Quarterly Newsletter: April-June 2024
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Since Agape Community Ministries began on January 1, the Holy Spirit has been moving quickly. We secured funding in December, received IRS tax exemption after only 2 weeks, have been involved in community advocacy and ministry, and have seen our donor list grow over the past few months. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support. Praise God for leading us forward into exciting work.
Psalm 34 is a powerful chapter that discusses God's faithfulness to protect the oppressed while challenging us to to value justice and righteousness through the heart and eyes of the Lord.
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Agape Community Ministries has been accepted as a member of the Multnomah County Family Violence Coordinating Council.
Seek Peace and Pursue It...Psalm 34:14
In March we applied for Membership to our county domestic and sexual abuse coalition and were accepted. We have been meeting with the coalition monthly, attending some their training events, and will be working with them to extend our ministry into the community. The Council has been a blessing to our work since we moved to Portland in 1998 and it has been good to re-connect with the many agencies and leaders in our county. They continue to support this ministry and offer us opportunities to help others in their network.
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New Ministry Cohort for Domestic Violence
The righteous cry out, Yahweh hears them, and
delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm. 34:17
In August we will begin a one-year cohort with a team of ministers. During this year we will help them prepare sermons in domestic abuse, develop skills in addressing domestic and sexual violence, and walk with them to create or enhan ce ministries to those healing in their congregations. Our community advocates will aid us in walking with the team, while providing support for any emotional trauma many healers face in this work. The plan is to continue these cohorts yearly and expand to other cities. More information can be found here.
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Agape Blitz
Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:19
We have groups joining us this summer to continue building and developing Agape Village. The Park Church of Christ, our home congregation, and other youth groups will be serving with us. We will also be providing workers for some of the area’s domestic violence agencies. This is an opportunity to support our community, partner with local agencies, and expose our guests to loving our communities so that they may return to serve in their context. Join us this summer.
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Legal Support
The eyes of Yahweh are on the righteous and ears attentive
to their cry. Psalm 34:15
Since January  we have continued our work with county prosecuting attorneys in sexual assault and domestic violence cases serving as an expert witness. These cases require ongoing research and preparation to represent the victims in court and help the prosecuting attorneys receive justice for their clients. Typically the victims have to pay for Expert Witnesses, but because you have provided support for us, we can do that without charge. We serve a God who stands with the oppressed and this ministry shines a light of hope in a world overcome with violence, oppression, and suffering. |
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Research, Teaching, & Publishing
Come my children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. Psalm 34:11
 In May and June I was able to give presentations at two scholars' conferences. The May conference included Religion professors in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. We are editing a book on Power and Authority in the Early Church. These papers will be published in 2025 and address church, family, and community leadership by the early Christians. The presentation for churches of Christ scholars, in Houston, was a time to share our work in addressing Toxic Masculinity through Proverbs and practical ministry. We appreciate the support of Bible and Religion scholars as well as publishers who acknowledge that Ministry Informed Academics is a much needed cause in our Universities and academic research. I continue to teach at George Fox University and have been encouraged by the many students who are giving back to the community in their walk with Jesus.
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Our Website is Live and Our Online Bookstore Open!
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We were invited to contribute an article addressing spiritual abuse on Mission Alive's Substack blog series. Mission Alive is a church planting organization that has developed a great series addressing ministry related issues from strong Christian leaders. We would encourage you to read more in this series.
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God has blessed Agape Community Ministries tremendously through donors like you. We are thankful for The Park Church of Christ in Tulsa and our home congregation East County Church of Christ for supporting both Lori and I, along with many other donors. However, we need more monthly donors for this organization as this support is growing.
Your donations provide:
- Expert witnessing and support for victims in court.
- Training and preparation for churches, ministers, and local agencies.
- Free publications in English and Russian for survivors of Domestic and Sexual Abuse.
- Support, mentoring, and discipling for faith leaders helping families experiencing violence
Would you become a monthly donor for Agape Community Ministries?
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We need your prayers:
- Pray that we can shine Jesus' light and justice in our legal systems.
- Pray for our teams joining us this summer as we serve in our community.
- Pray for mentoring church leaders, community advocates, and those in our community seeking to help others.
- Pray for our fall ministry that will includes our cohort members preaching in their churches, fall trainings in other cities, and helping victims of abuse find healing, justice, and safety.
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