Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial

Oregon church, ‘vital member’ develop special bond in journey to find each other

  • September 30, 2021
  • North American Mission Board
  • Latest News, Missions, National News, North American Mission Board, Oregon
Jeffery (left) and Pastor Patrick (right).
(Photo courtesy of NAMB)

Oregon church, ‘vital member’ develop special bond in journey to find each other

At first glance, no one would suspect Jeffery, a man without a home, was born to affluent parents who were well-known in southeast Portland. They wouldn’t know he had a successful business in his 30s. Or that his green thumb had cultivated renowned flowers. They would see a man with little, whose home was the streets.

“When I met Jeffery, he wasn’t in a good place, but I saw something special in him I don’t often see in other people,” said Patrick Grant, the lead planter and pastor of Woodstock Community Church in Portland, Oregon. “Maybe it was that I could tell he was really listening when I spoke to him.”

Grant and a member of his church were sitting at the picnic tables outside of his favorite coffee shop when Jeffery approached.

“Jeffery approached us and asked what we were doing. I told him we were talking about the Bible, and I told him I was a pastor,” explained Grant. “I shared the gospel with him and invited him to church at 5 p.m. the next Sunday. He showed up, and he’s been to church virtually every Sunday since.”

Grant and Jack — another member of Woodstock Community — continued to get to know Jeffery. They prayed for and with him every day and were reading God’s word with him.

Surrendering to Christ

Jeffrey was no different than anyone coming to Christ: weary and heavy laden, dragging his burdens to a Savior eager to draw near to us.

“There were some hard days. He came to church intoxicated. But I kept reiterating to him we weren’t going anywhere, and that our church was here for him.”

At a Tuesday night Bible study, Grant asked Jeffery if he wanted to follow Christ, and he said “yes.” They went on to talk about the implication of what a life surrendered to Christ was like and about taking bold steps in the direction of life transformation.

“He wanted to go to rehab, and over the course of three months, he went back and forth about going. But he finally went, and he’s been sober ever since.”

After coming out of rehab, Jeffery moved in with Jack and his family. After a year living there, he’s become a vital part of their family and the church.

“We pay him to do maintenance work, and he’s starting a gardening business — something he has a true gift for. He recently told me, ‘Patrick, I am surrendering to Christ, I’m not going to fight it anymore. I’m going to walk with the Lord and trust Him with my life’,” Grant said.

A transformed life

Christ has noticeably transformed Jeffery’s life and character. Today, he’s known for making flower arrangements for people he loves, and he uses his gift of cultivating the earth to bring joy to others.

“We’ve really seen his heart change. Without being prompted by anyone, he went to everyone he hurt in the past, knocked on their door, asked for forgiveness and told them he was walking with Christ now,” Grant said. “And he went to the park he used to live near and introduced himself to a houseless guy who lived there and gave him a sleeping bag and pillow. He knew his needs in a way no one else could relate to.

“The Lord unconditionally lavishes his love on Jeffery, and I’ve seen the character and beauty of Christ through all of this,” Grant says, in a gentle and unassuming tone. “He’s a vital member of our church.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — SEND Network focuses on church planting and is part of the North American Mission Board. This article first appeared at namb.net/send-network/articles.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan
    Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws
    Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?
    Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan

A church pastor and three other Christians were killed in Sudan on Monday (Jan. 23) when suspected Islamic extremists shot them to death, Morning Start

Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament has passed legislation to make the country’s blasphemy laws stricter even as their blatant misuse again came to light in

Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?

Denise George’s research into how churches can respond to human trafficking reminded me of a conversation I had last year with Mark Colson, president of the

Hearing, following guidance of Holy Spirit in Baptist associations

Where is the voice of the Holy Spirit clearest: in the administrative offices of a national entity or institution, in the programmatic events of a

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel