Shepherd to Shepherd: A Joyful Transition at The Church on the Mountain

(L-R) Pastor Tim Simon, Pastor Thomas Robinson, Elder Larry Hoyt, Pastor Trevor Binkley (The Gathering), and InFaith: Northwest Oregon area missionary Tom Hiscox (behind Hoyt) lay hands on Robinson at his November 1, 2020 installation service.

(L-R) Pastor Tim Simon, Pastor Thomas Robinson, Elder Larry Hoyt, Pastor Trevor Binkley (The Gathering), and InFaith: Northwest Oregon area missionary Tom Hiscox (behind Hoyt) lay hands on Robinson at his November 1, 2020 installation service.

The Church on the Mountain (Welches) rejoiced Sunday, November 1 as Thomas Robinson was installed as their new pastor.  The installation was the culmination of months of mentoring and encouragement by outgoing pastor Tim Simon, who will remain an elder of the church.  Thomas and Tim met at the Spurgeon Fellowship – where preachers gather to sharpen their sermon preparation skills.  As their friendship developed, both began to see that the Lord was leading them to fulfill a vision Tim had for some time: that of mentoring a younger pastor to succeed him. 

Pastor Tim Simon charges TCOTM congregation to love and uphold their new shepherd in prayer.

Pastor Tim Simon charges TCOTM congregation to love and uphold their new shepherd in prayer.

The transition at TCOTM was the type of leadership change envisioned in the Joshua Project, in which Sunday School Fellowship offers small scholarships to assist seminary/Bible college students as they serve mentored ministry at an InFaith: Northwest Oregon fellowship church.  Pastor Robinson was not a Joshua Project participant, but his transition in leadership at TCOTM was similar to Moses’ handoff to Joshua, Elijah’s mantel being passed to Elisha, and Paul’s mentoring of Timothy and Titus.  We envision more of these transitions as the Lord leads younger shepherds into local pulpits.  So far, the few young men who have inquired about the Joshua Project have declined scholarships, but seem to appreciate developing relationships with experienced pastors.

For more information about the Joshua Project, contact me, thiscox@infaith.org  or click on this link to review the material on our website.

Is Your Ministry’s Oregon Non-Profit Corporate Registration Current?  Here is an easy way to check.
Nearly all churches affiliated with InFaith: Northwest Oregon are registered with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Corporate Division as Domestic Non-Profit Corporations.   This status must be renewed each year.  Usually the state sends out a small postcard for filing a simple annual report, which you are to return with corrected or updated information and $50.  Or the report can be submitted online.  If you fail to submit that annual report and payment, your corporation may be “administratively dissolved,” which could impact the non-profit status of donations and possibly the non-profit status of your buildings and land, if the situation is not quickly corrected.  Different churches file their annual reports at different times of the year, depending (apparently) upon when they were initially incorporated.  In a recent review of state records, I discovered three churches in our fellowship whose incorporation is currently “administratively dissolved” and one that has apparently never incorporated at all.  This week I was able to help one church corporation to be reinstated, by spending about 15 minutes online.  Of course, there was a fine to be paid for the oversight.  But it is much less than the potential financial ramifications if a church were to be deemed not a non-profit for legal purposes.  I recommend every ministry check their corporate status online at http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.login .  Under “Business Name”, type your church name.  Then enter.  This will take you to a page that lists any Oregon corporations with similar names to yours, and links to their records.  In addition to filing your annual report when it is due, I recommend you check and amend the names of the officers listed (usually a president, secretary and registered agent).  It is possible that your registration shows the names of people no longer affiliated with your ministry.  That can easily be corrected with the annual report.  If your ministry has chosen not to incorporate for whatever reason, please check with your own legal counsel, just to make sure the Lord’s work through your ministry is adequately protected.

November Events:

May the Lord continue to bless you throughout the week as you share His love with your neighbors.

Tom Hiscox, NW Oregon Area Missionary thiscox@infaith.org

Tom Hiscox