, and warm clothing. As I went through things in the storage unit during the week prior to our time under the bridge, I could see how low we were running on such items and my prayers quickly ramped up from “Please Lord provide” to “Lord we need you to provide!” The gift of being able to see right in front of our eyes the faithfulness of God’s provision when we simply ask was made known to all as things began to be unloaded and set out. Through the gifts of many, God provided 60+ tarps for our friends, numerous blankets and sleeping bags, and an ABUNDANCE of clothing so much so that we couldn’t see any of the tables they were so FULL!! We put out the word asking those who went downtown with us to bring just one blanket and we were given the miracle of seeing the Lord’s promise to multiply the seed we sow when we give!

It was so awesome to reconnect with many who we have come to know and love. We were given the opportunity to hear two of our friends report on how they had found housing!! As Raymond spoke to me about his new home, I could see a mixture of emotions coming up and out of his heart. He was thankful, so thankful, yet his prayer request was that he would be able to receive the gift of having a place to call home. I asked Raymond if I could pray with him right where we were standing and he allowed me to do so. As we prayed, I asked God to give Raymond the ability to see that none of us deserve the goodness of God, but in His mercy and grace, he bestows on us His love and certainly that is what He had done for him in providing his new home. As we finished praying, both Raymond and I had tears running down our cheeks and he simply said, “Thank you for taking the time to pray the words that I have wanted to pray but didn’t feel like I could.” We pray that God would continue to reveal to Raymond how much He loves Him and that Raymond would increasingly feel worthy to receive the truth of how much he is loved by his Heavenly Father.

Princess and Pancho have found a home as well!! What a blessing to hear them talk of their apartment and how they are getting ready for their baby’s arrival in late December/early January. We sat and heard of their acknowledgement that God had provided this home for them and they were trusting for His provision for what lies ahead of them and their new son. We are in the beginning stages of planning a baby shower for Princess!! We will post updates concerning our plans for her as they unfold.

Another miracle … My brother Stan, joined us for the first time on the 25th. He is a recovered alcoholic and drug addict and loves Jesus. Jesus saved him from the pit and Stan is the first to acknowledge that, if it were not for Jesus’ saving grace, he would be lost and without a home. Following our time downtown, Stan spoke of how he was impacted by all that he witnessed and how thankful he was for what God is doing through CUB. Before Stan went back to his home in Washington the following day, he gave me a check for $500.00 to go toward purchasing sleeping bags. I thank God for saving my brother. I thank Him for Stan’s heart of humility and gratitude. I thank Jesus for pouring His love into Stan’s life and that Stan, in return, kindly considered those he met under the bridge and acted on their behalf.

Lastly, what a privilege it is to hear of what God is doing in the hearts of those who go downtown to serve. I received an email from Lori, a friend who regularly takes part in Church Under The Bridge, after our time on the 25th. I believe her words capture what God is doing in each one of us as we bring the light of His love to those we fellowship with under the Steele Bridge:

“There was a man named Kevin who was badly beat up. I served him the bowl of soup and when I looked up and saw his face I literally gasped. He looked awful…raw meat. I said “so how bad is the other guy?” and he said “well, he is in the hospital”. I told him that I was so sorry and asked what happened. He told me that he (Kevin) is a street musician and that this other guy came and stole the little money he had made so Kevin went after him and the fight was a bad one. It was kind of an out of body experience for me as I looked into his eyes and touched his arm and said “what is your name?” and he said “Kevin” and I said “Kevin, I will pray for you”. Do you remember the movie Ghost? Whoopie Goldberg entered Demi Moore’s body and lived through it. That is what I felt happened when I looked at and touched Kevin. I literally felt the Holy Spirit fill me. He is the one who touched Kevin, He is the one who looked into his eyes and He is the one who said “I will pray for you”. It was something that I will never forget happening Shelly. Once again, I was blessed. It was ME that got blessed right along with Kevin. Will you remember to pray for him?”

Please join us as we lift Kevin and all of our friends downtown to the throne of God and pray about gathering with us in November. We know you will experience the touch of the Holy Spirit as you consider those who have less during this holiday season.

We will soon be posting another message to the blog concerning our next time downtown, Sunday, November 29th. We will also include info on some exciting things we are planning for December!

To God Be The Glory – Shelly
For Church Under The Bridge
Matthew 25:34-40
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Next Time Under the Bridge – Sunday, November 29th!!

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to give a shout out that we are planning for our next gathering under the Steele Bridge on Sunday, November 29th! We are planning a BBQ again as hot burgers fresh off the grill are always a hit!

We received word from Peter earlier this week that our friend, Raymond Routta, died. We rejoice for Raymond as he was a follower of Jesus and he is with his Lord in Heaven. However, we mourn the loss of our friend. Please pray for all who are grieving, that they will receive comfort.

Below are our needs for the meal:

Hamburger patties – 200
Hamburger Buns – 200
Hotdogs and Hotdog buns – 50
Baked goodies (no nuts)
Fresh fruit
Bottled Water
Apple Cider
Variety Lays Chips (50 ct) – 5 Boxes

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ONE NEW BLANKET OR TARP (5X7 GREEN OR BROWN) OR ONE CLEAN USED BLANKET THAT IS IN GOOD CONDITION TO HAND OUT. ALSO … WE ARE MEETING WITH INCREASING NUMBERS WHEN WE GO DOWNTOWN AND WE NEED MORE CHAIRS TO VISIT IN. IF YOU ARE GOING DOWNTOWN, BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU.

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. that to our list. We can always use men and women’s warm clothing that is in good condition. We are also running low on socks and shoes.

Date: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

“Let us place ourselves completely under the influence of Jesus, so that He may think through our spirit and work through our hands. We can do everything if His strength is in us.” – Mother Teresa

Tribute to our friend!

Last night, upon returning from our trip to Africa, I was informed that our friend from under the bridge, Raymond, had gone home to be with the Lord. He passed away last Monday fro complications from pneumonia.
I will never forget Raymond. A slight man, he was always among the first to be there to help us unload our tables and goods for a feeding program. He would always carry his share and more.
The last time I saw him, he shared with me something that his father had always told him. “it is never too late to be what you are capable of being.” That had an impact on me and it is a truth that many of us can learn from.
Though homeless, Raymond recognized how much better off he was than those we were going to visit in Rwanda. He expressed a concern for our well-being. I was concerned for his. He had recently been accepted into a housing program that he did not feel worthy to accept.
When we first met, he was living up on the Sandy River. He would take a bus to Gresham and then take Max downtown. One of the things I’ll always remember about Raymond was his response to my question as to “why do you come all this way just to get a meal?” He responded, “Because I know you guys are going to be here.” It was not the meal, but people who showed their sincere concern for him.
Raymond, it was an honor and a privilege to know you.
Mike

Touchable Jesus

Just an update on our time under the Steele bridge on the 29th of November. The Lord brought so many people to gather in His name under the bridge! We shared in a divine moment together as Mike said a word of honor for our friend Raymond and asked God’s blessing over our time and meal together. We all shared in feeling the loss of Raymond, this being our first gathering since he passed onto Glory, and I am thankful for the unity we experienced as brothers and sisters in need of the Lord’s touch.

The theme for the year at New Life is Touchable Jesus, Touchable Church. I think this is a perfect description of what we are seeing God do through Church Under the Bridge. He is bringing people from all walks of life … all unique in how they were created and their life experiences … and yet all vulnerable to grief, loss, and sadness, all hungry for a kind word, a gentle touch, a listening ear, and all created in the image of God to be a vessel for God’s love and mercy to flow freely from. These are the common threads that run through humanity that cause us to draw close to God and each other. I have been touched by so many under the bridge who, after being touched, I know it is Jesus, through them, touching me. Thank you to the many who gathered with us to go downtown. What a privilege it is to be used by God to be His touchable Jesus church.

We are thankful to have been given the opportunity to join with Joey and Emily and the rest of the Ncompass group from OSU to meet under the Morrison Bridge for a Christmas Festival in December!! To all who are thinking about attending, please consider bringing a new sleeping bag to hand out to someone in need. This will be a huge outreach providing food and drinks, sleeping bags and blankets, free backpacks and bags, free clothes, socks, and shoes, and free hair cuts. We are so excited to witness miracles in the lives of the people touched under the Morrison Bridge as we celebrate the birth of Christ together!!! Please join us in praying for this gathering. We will be taking down lots of sleeping bags; if you are able to provide a sleeping bag, but are unable to join us please contact Shelly @ shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi @ cindi@gerkman.com.

If you would like to make a financial contribution toward the meal and items the Ncompass group will be providing, you may mail a check to: Canby New Life Foursquare Church with “Church Under the Bridge” in the memo @ 2350 SE Territorial Road, Canby, OR 97013

NEXT SCHEDULED TIME UNDER THE “MORRISON” BRIDGE: Sunday, December 20th. Meet at 1:30 P.M to gather and pray at the Grace church office and caravan downtown.

We wish you all a very blessed and joyous holiday season!

For Jesus & His Church Under the Bridge,
Dean, Shelly, Michael & Bailee Mallon and Mike & Cindi Gerkman

Further Info for December

Hey Everyone. I have received some questions regarding the schedule for the Christmas Festival and our regular scheduled outreach the last Sunday of the month.

The Christmas Festival under the Morrison Bridge will be starting at 11:00 a.m. and is scheduled to go until 4:00 p.m. If you are unable to meet at the Grace office at 1:30 and you would rather just go straight downtown, you may do so anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

We won’t have a planned outreach on the last Sunday of December, the 27th, under the Steele Bridge, since we will be joining the Ncompass kids on the 20th. We will return to our normal schedule for Church Under The Bridge on the last Sunday of January, the 31st.

Also, I got a message from Princess, our friend who is about to deliver a baby boy, listing out some baby items they need. Below is the list she sent me:

- Boppy pillow cover

- Bedding/baby linens for bassinet

- We have a crib set but no crib ( but we don’t really need one right a way??)

- We are going to need a stroller carseat combo especially one w/ serious wheels & public transportation friendly

- We need blankies receiving and warm ones, layerable clothing and a bunting suit for going out,

- For bottles I really like using the avent brand toddler cups and interchanging the the spill proof pieces with their bottle nipples

- I like Burt’s bees baby stuff and Johnson&johnson i think both of those smell like baby boys

- Baby towels

- Let’s see, Daddy likes Football (AZ Cardinals & OSU Beavers) and the Blazers so that’s an idea

- A babybook we don’t have one yet?

- Gift certificate from Walmart for diapers and essentials

If anyone is able to bless Princess/Pancho with a gift for their baby, please contact Shelly @ shellymedtrans@msn.com. She is due January 2nd, but could go into labor at any time.

God’s Blessings to All,
Shelly

More Info on December 20th Christmas Festival

Passing on a message from the NCompass kids about Saturday, the 20th, activities!

Haley Kauer sent a message to the members of Ncompass [People. Passion. Purpose.]
Subject: Homeless Festival, December 20th

Hey Everyone! We wanted to invite you to be part of an especially significant homeless outreach this coming Sunday, December 20th from 11:00am-4:00pm. We will be meeting under the Morrison Bridge in Portland, Oregon with a large supply of food, hygiene gear, clothing and bedding supplies to distribute. Additionally, there will be nurses, hair-cutters and dentists to help meet any needs of the homeless population in the area. If you would like to volunteer in any way, feel free to contact our event coordinator Emily (from our “admin” list) for specific details and keep your eyes open for more info throughout the week! Thank you for your time and remember: keep the faith.

Peace, The Ncompass Team

Reflecting Back, Pressing On

Hey Everyone! We pray that everyone reading this had a joy-filled holiday season with family and friends. We want to start the new year looking back on the many things we are grateful for and then turn our focus to looking ahead and pressing on to see what God is doing and desires to continue to do through His people. Please click and share your heart on the above “Ministry Poll”. It is our prayer that as 2010 begins, God will use each one of us according to our giftings and passion!

Morrison Bridge Christmas Festival

Our gathering with the Ncompass gang on December 20th was incredible!! God moved in mighty ways to provide and accomplish incredible things as we reached out to the many people downtown who have no place to call home. The dental van was filled the entire time we were down there with many people having teeth pulled. Food was being served in abundance for five hours straight. A generous salon owner who had to close her business but had paid rent for her salon through December, opened her doors and people were able to come in for pedicures, hand massages, back/neck massages, shampoos, and haircuts. I had the joy of meeting a woman named Patty who, after having a pedicure/hand massage, and shampoo/cut, said, while I was drying her hair, “I had almost forgotten what it felt like to feel pampered.” Pure joy to have been a witness to God’s goodness extended toward her through the body of Christ! A miracle amount of clothing, sleeping bags, blankets, socks, gloves, hats, personal care items streamed in the entire time we were there and it was estimated by the log of volunteers that was kept as well as the numbers of people served that there were about 90 volunteers who helped serve in this outreach and, PRAISE GOD, 700 homeless individuals were touched with the love of Christ!!! A big thanks goes out to Emily and the rest of the group at Ncompass who allowed us to be a part of witnessing this great work of God on behalf of those He loves.

New Year’s Jubilee Party

January began with Andy and Serenity opening their home on New Year’s Day to some of our friends downtown for a New Year’s Jubilee Party. We will be including some pictures of the day’s event soon; we will let you know once the pictures have been uploaded to our “Pictures and Video” link. Thank you for your many prayers and generosity in supporting our New Year’s Day party. Ten men were picked up from downtown Portland and taken to Andy and Serenity’s home in Hubbard where we (servants and guests) watched the Rose Bowl together, ate lots of good food, and played games. The bathroom was open for anyone who wanted to take a hot shower and a precious neighbor of Andy and Serenity’s laundered clothing all day. Thank you to the other neighbors and friends who provided food and other necessities for the event. This was absolutely a team effort! I have to share a story that Serenity told me following our day together. A gentle man by the name of Fernando was one of our guests. He had shared with us how he was trying to get back to L.A. where he had family and a job waiting for him. Because of the kind generosity of so many people, Andy and Serenity had $150.00 left over after everything had been purchased. They knew it was for Fernando that Jesus had provided this $ so they purchased a bus ticket for him to get to L.A.!! Thank you God that through the many seeds that were planted in getting ready for the Jubilee Party, another significant seed was able to be planted in Fernando’s heart!!

Thanks be to God for the gift of bumping into His grace with each opportunity we are given to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ!! It is our prayer that our testimony of Jesus will continue to be lived through each one of us in 2010 as we purpose in our hearts to press on in our faith by following and serving Christ in obedience to go where He asks us to go and extend His love to those He brings across our path.

We will be gathering under the Steele Bridge on January 31, 2010 . We will be sending out another post outlining our needs for the meal, etc. in the next week. Our prayer is that if you sense the Holy Spirit asking you to go with us, that you obey that call. In doing so, Jesus will be realized more fully not only in your own heart but also in the heart of the person He is calling you to touch for His name’s sake.

“The yesterday is always today with God, therefore today in the world Jesus stands covered with our sins, in the distressing disguise of my Sister, my Brother.” – Mother Teresa

The Bigness of God

During a recent trip with my friend, Lori, to visit her aunt in Denver following my mom’s sudden death, I shared my desire that God would show Himself big to me. I truly felt that, if I saw the bigness of God before my eyes, it would help me to regain my shaky footing on the solid rock realization that God really does know what He is doing and that, even when everything in my life feels shaken, He is in control and His word to us that He is working ALL things together for our good is true. Having said this prayer, I must admit I was expecting God to show me a show-stopping miracle. A miracle that captured the supremacy of God … something of His glory that would equally shake me, but I would see nothing but Him. I have had some “small” yet “big” moments with God since that time and His spirit has reassured me these moments have been answers to the very prayer I spoke in Denver. These moments were not loud announcements or big demonstrations from Heaven by God. They were instead quiet whispers from the Holy Spirit that God sees me, considers me, and desires that I see Him in big ways. I want to share a few of these moments in the hope that what God has given me eyes to see and ears to hear are merely opportunities that surround each of us daily and that, if we seek Him with all of our hearts, He is faithful to show us Himself.

The week after we got back from Denver, my family and I left for a Thanksgiving trip to Arizona. My first “small, yet big moment” was when we were all sitting by the pool. Without a word to us, my son, Michael, got up and walked toward a man who I had noticed when we walked into the pool area. He was an elderly man sitting on a lounge chair with his cane nearby watching his grandsons swim. I had no idea that it was this man that Michael was approaching. It was when Michael got to this man that I saw the bigness of God through my 17-year-old son. I saw Michael crouch down to speak to the man at eye level, extend his hand toward him, and help him get up from the lounge chair he was sitting in. Michael then handed the man his cane and the man smiled and patted Michael on his back. When Michael came back, I told him, “I just saw Jesus” and I truly believe I did. The minute I witnessed this act of kindness, I realized how quickly I must miss several “big” God moments because I simply am not watching for them. Michael was the only one who saw this man’s struggle to get up and, without hesitation, he went and met this man’s need, just as Jesus would. Big God showing Himself through a small act of kindness.

The second “big” moment was close to Christmas when we went to watch a play that my friend’s daughter was in at a church in their neighborhood. With the loss of my mom, I must admit Christmas was not holding for me the same joyful expectation that it had in the past, knowing we would not be celebrating with her. It was as I sat watching the true meaning of Christmas, the gift of Christ’s birth, being celebrated with joy before my eyes by children, that God showed me once again His bigness is often missed by me because I am looking for it with a skewed expectation … that His bigness is found in big things … big miracles, big sermons, big theologians, big signs and wonders. He showed me that night that often we see His bigness in the smallest of things, including small children relating the gospel story to an audience full of adults. Big God showing Himself through small children.

Another “big” moment happened during our last time under the Steel Bridge on the 31st of January. Tommy is a man who we had the sheer joy of getting to meet at Andy and Serenity’s Jubilee party on New Year’s Day. He is a small, quiet, gentle man who, if you didn’t actually stop and consider, you most likely wouldn’t notice. I spoke with Tommy after Cindi told me that he was suffering from some badly infected teeth and it was decided that we would take him to Good Sam. At what on the outside might look like it was us helping Tommy, God used him to help me.

In the car, I heard of Tommy’s testimony of what God had delivered him from. He had once been a priest, but, after losing his only son to a drunk driver, Tommy lost sight of God and tried to find relief from his grief in a bottle. He spoke of a night when he was in a drunken stupor and cried out to God to show him the way back and he said God told him to throw away his bottle and follow Him. Tommy said he immediately threw the bottle away and he has not taken a drink of alcohol since. He shared how God has sustained his life, having had multiple heart attacks and heart surgeries. He spoke of how God has been faithfully leading him, always finishing each story of God’s protection and provision, with the statement, “God works in mysterious ways.”

Bailee and I sat in the waiting room with Tommy and witnessed how gracious and kind he was to each person he interacted with. After seeing the doctor, he repeatedly told us how thankful he was to God for always making a way for him. Bailee and I dropped Tommy off at TPI where his friend, Andy, was waiting in line to get their bed for the night. After we said good-bye to Tommy and Andy, I told Bailee what a gift we had been given to get to spend this time with him and hear his testimony of God … an unwavering testimony, in the midst of great loss, threatened health, and uncertain provision, that God was His redeemer and that He was and is always faithful to provide for him.

When I consider the stark differences in my life to Tommy’s life, I can do nothing but repent before the Lord for my own lack of faith. I saw, through Tommy, a man who has lost much in this life and who has little in the way of material possession. Yet, what I witnessed most in Tommy was that he has gained and possessed the best God could offer any of us … an unshakable faith that He is the apple of God’s eye and that God is and always will be for him. Big God showing Himself through a small man with a BIG testimony.

I pray that God’s Holy Spirit continues to whisper to us to see Him in big ways. I am now quickened in my spirit to look for Him in the small, unexpected encounters I am given with His people as I believe that is where we will most often find Him. Please join us as we gather again, as God’s people, under the Steel Bridge on Sunday, February 28, 2010.

With expectant joy,

Shelly
For Church Under the Bridge

Church Under The Bridge – This Sunday, 2/28/2010!!

Hey Everyone! We will be meeting again to gather in the name of our Lord Jesus under the Steel Bridge on Sunday, February 28th. We lift this time in prayer and ask for the Lord’s spirit to guide us and use us for His glory! Below is information concerning the meal we will be serving and the time/place we will be meeting to carvan downtown.

The Meal
Assorted Deli Sandwiches
Karen Fort’s AWESOME potato salad
Assorted Chips (Lays variety box at Costco)
Fresh Fruit
Soft Baked Goods
Lemonade and/or Coffee
Bottled Water

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ONE NEW BLANKET OR TARP (5X7 GREEN OR BROWN) AND/OR ONE CLEAN BLANKET THAT IS IN GOOD CONDITION TO HAND OUT. BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU.

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. We can always use clean coats, hats, and warm gloves as well as new or used clean blankets. We are running low on warm cotton or wool socks.

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and carvan downtown.

Please join us in praying that the Spirit of God would draw us to one another in love and that His love would set the captives free!!

“Jesus’ love is so overwhelming that you and I can love Him and find life. We can love Jesus in the hungry, the naked, the destitute who are dying. We can love Him because our prayer gives us the faith we need to be able to love. If you love, you will be willing to serve.” – Mother Teresa

Church Under the Bridge March 28th!

The last Sunday of the month is just around the corner so we would like to invite you all once again to join us downtown under the Steel Bridge. Please feel free to invite your friends and family for a time of service, fellowship and fun!

THE MEAL
Hamburgers
Potato Salad
Chips
Fruit
Soft Baked Goods (no nuts)
Bottled Water

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU.

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. We can always use clean coats, hats, and warm gloves as well as new or used clean blankets. We are running low on warm cotton or wool socks.

Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and carvan downtown.

*****PLEASE JOIN US AS WE SERVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE NAME OF JESUS

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

The Uncomfortable Comforter

Earlier this week, we received a call from Andy, a great guy who we met for the first time at Andy and Serenity Coulombe’s New Year’s Day Jubilee Party. He told us his friend and our’s, Tommy, had been taken to the V.A. Hospital after having had a heart attack early that morning. Praise God that Tommy has been released from the hospital and he is doing well! On Thursday, Dean and I went to see Tommy in the hospital and Andy at TPI and it was after this visit that God spoke to me in a real way about the work He is doing not just in our lives but in the lives of those who follow Jesus to the Steel Bridge and, finally, in Jesus’ corporate bride.

I awoke during the night after we had spent time with Tommy and Andy and I had such a comforting gratitude well up in my heart for the evening God allowed Dean and I to share with our two friends. As I was thanking God for our time, He took me back to my first time under the Burnside Bridge now over three years ago. I remembered how uncomfortable I was, not knowing what to expect on our way downtown and then not knowing what to really say or do once we arrived. Again, such a comforting gratitude came over my heart at the realization of how far God has brought me to where now in some ways I feel most comfortable when I am with our friends downtown. Tommy spoke of how he was so comforted by our visit, telling us, outside of his friend Andy and Jesus, he was alone. Through his words I felt the Holy Spirit reassure me that, in the midst of Tommy’s many needs, all that God asked of Dean and I was to follow Him to Tommy’s room that night to offer him the comfort of fellowship. As we sat on Tommy’s bed, hand-in-hand, and he prayed for us that night, I knew that Heaven was touching earth in that moment. How far we had come with Tommy from the time we first met him at Andy and Serenity’s. A shy, uncomfortable man was now comforting us with his bold prayer on our behalf before God’s throne. The thought “uncomfortable comforter” ran across my mind.

When we got to TPI, Andy came out of the building and he threw his arms around Dean. This hug came from a man who I know has suffered great loss and deep hurts as Andy has always been somewhat guarded in our interaction with him. I have sensed his uncomfortableness when we have reached out to hug him, as if being hugged was something that was very hard for him to receive. When I thought of Andy for the first time greeting us with a hug, I was so grateful to God for His work in Andy’s life. Andy spoke of how excited he was that we would be going to Solid Rock again together for church on Saturday. As we stood on the street in front of TPI with people all around us …. some lying on the sidewalk, some sitting alone, some groups in conversation with a few choice words whirling around us, it was silently loud. This scene a 9:00 at night would have been once so uncomfortable for me that all I would have seen and heard was all that was around me yet, in the midst of all the uncomfortableness that surrounded us, all I saw and all I heard was Andy. Again, I gave God thanks for the fact that Andy is becoming comfortable with Jesus and, again, I felt that I had been the witness and recipient of the uncomfortable comforter.

God then moved my vision out and I thought of something I witnessed under the Steel Bridge a couple of visits ago. During that gathering, my eyes were caught by Lance, a young man from Grace; this was Lance’s first time with us under the bridge. I saw him sitting on the ground with a gentleman, listening intently to him with his hand on his shoulder. I was amazed at the ease Lance had with this man and I knew I was witnessing an encounter with Jesus. I have to believe that what I was witnessing was the uncomfortable comforter at work through Lance. I am thankful that God is moving us out from that which is comfortable. He is transforming Church Under the Bridge from being a group of people serving a group of people, to a group of people who are individually serving our Lord through intimate encounters with those He leads us to.

Lastly, the Lord showed me that what He has allowed me to see is just a small facet of what He is doing in His corporate bride. As is often the case when the Lord opens my eyes to see with my heart, He leaves me with a challenging question … When I ask, are you willing to step into the uncomfortableness of another so that I may bring them comfort? Having nothing to do with us and having everything to do with the Spirit that is at work in us … the same Spirit that empowered Jesus to lay everything down and embrace the cross, that which is incomprehensibly uncomfortable, so that we may receive comfort, our confident answer can be, “Yes, Lord.” As we follow Jesus, an exchange occurs. Really, He hands us the two keys that will unlock any closed door of our heart … we come to know Him more and our love for Him deepens.

The following short YouTube video of Francis Chan, a pastor I was introduced to through Andy and Serenity, leaves each of us with the same challenge from the Lord.

We look forward to the next time we will be following Jesus as he leads us under the Steel Bridge on Sunday, April 25th. To all that hear the Spirit saying, “Come”, we pray that you join us.

Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the Bride say come!”

Church Under The Bridge – This Sunday, April 25th!!

Hey Everyone! We will be meeting again to gather in the name of our Lord Jesus under the Steel Bridge on Sunday, April 25th. Below is information concerning the meal we will be serving and the time/place we will be meeting to carvan downtown.

The Meal
Burritos
Spanish Rice
Refried Beans
Chips & Salsa
Fresh Fruit
Soft Baked Goods
Lemonade
Bottled Water

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ONE NEW BLANKET OR TARP (5X7 GREEN OR BROWN) AND/OR ONE CLEAN BLANKET THAT IS IN GOOD CONDITION TO HAND OUT. BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU.

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. We can always use clean coats. We are running low on men’s clothing that is in clean, good condition and warm cotton or wool socks.

Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and carvan downtown.

1 John 1:5-6 “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.”

Church Under the Bridge – Sunday, May 30th!

Greetings! We’ll be gathering under the Steel Bridge on Sunday, May 30th and would like to invite you all to join us. Please feel free to invite your friends and family for a time of service, fellowship and fun!

THE MEAL
Hamburgers
Potato Salad
Chips
Fruit
Soft Baked Goods (no nuts)
Lemonade
Bottled Water

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU!

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. We can always use clean coats, hats, and warm gloves as well as new or used clean blankets. We are running low on warm cotton or wool socks.

Date: Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown.

PLEASE JOIN US AS WE SERVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE NAME OF JESUS!!

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Simon

We pray this finds everyone enjoying the beginning of the new summer season. Just wanted to send an update out concerning Simon, the gentleman who we met and prayed for on May 30th under the Steel Bridge. Thank you to all who gathered with us to lay hands on Simon and pray for him and thank you to those who helped in purchasing Simon a bus pass.

Upon meeting Simon in May, he shared with us how he was at the end of his rope. He had lost his job a year ago, then his home six months ago, and he had been on the streets since that time being unable to obtain even temporary housing. His name is on the waiting list at TPI, but he has not to date received word that there is a bed open for him. It has been very hard for Simon to seek employment due to his leg injury and difficulties with walking. He told us of how he had prayed and prayed and prayed, but God had not answered his prayers and he felt that this simply meant that he was not important enough to God to even hear his prayers so he had stopped praying. He is living under the Morrison Bridge on the east side of the river and that very morning he said he had seriously thought of jumping off the bridge into the river, hoping to end his life. Ian found Simon and invited him to our BBQ and thank God he came back with Ian to join us. After meeting Simon, we all knew that it was for him that God had led us under the Steel Bridge that day and about 20 people gathered around him to touch him, believing it was Jesus who was touching him through us, and pray for him, believing our prayers were evidence that God had heard Simon’s prayers and that His watchful eye was on him. We then asked him if there was anything we could tangibly do to help him and he told us that having a bus pass would help him in his search for work and his desire to obtain his GED at Mt. Hood Community College.

Dean and I met Simon again on Monday, June 1st under the bridge where we scheduled to meet him and give him a month’s bus pass. As we pulled under the Steel Bridge, we immediately saw Simon sitting and reading his Bible. As we approached him and I saw his face, such gratitude filled my heart in knowing that, in this small way, we were showing Simon the faithfulness of Jesus to keep our word and meet with him as we had told him we would. We handed him the bus pass and he smiled. We asked Simon how he was and he told us how much the bus pass would make things easier on him to get around to apply for jobs and back out to Mt. Hood Community College where he hoped to complete the course work necessary to get his GED. It was about 1:00 when we met Simon so we asked if he had already eaten lunch and he said that he had not and he was waiting to eat when the Blanchet House served dinner that evening. We asked if we could take him to get a sandwich and he agreed to allow us to do so. As we were leaving Simon at Subway, he took my hand and said, “My thoughts have changed in just one day … thank you.” As we left Simon, we invited him to attend Solid Rock Church and told him we would love to take him the next time we were able to go on a Saturday night. He told us he would very much like that. I received a message from Simon last Saturday, asking about church, but I was out of town and did not get his message until early this morning.

I spoke with Simon this morning. His situation remains unchanged as far as housing is concerned. However, he did call me from TPI and he is hopeful that he will be receiving a bed soon. He also asked me again about Solid Rock. He plans to go this Saturday on his own as we will be out of town. I am so encouraged by Simon’s courage to fix his focus back on Jesus, where his hope can be renewed. We will hopefully be joining him at Solid Rock on June 26th.

Please continue to pray for Simon. He is a gentle man who is committed to finding work and getting himself off the streets. We lift him to God’s throne and ask that His Spirit would lead Simon in his search. We thank God that Simon’s search for renewed hope has come full circle back to Jesus and that he is choosing to fix his hope on God. Praise God that He has lifted Simon’s spirt from the pit of despair. He said that he was looking forward to seeing us all again on the 27th under the Steel Bridge.

What a gift it was to hear Simon’s voice today … I just wanted to share that gift with those of you who met him and have been praying for him.

To God Be the Glory – Shelly
For Church Under the Bridge

Church Under the Bridge – Sunday, June 27th

Hello Friends! We’ll be heading downtown to gather under the Steel Bridge this Sunday, June 27th. Won’t you to join us?!

THE MEAL
Hamburgers & Hot Dogs
Karen’s WONDERFUL Potato Salad – becoming a monthly tradition!
Baked Beans
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Soft Baked Goods (no nuts)
Lemonade
Bottled Water

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU!

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs.

Date: Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN SERVING OUR FRIENDS DOWNTOWN!

1 Samuel 2:8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

Church Under the Bridge – Sunday, July 25, 2010

Hey Everyone! We had an awesome time in the Lord with our friends downtown in June. What a blessing it was to have Dwain, Shaylynn, and their youth group join us from Redmond Foursquare Church! To watch them very freely interact with others and join in serving was such a testimony to all they are learning and storing up in their hearts regarding Jesus and how He desires to use us to spread the good news of His Gospel by serving others in love. We are so thankful to have gotten to meet them all and we look forward to serving with them again very soon.

As an update, Tommy and Andy have left Portland. The last time we spoke with them they were in Washington state along the Canadian border. Please continue to pray for their safety and their health. We pray that their faith and dependence in Christ is strengthened and that they continue to fall deeper and deeper in love with Jesus. We will sure miss seeing them and hope that their travels will bring them back to Portland soon.

Our next gathering under the Steel Bridge will be Sunday, July 25th. We are planning to join our friends for burritos.

The Meal

Burritos
Chips and Salsa
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Cold Lemonade
Cold Bottled Water

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU!

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs.

Date: Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown.

” Sacrifice, to be real, must cost; it must hurt; it must empty us of self.”

Church Under the Bridge – This Sunday, August 29th

Greetings in the name of Jesus! We’ll be heading downtown to gather under the Steel Bridge this Sunday, August 29th, 2010.

Bring your family and friends, grab a lawn chair or two, and join us.

THE MEAL
Hamburgers and Hot Dogs
Baked Beans
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Soft Baked Goods (no nuts)
Lemonade
Bottled Water

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs.

Date: Sunday, August 29th, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown.

SEE YOU ALL THEN!!

Church Under The Bridge – This Sunday, September 26th!!

Hey Everyone! We are looking foward to our next gathering under the Steel Bridge this Sunday, September 26th. Our time in August was one BIG miracle! When we got to the Grace church office, we discovered that we were only going to have a handful of people helping to serve. We went downtown expecting God to intervene and lend us aid. When we got downtown we discovered that we were only going to have a couple of tables available to serve on and there was already 150+ people in line waiting to receive a meal!! Laying aside the urge to panic and instead gripping onto Jesus as our source, we expected God to multiply our numbers to serve and to give us wisdom on anything and everything we could use to be able to serve and lay out clothing/personal items. Praise God that He hears every prayer and He is faithful to provide! Through the help of those who were with us and the help of those we go down to fellowship with, we were able to serve 300+ people under the Steel Bridge that day!!! God provided tailgates to use as tables and we served part of the meal right out of the back of our vehicles When we ask for God’s intervention, He is always faithful to not only hear our requests but also to then move on our behalf. We thank Him for His provision and the abundance of joy that surrounded us all and anticipate Him to do GREAT things under the bridge this Sunday as we yield to Him.

WE NEED HELP

We really need some help this month with the meal we are going to be serving. We need some willing hands to bake pans of lasagna. Costco has already made pans of lasagna that only need to be heated up. We anticipate needing at least 20 pans, each pan serving 12 eight ounce servings. If you are able to purchase and heat up some pans of lasagna, please let either Shelly Mallon @ shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman @ cindi@gerkman.com know as soon as possible. Just five people offering to purchase and bake 2 pans would help out GREATLY.

The Meal

Lasagna
Soft Rolls with Butter
Fresh Fruit
Soft Baked Goods (no nuts)
Lemonade
Bottled Water
Coffee

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs.

Date: Sunday, September 26, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. If you would like to go directly downtown, plan to meet us under the Steel Bridge @ 2:30 p.m.

Praising God in advance for ALL that He will do through and in His people as we gather under the Steel Bridge for His glory. See you there!!

Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”

Answered Prayer!!

Wanted to let all of you know who have been praying for Simon about some GREAT news! We got a call from Simon earlier this week to let us know that he has found work as a mechanic in Vancouver and that he has already gotten a place to live!!! He has been so faithful to keep us posted concerning his job/housing search and to hear joy in his voice instead of weariness was such a gift! As he shared his good news, he continued to express his thankfulness to God. Our conversation ended by Simon telling us that he truly felt his circumstances began changing for him the day many months ago when we met him, laid hands on him, and prayed for him under the Steel Bridge. What a gift to hear of his testimony as it served to strengthen Dean and I in the knowledge that it is His people, like Simon, who He call us to touch through Church Under the Bridge. It is our prayer that the good news of Simon’s testimony will serve to encourage all who prayed for him many months ago under the bridge and all who have continued to pray for him … God truly does hear our prayers!

Simon expressed that he will try to meet with us on October 31st as we gather again under the Steel Bridge. We are hopeful to be able to see him and celebrate with him then.

God is GREAT – Dean and Shelly Mallon

Praise Report

Hey everyone .. Just wanted to send out a quick message letting you know that Dean and I had the privilege of presenting Church Under the Bridge to the whole church body at New Life Foursquare Church in Canby this past weekend. We pray that God was glorified and Jesus’ name was lifted up, drawing each person who heard of what God is doing through Church Under the Bridge to Christ. We were able to share our excitement about teaming up with NCompass and Solid Rock Church in a backpack fundraiser. Pastor Rob at Solid Rock is able to get $140 steel frame backpacks from REI for a $50.00 donation! If anyone is interested in making a donation for a backpack you may contact us @ underthebridgepdx@gmail.com or simply place a “comment” in reply to this post.

We are also very excited about launching our new bin donation system at New Life this past weekend to help collect sleeping bags and tarps in preparation for the big outreach NCompass will be offering under the Morrison Bridge in December.

Praise God that we feel His Spirit propelling and moving us forward in co-laboring with Christ to further His Kingdom. We have been given SOOO much help from others in our church body in getting ready for last week’s presentation and we believe this to all be evidence of God’s continued favor on the ministry of Church Under the Bridge. Would you please join us in praying that we will see a harvest in the way of backpack donations, sleeping bags, and tarps for those we love downtown.

Thank God that He allows us to see those we meet with under the bridge through His eyes … we pray that Christ was seen through our testimony as we shared on their behalf this past weekend.

We will be posting a new video to the blog in the very near future! We will be adding an upcoming post regarding plans for our meal on the 28th of this month in the coming week as well.

In Christ – The Mallons

Church Under the Bridge – This Sunday, October 31st!!

Hey Everyone! We will be heading back downtown to gather under the Steel Bridge this Sunday, October 31st. We look forward to carrying the love of Jesus down to our brothers and sisters in Christ and sharing all that God has provided on their behalf.

We are sooo thankful for all the donations that have come in since implementing the new bin donation system at New Life and we have already received an outpouring of love in the way of sleeping bags, blankets, and tarps to give to those in need. Thank you Jesus!!!

Following is our planned meal and information regarding general needs as well as the schedule for the 31st:

The Meal

Burritos
Chips and Salsa
Spanish Rice and Black Beans
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs.

Date: Sunday, October 31st, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

We hope to see many of you this Sunday! May Christ’s peace, joy, and love abide in you.

“We may not be able to give much, but we can always give the joy that springs from the heart that is in love with God” – Mother Teresa

Abiding

John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Those of us who gathered to pray and go downtown last Sunday, October 31st, did so with the knowledge that Jesus asks us to take His love to those who many would see with their natural eyes as being unlovable. What we encountered during that time was profound for me and I have been asking God to give me His wisdom, His understanding, and His knowledge in order to communicate a word for both those who partner with us in Church Under the Bridge as well as those for whom we go down to share the love of Jesus. I pray that as I take the step of faith in actually sitting down and typing out what is in my heart that God’s word would be communicated accurately and effectively.

During our time downtown last Sunday, we encountered an opposition from the enemy like we have never encountered before. Maybe it was the fact that it was Halloween, maybe there was something great at stake for the enemy and he showed up fighting, or maybe both of these realities were at play. An evil and disruptive spirit came in like waves on several different occasions. For those of you who were with us, you know what I am speaking of and for those of you who were not the best visual picture I could give you is found in 1 Peter 5:8 where we are reminded that the devil, our adversary, roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. That is what I observed … the devil roaring like a lion in an effort to devour the purposes of God through evil intimidation. There were those in our group who, thank God, immediately took the position of the quiet authority we have in Christ. Some tried to verbally engage the enemy by trying to distract or pursuade the disruptive spirit coming at us through words. The teaching moment for me was my first reaction to what I witnessed. It was not one that comes from the authority we have in remaining hidden in Christ, but instead was one of fear, a clear sign that my flesh was exposed to what was occurring. When we got home that evening and Dean and I spoke about what we encountered, he shared with me how he had felt empowered by God to simply take a stand by positioning himself between the man the enemy was using and the person being roared at. He said he never experienced a spirit of fear when doing so, but instead he knew the authority he is given in Christ. After hearing his testimony, I had to ask myself, “Why is my testimony not the same … why was not all of our testimonies the same.”

Thank God that in the midst of one of the waves, He reminded me of His word in Ephesians 6, where we are told that our fight is not against human beings. It is against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. After being reminded and assurred of the truth of God’s word, I realized that our most effective weapon to push back the enemy, was to cry out to God and claim the authority we are given in Christ. As I did so, Angela, one of our friends downtown came along my side and began agreeing with me in the spirit and taking authority as well! As the word went out amongst our group to continuously pray, we witnessed God’s faithful promise to fight on our behalf. He gave us assurance of His victory by guiding Clarence, a God fearing, Holy spirit filled man who we have had the pure joy of meeting downtown on a couple of occasions. He told me that He felt like God was telling him to walk north along the waterfront, not knowing he would eventually find us. Our time ended under the bridge with Clarence praying for each one of us … those in our group as well as those who face the same evil we encountered on a daily basis as they endure life on the streets. Thank God for His servant, Clarence, as his prayers pushed back fear and ushered in joy.

Back to the question I have been asking myself this week. The Lord has been guiding me not only to the answer to the question, but also to the victory that is promised to us in Jesus. The answer I believe has to do with abiding in Christ, not just on the day we are under the Steel Bridge but, just as importantly, during the days leading up and following our times downtown. I know being sober and vigilent about this truth will result in our ability to bear not some fruit but MUCH fruit for God’s kingdom as we purpose to draw those we gather with under the Steel Bridge to the saving love of Christ. The sobering flip side to this truth is that if we choose not to abide in Christ, we will accomplish nothing for His Kingdom. As well, we are exhorted in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God and to pray in the Spirit at ALL times. It is in our continual abiding that Christ’s Spirit will quicken our spirit to do these necessary things as well.

Please join us as we purpose to pray at all times for the lost. Especially, we ask that you join us in praying for the man who we encountered last Sunday … that he would come to know the love of God and be saved.

For God’s Glory,
Shelly

Praising God!

We are so thankful for the outpouring of love and generosity we have received for our friends downtown through our church body at New Life Foursquare Church. We have had so much help in getting the bin donation system up and running! Thank you Jesus!!

Church Under the Bridge, Sunday, November 28th!!

Hey Everyone … We will be heading back downtown on Sunday, November 28th to carry the love of Jesus to our brothers and sisters in Christ under the Steel Bridge. We ask for your prayers as we seek the Lord. It is our desire to allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in us first so that we may be made ready to carry the message of God’s love to those we will encounter.

Following is our planned meal and information regarding general needs as well as the schedule for the 28th:

The Meal

Burritos
Chips and Salsa
Spanish Rice
Beans
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. WE ARE IN NEED OF CLEAN WARM BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND TARPS.

Date: Sunday, November 28th, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

We hope to see many of you on Sunday, the 28th! As we head into the Thanksgiving week, we give thanks to God for the many who pray for and support the ministry and work done through Church Under the Bridge. You are helping to cause the light of Jesus to shine brighter under the Steel Bridge in downtown Portland. May the hope of God’s love and peace abide in all of you.

NOTE: We will be joining the NCompass group for their Christmas outreach under the Morrison Bridge on December 19th. Please let us know if you plan on joining us as well so we can give Emily an approximate head count for volunteers. We will be gathering under the Morrison Bridge on the 19th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. THIS WILL BE OUR PLANNED GATHERING FOR DECEMBER AND WE WON’T BE MEETING FOR CHURCH UNDER THE BRIDGE ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26TH

“If we want others to become aware of the presence of Jesus, we must be the first ones convinced of His presence.”

Join Us for the NCompass Christmas Festival under the Morrison Bridge!

We received the following message from Emily Rose, who is organizing the NCompass Christmas Festival this year under the Morrison Bridge. We will be bringing the waiver forms Emily mentions for you to fill out once you check in at the registration desk when you get downtown. Hope to see many of you under the Morrison Bridge this Sunday, December 19th. Please arrive downtown by 12:30 pm or as close to 1:00 pm as possible as we will be the second wave of volunteers coming in.

Hello Church Under the Bridge Group!

Thanks again so much for volunteering your time at the Second Annual Christmas Festival for the Homeless on Sunday, December 19th. Your volunteer shift will go from 12:30 – 3:30 pm. We will meet under the West side of the Morrison Bridge. Parking downtown will be limited with no parking under the bridge, so please leave yourself enough time to park and walk over to the bridge. Another option is always riding the MAX – getting off at the Burnside bridge and walking a few blocks over to the Morrison Bridge.

Please check-in at the Registration Table when you arrive to get your name tag, shirt, and turn in your Safety Waiver. If you have any questions at any time, please feel free to E-Mail or call me. We are so incredibly excited for this wonderful opportunity to serve the homeless in our community. Please be praying that a lot of people show up, that they will get what they need at the festival, and we will be able to have awesome interactions with the ones that need it the most.

Thanks again for volunteering, see you on Sunday, the 19th!

Emily Rose-Traylor
Event Director
Ncompass
P.O. Box 1429
Beaverton, Oregon 97075
503-349-1183

WorldNcompass.com

As a reminder, THERE WILL BE NO ORGANIZED GATHERING FOR CHURCH UNDER THE BRIDGE ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26TH. Our next planned gathering under the Steel Bridge is scheduled for Sunday, January 30, 2011. More information to follow concerning that gathering in January.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

New Year’s Day Banquet

Hey Everyone. We pray that each of you had a blessed time with family and friends celebrating the birth of Christ. We are working to put together our second annual New Year’s Day Banquet. Mike and Cindi Gerkman have graciously opened their home for New Year’s Day and we are planning on spending the afternoon with about 10 of our friends from downtown.

We are wanting to put together gift bags for those who attend. We would like to include a pair of warm gloves, some warm socks, and a $25.00 gift certificate to Fred Meyer. If you or anyone you know would be willing to “sponsor” one of our friends and provide a gift bag containing some or any of these items for one person, please email Shelly at shellymedtrans@msn.com. We would be available to pick up the gift bags.

Thanks for prayerfully considering being a part of God’s blessing and love to those who will gather with us on New Year’s Day.

Mike and Cindi Gerkman
Dean and Shelly Mallon
for Church Under the Bridge

Abundant

Abundant: Present in great quantity; abounding; richly supplied.

Hey Everyone. We pray that your holidays held many blessings as you considered the wonder of Jesus with family and friends. As 2010 has closed and 2011 is before us, we wanted to send out a message concerning some of the awesome moments Jesus gave us to share with our friends downtown during the holiday season. When I think back on these moments, “abundant” comes to my mind.

N-Compass Christmas Festival
What a gift it was to again share in the NCompass Christmas Festival under the Morrison Bridge on the 19th of December! I have not heard the exact numbers served from Emily yet, but I know the group who gathered with us was just as big if not bigger than last year. Through the generosity of many, God provided an abundance of clothing, food, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, and personal items. Two of our “little ones” passed out homemade Christmas cookies and blankets that a group of wonderful 4-H kids had prepared and many who received these items actually thought the two little girls handing out the items had made them! It was a great “joy” exchange to witness. There are so many tiers of blessing that make an outreach of this size even possible … all being equal in the Lord’s eyes. Thank you to the many who sacrified both time and finances on behalf of those who were able to give and receive in abundance.

New Year’s Day Banquet
The Lord gave us such a great day on New Year’s at Mike and Cindi Gerkman’s home. We are filled with such gratitude to all who helped in making this day such a blessing; it was truly a “Body of Christ” effort. As is always the case, the Lord has His own plan and many of those we had planned on picking up downtown were not under the Steel Bridge. Peter was there so he joined Mike, Ian, and Dean on a treasure hunt. God directed them to seven people at Portland Rescue Mission and we had the joy of meeting many of them for the first time. We ate lots of yummy food that was prepared and provided for by many, watched football, played games, and fellowshipped with Justin and Melissa, Christine and Morgan, Scott, Tomas, and Peter. Tomas attended the New Year’s Banquet at Andy and Serenity’s last year so it was awesome to spend time with him again. We are also so thankful for the little ones in our company this year. Many who helped, brought their kids with them and, just as described above, kids produce infectious joy. We are so grateful for all who “sponsored” someone so that we were able to provide a gift bag containing a warm pair of gloves, warm socks, and a $25.00 Fred Meyer gift certificate to each person who attended. When they saw the Fred Meyer gift card, it was like watching a child receive their favorite gift at Christmas. What I so often take for granted was accepted as being a miracle. It is times like these that continually challenge me to look at the Lord’s daily provision in my life as being nothing short of miraculous. We had an abundance of food, an abundance of helpers, an abundance of gift bags to hand out, and an abundance of love filling the Gerkman’s home.

As the New Year begins, I pray that the abundant life that God holds out to each one of us is realized and grasped like never before. His Spirit is present within us in great quantity, his grace abounds in each of our lives to overflowing, and we are richly supplied by our Father in Heaven. We are abundantly loved.

We will be gathering again under the Steel Bridge on Sunday, January 30th. We will be sending out a message concering the meal soon.

With gratitude and abundant joy,

The Gerkmans and The Mallons
Ephesians 2:4 – “But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great.”

Church Under the Bridge: Sunday, January 30

Hi everyone!  Are you ready to head downtown on Sunday, January 30? We encourage you to pray with us for Church Under the Bridge this month—that this event would be for His glory, that each of us would have the wisdom and direction of the Holy Spirit for what to do and say, that God would prepare hearts, and that He would do MIGHTY works (even if they don’t appear mighty by our standards).

As we prepare our hearts for Sunday, let us be encouraged by the words of Christ in Matthew 25:35-40:

“’For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.’”

Know that what you do, even the slightest gestures, do not go unnoticed to Christ. He considers that everything you have done for His people, you have done for Him!  So thank you for all who have prayed, who have donated, and who have served downtown.  And let’s remember this month that everything we do for the least of God’s people, we do for Him. 

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, January 30:

Date: Sunday, January 30, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

 The Meal 

Split Pea & Ham Soup
Deli Sandwiches                                                                                               
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. WE ARE IN NEED OF CLEAN WARM BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND TARPS.

We hope to see many of you on Sunday, the 30^th as we purpose to show God’s love to our friends downtown. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. See you there! 

“For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the One who was crucified.” II Corinthians 2:2

Stand up, step forward

There was a word that was spoken over me a few years ago that when it happened Shelly and I looked at each other and wondered, “what does that mean?”  We had heard the word used and certainly had seen it in others, but how does one apply for it for his or her life?  That word is “valor”.  Valor in Webster’s means : Strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness : personal bravery.”  As we looked it up, it was one of those wow moments, then we wondered; how does it apply?  As God does so many times, he starts something in motion and then slowly puts the pieces together, ever so methodically, purposefully and also sometimes behind the scenes and very quietly.  You see it has been over 8 or 9 years since that word was spoken and received.  As God’s perfect timing is always apparent. He has begun to reveal what is to be a spoken testimony in my life, but just as I have a testimony…a story to be told, we all have a testimony that God desires for us to shout from the hill tops and step forward (more on step forward in a moment).  That is based on the authority that our Lord in Heaven has given to each of us.  So it is a word that is to be received, lived  and given which is why I write this.  I love the quote by Carl Sandberg; Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes”.  So when I find myself question that, as Carl quoted, then God brings my eyes back to Him in faith to trust Him in each moment. I love it as God puts these pieces together and when He uses Shelly to come along side and put in another piece of the puzzle, it is that spiritual oneness I am thankful for in my precious wife.  In her words. here is what was received as she spent time with the Lord one morning.

    What I saw was a large military installment …. a sea of people in military uniform … more than I could ever have the chance even trying to count.  My gaze suddenly changed and I knew I was seeing through Jesus’ eyes.  No longer did I see the sea of people, but now I was seeing individual soldiers and as my eyes hit them, I saw the Lord point at them as if to call them out.  Some stepped forward, separating themselves from the larger group and they began to form a smaller group in front.  The interesting thing is not all stepped forward but some did.  The vision stopped there.  As I prayed about what I had been shown, God said, “I am calling you out and all I ask for you is to step forward when I do.  If it is health that is holding you back, step forward and see how I will heal you.  If it is mental battles that are holding you back, step forward and see how your enemies will fall at my feet.  Whatever is holding you back … just step forward and no longer will those things be a hindrance.” 

It is such an encouraging vision to receive and also one that calls upon valor, courage and the authority in Christ that He has given to each of us. Jesus has given authority to each of  His followers.

Luke 9:1, 2 says, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. … And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:15, 17, 18.

Clearly, Jesus has promised His authority to those who are His own.  The problem is that we do not believe it often enough, and therefore do not exercise it often enough.  It is time for us as believers to “stand up, step forward and claim the God given authority He desires for us to claim”.

Remember whose authority it is in which we operate. We have no authority to come against the powers of darkness in our own strength. We come against them in the Name of Jesus. It is His authority, not ours and attempting to execute authority for anything other than His plans, His will, His desires is presumption. It will most certainly fail. Stand up, step forward and be counted.

Here are the words from the apostle Paul and his sole desire in life, may it be yours and mine.

          If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.  Acts 20:24

Church Under the Bridge: Sunday, February 27

As we prepare to go downtown this Sunday, let us keep with the Valentine theme and remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 22: 37-39:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, February 27:

Date: Sunday, February 27, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

 The Meal 

BBQ cheeseburgers                                                                                              
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. WE ARE IN NEED OF CLEAN WARM BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND TARPS.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there! 

“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

Moved with Compassion

We were blessed to be able to share about Church under the Bridge at New Life Foursquare again this weekend.  We were able to give an update about the overwhelming response we’ve had with the bin system, and how the church’s generosity has allowed us to give backpacks, sleeping bags, tarps, water, food, and much more each month under the bridge.  We had a great response this weekend, with many stopping by the table for information.  We hope to see some of those faces downtown with us soon!

In Mark 1:40-41, it says that “a man with leprosy came to [Jesus] and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing, be cleansed.’” This image of Jesus stretching his hand out to touch one life is also a wonderful picture of what this ministry is: individuals being moved with compassion for people who are in need of Jesus’ touch.

We will be posting again this week with detailed information about our next gathering on Sunday, March 27.  You can find the event page also on Facebook where you can rsvp here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=161590657227651

Also, check out the “pictures & video” link above where we have posted many new photos from our February gathering!

God bless you,
Mark and Kristen

Church Under the Bridge: Sunday, March 27

As we prepare to go downtown this Sunday, let’s follow the example of the apostles in Acts 4:32-35:

“³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”

“There were no needy persons among them!”  That’s the goal!  May we make a dent in that goal this Sunday as we sacrifice our time and our resources for others.  God bless you.

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, March 27:

Date: Sunday, March 27, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

 The Meal 

BBQ cheeseburgers                                                                                              
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. WE ARE IN NEED OF CLEAN WARM BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND TARPS.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there! 

“Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life’s blood. But everyone has something to give.”  
-Barbara Bush

Church Under the Bridge CHANGE: April

Please note we will meet for Church Under the Bridge this month on the THIRD Sunday, April 17. After April, we will resume meeting on the last Sunday of each month, as always. There will be a new post with meal information coming very soon! See you April 17!

Church Under the Bridge: April 17

 We had a great gathering last month.  Thank you to all who joined us, including the youth and parents from Three Sisters Fellowship in Sisters, Oregon. Here we are ready to head downtown again.  This month, we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection–His sacrifice which saved us from what we ourselves and the law could not. We rejoice in our salvation through Christ. What a perfect month to be headed out into the world to share Christ’s love!

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, April 17:

Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

 The Meal 

Cheeseburgers                                                                                              
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

****IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. WE ARE IN NEED OF CLEAN WARM BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND TARPS.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there! 

“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”  
-Matthew 28:6

Church Under the Bridge: Sunday, May 29

With the April date change and five Sundays in May, it’s been SIX weeks in between gatherings! But we’re ready and excited to head downtown this Sunday, and we hope to see you there.

Following is our schedule, planned meal, and information regarding general needs for Sunday, May 29:

Date: Sunday, May 29, 2011
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Grace Chapel church office parking lot, 28925 SW Boberg Road, Wilsonville, OR. We will meet to pray and caravan downtown. For those of you wishing to go directly to the Steel Bridge, plan to arrive there by 2:30.

The Meal:

Cheeseburgers
Chips
Fresh Fruit
Baked Goodies
Bottled Water
Hot Coffee
Hot Chocolate

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY AT shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI AT cindi@gerkman. com. You may also click on our “General Needs” section for a list of ongoing needs. We are always in need of clean sleeping bags and tarps.

If you are planning to join us downtown, please bring along TWO lawn chairs, one for you and one for a friend. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7.12