May the blessings of the Lord be abundant in your lives as you prepare for our annual time of Thanksgiving!  Here are a few things going on in the InFaith: Northwest Oregon family this week.

Sandy Area Pastors’ Breakfast Wednesday, November 17, 9 AM Tollgate Inn, Sandy
Join fellow pastors and church leaders tomorrow morning in Sandy for our monthly no-host breakfast.  

Portland Area Pastors’ Prayer Thursday, November 18, 10 AM Woodland Park Chapel, Portland
Everyone is welcome to our monthly prayer gathering for pastors and church leaders in the Portland area, this Thursday morning.  If you can’t make it, but have a matter you would like us to bring before the Lord, please drop a note to me thiscox@infaith.org or Pastor Steven Boyle sjboyle72@sbcglobal.net .

 NWxNW Continues the Conversation
What a great conversation we had at the NWxNW ministry leaders fellowship Monday at Mayger-Downing Community Church in Clatskanie. Before our time of prayer we had a stimulating spontaneous discussion of the balance or tension between law and grace in living and teaching the Gospel.  The NWxNW gatherings are open to leaders of all InFaith fellowship churches, especially those in the far Northwestern end of the Highway 30 corridor.  We hope you will join us next month…date and location TBD.

Have you Preregistered for Advance 2022?
Reservations are starting to come in for ADVANCE 2022.  Our annual getaway for pastors, missionaries and their wives will be held at Twin Rocks Camp and Conference Center in Rockaway Beach January 21-23.  Click here for detailed information, along with an opportunity to preregister online. 

 InFaith Area Coordinators Annual Retreat
It was a joy to meet last week with several InFaith Area Coordinators from the Northwest states to pray for our missionaries and the mission points we serve.  Joe and Angela Fahlman and their staff at Trout Creek Retreat Center (new addition to Trout Creek Bible Camp) were most gracious hosts, who kept us fueled with one sumptuous meal after another.  And it was a fun diversion to have all the AC’s and spouses visit the Hiscox home Tuesday night for dinner, capped off with a “Praise and talent show.” InFaith’s Director of Children’s Ministry Resources Brett Belleque was kind enough to share a few “magic” tricks that we could use to draw attention to the Gospel message.  (Now, if I can only remember where that handkerchief went….)

Thanksgiving is a little more than a week away!
But that doesn’t mean you can’t start thanking our Lord for His blessings today!  Pastor Steve Roth of Eastmont Bible Church in Boring would like you all to know that on Thanksgiving day, his church is open to any who would like to spend an hour expressing their gratitude to Jesus.  The 10 AM Service will have no sermon and little formalities…just an hour to share, openly and honestly, your thanks to our Lord.

This morning I received word that a friend in California is very close to death after several months battling Covid-19 in intensive care at two different hospitals.  By the time I send this email, he may already be in the arms of the Lord.  His earthly vessel is no longer of any use to him and is shutting down.  Our families have been close for more than 30 years, and we have been through many joys and struggles as we have served the Lord together.  This is a painful day for his wife and daughters, and for all of us who knew him as a vivacious warrior for Christ.  Our consolation in Christ is that we will rejoice again with him in the Lord’s presence someday.  Please pray that his family will be comforted in the days and months ahead.  Thank you.

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