This report summarizes the ministries and activities of the Oregon City Evangelical Church in 2009. It discusses efforts to raise up new disciples and launch a young adult ministry. While one program celebrating its 20th anniversary ended due to changes, the church believes God will provide new opportunities. It also overviews plans for a day camp to replace Backyard Bible Clubs and praises volunteers and staff for their work in the church and community.

1. Raising up generations of faithful and prepared followers of Jesus Christ.
Oregon City Evangelical Church
2009 Local Conference
Report to the Supt. Vermillion and Church Council
Presented by Pastor Tom Hurt ~ March 10, 2009
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to
obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
There is no improving on the original! Even so, we must continue to grow in our understanding of how to accomplish
God’s primary purpose in our context. The temptation to be comfortable is always whispering in our ear and yearns to
keep the arrows of our lives pointed in but the Spirit of God calls us to come with Him into unfamiliar territory where the
arrows of our lives point out and we extend our ministry outside the walls of the church. The nurture, care and
development of the believer is critical for spiritual health within the local church and for the extension of ministry to our
community and around the world.
Last year’s report shared our joy that the Sunday morning Bible Study at KCs Midway Bar & Grill was happening! This
year we have the joy of reporting that one couple has come to faith in Christ and are now actively involved in attending
worship services. It was a great praise to see the wife share her “cardboard testimony” at our Christmas All-For-One
Service.
2008 will be remembered, amongst other things, as a year of celebrating past ministry and anticipating what God is
raising up for the future. During the summer we celebrated the wonderful years of ministry with Pastor Werner and
Debbie Seibert and began looking forward with anticipation at the new thing God was going to help us do with the
arrival of Pastor Andrew and Stacy Anderson. For several years we have been seeking God’s answer for an effective
ministry for reaching the lost generation of young adults 18-30. Pastor Andrew has developed a core team of leaders
and launched The Inn, a Thursday evening service for young adults, which is off to a good start.
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The summer also saw the 20 anniversary of Challenge of Champions, our track and field clinic competition. After
having tremendous ministry over a 20 year span the school district indicated a change in our ability to have access to
the stadium at the time needed. So on this anniversary year we celebrated all that God had done through Challenge of
Champions and are now anticipating what God will raise up in its place. We believe that we serve an ever-creative
God who will bring forth another form of ministry that fits our community, church and season of time.
As summer 2009 unfolds we will also see a transition taking place with Summer Ministries. This has become a prime
means of raising up the next generation of leaders, support Vacation Bible School and Challenge of Champions as
well as an outreach ministry in and of itself. We are seeing students who served and trained as leaders serving
throughout the year and being called into full-time service. With cultural changes, comes the need for change in how
Summer Ministries has reach into our community. This year we will move from Backyard Bible Clubs, no longer a
proven way to reach a neighborhood, to a church-based day camp, replacing the backyard with the church facility as a
“safe place” for children.
I praise the Lord for a great staff and fantastic team of volunteers who provide ministry week after week in the church
building and around the community. I praise the Lord for our first Love in Action Sunday when nearly 300 people went
out to 15 service locations in our area. By God’s grace a continuing ministry has begun at Parrott Creek Boys’ Ranch
led by Don Wallace and several other men and we have won favor with schools and the City of Oregon City. It is
exciting that the church is out of debt except for “paying ourselves back” as we paid off the loan for the house on A.V.
Davis Road. I’m so thankful for the generous hearts that resulted in several thousand dollars being sent to help
churches in our Conference, to recovery efforts in Fiji and to a future water project in Cameroon. In times when local
finances are tight and we are functioning on a reduced budget, I praise the Lord that our leadership has not panicked
but instead continues to trust the Great Provider to provide what we need for ministry at OCEC.
To God be all the glory!
2008 Sunday School Average: 445 (up 35 from 2007) High of 594 on January 13, 2008 (up 74 from 2007)
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2008 Worship Average: 569 (up 64 from 2007) High of 846 on Easter, 1 Sun. of Spring Break (Down 195 from 2007)