Welcome Pastor Thomas Robinson!
Welcome Pastor Thomas Robinson
The Church on the Mountain has been moving forward with the Lord’s work in Welches, expanding their ministry team by calling Thomas Robinson to serve as Associate Pastor alongside lead Pastor Tim Simon. Thomas has provided a few words of introduction, as he looks forward to meeting others in the InFaith: Northwest Oregon family of fellowships:
My wife Jessie and I have been married for 17 years and have 4 daughters (ages 3 to 11). I am an Oregonian, born and raised. I love backpacking and alpine climbing. When I was 14 I came to faith in Jesus Christ and yet remained an immature Christian for many years. After getting married and joining a healthy bible study I began to grow in my love for God and His Word. During my mid 20’s I began working in youth ministry and grew to love teaching and preaching. I graduated from Multnomah Biblical Seminary while interning and serving as a youth pastor at my home church. From 2014-2018, I pastored at a small church in Gladstone and have more recently joined Church on the Mountain as an associate pastor. I find great joy in reading Biblical theology and growing in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus.
Pastor Robinson has already started rotating in the pulpit with Tim, even as TCOTM awaits reopening. The church has been recording services and posting them at www.tcotm.org . Pastor Robinson has been using the “downtime” to meet with individual families in the church. I am confident you will all join me in praying for the Robinson family as they launch into their new ministry. If you would like to send your own greetings, he may be reached at thomasrobinsonfour@gmail.com .
Pastor Tim says live services are scheduled to resume August 8th, observing Level 1 Covid precautions. TCOTM will a record live service with 25 people present on Saturday night. Then two different services of 25 people will be held on Sundays, replaying recordings of the music and message from Saturday. God bless all of you who are experimenting with “hybrid” services, employing aspects of both the old and the new.
More Ministry Updates
Aims Community Church has also resumed live Sunday services, limited to 25 people in the building, but also broadcast online, similar to what Woodland Park Chapel has been doing. Sunday, my family was among those who didn’t reserve seats at Aims, but we were welcomed to sit outside in the shade and listen to the service over outdoor speakers. This coming Sunday, July 26, my wife Caroline will be helping lead the music portion of the worship service…so our reservations got in early. Thanks to Pastor Glenn Austin and the Aims elders for taking several creative approaches to sharing the Word in the community during the pandemic.
The Carver Church, led by Pastor Seth Lewis, has just about completed their outdoor meeting area, with a new patio, lawn, benches and firepits. The church’s community outreach is beginning to bear fruit, as they were able to host a graduation ceremony recently for nine graduates of the Clackamas Substance Abuse Program. Pastor Lewis has ministered to men in the program at Clackamas County jail for several years.
Who Knew We Would Face a Pandemic This Year?
For planners like me, pandemic restrictions (although absolutely necessary) are particularly frustrating. Several events long anticipated (hymnsings, camps, church visits, retreats, etc.) have been cancelled or rescheduled, some more than once. Fall ministries are already on the horizon, but some of our planning efforts have not even begun during this time of uncertainty. It is tempting to feel like we are just fumbling around in the darkness. But then I remember the words of James:
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." (James 4:13-15)
These past few months, we have seen how the Lord has opened other doors for ministry when our “wonderful” plans have been shot down, how people are starting to value their relationships and their fellowship more than ever, now that it is limited. And I remember that – no matter what we have planned – the Lord has His plan, and it always produces. May you live joyfully, according to His plan this week.
Tom Hiscox, NW Oregon Area Missionary
thiscox@infaith.org