August 2 1 ,1991"'The Portland Observer-Page 3
• Portland Observer
RELIGION
A Skilled Foreman
BY MATTIE ANN CALLIER-SPEARS
In the book of St. John, in the
eleventh chapter and the fortieth verse,
Jesus asks the question, "D id n ’t I tell
you that if you would believe, you
would see the glory of God?’ ’ Many are
wandering around, still groping in the
dark, wondering, "W hat must I do to
be saved? I accepted the Lord but I’m
still not sure...” And the list goes on.
The city of Portland, Oregon has been
under spiritual construction for about
ten years now. It will be a while before
the last brick will
be in place. Across
the city and across
< «
the denominations,
there has been
change. The time
for change is NOW!
This construc
tion that’s under
way has employed new construction
foremen. Each foreman comes to us
equipped with a different skill. But
every last one of them is working on the
same project; toiling until its comple
tion. The foremen have come in from
such places as California, West Vir
ginia, Ohio, Missouri, Texas and other
states -- in this, our United States of
America. United! Words such as this
ring in our ears from the very fabric of
our nation. Togetherness, unity, weav
ing patterns, brotherly love and kind
ness are words pouring from the pulpits
throughout the city.
One of the pulpits in Portland has
recently been filled by one o f these
young, energetic construction foremen.
His name is Minister Gregory Fobbs.
Rev. Fobbs is the newly appointed
Minister of the Mallory Avenue Church
of Christ located at 3908 NE Mallory
Avenue.
Minister Fobbs came to Portland,
from Redwood City, California in March
of this year. While he was here he had
an opportunity to speak before the con
gregation of Mallory Avenue Church
of Christ. They enjoyed his message
and the rapport he exhibited with the
members of the congregation. “ Yes!
He’s the one that God has sent to us,”
said the members. “ We must get him
to come back.” So during that time,
Minister Fobbs was asked to consider
pastoring Mallory Avenue Church of
Christ. On the 16’.hofJune, 1991, Gre
gory Fobbs, assistant pastor of Laurel
Avenue Church of Christ in Redwood
City, California arrived in Portland with
his wife, Levearn, and three of their six
children: Latricia, 20; Gregory, 11; and
Kevin, 9. The two oldest children,
Ronnette, 26, and Char
les, 24, both live in Sac
ramento, California.
And there is yet an
other, who happens to
be the twin to Latricia.
His name is Luther. He
is a student at UCLA
in Los Angeles.
Gregory Fobbs, the son of Sam and
Louise Fobbs, is not just any fly-by-
night, nickel and dime preacher. He is
a construction foreman with a purpose.
He’s not just any foreman, but Gods’s
chosen. He is skilled and accomplished.
He’s degreed and able. Already, he has
set in motion a Life Support Group, a
Benevolence Program, an Evangelistic
Outreach Program and a Youth Depart
ment. With the help of God, he is look
ing to accomplish great things in the
Portland area.
Rev. Fobbs, equipped with a BA in
Social Work and the Holy Bible, came
to evangelize the youth, give an up
lifting hand to the down trodden and to
bring hope to a comm unity under siege.
The tools he brings with him are love,
understanding, a listening ear, an open
heart, prayer and fellowship with the
Holy Spirit
" I had never really thought about
ministering to a church,” said Fobbs.
He had always worked with and under
someone. It was in 1974 that he took up
the cross and answered the call to be
come a minister. As a youth, coming up
in church (Westside Church of Christ
in San Mateo. California), he can re-
Always stick
with the Lord and
never turn back.”
mcmber attending worship service with
his family. He chose to get involved.
He became the Youth Director. He
would coordinate recreational activi
ties and spiritual activities such as
youth rallies, door-knocking campaigns
and weekly Bible study. But the
memory that lingers is the inspiration
he received from his maternal grand
mother, Mrs. Mattie Kelly. " I t was
my grandmother who inspired me to
become a Christian,” Fobbs shared.
“ I still contact her. 1 can remember
many nights sitting up with her. We
would discuss various scriptures of
the Bible.” He recalled the advice
that his grandmother gave him.
"Always stick with the Lord and never
turn back," she said. "T he faith she
has in the Lord really slicks out in my
m ind,” Fobbs beams as a warm smile
lights up his face.
W ith three sisters and three broth
ers, all still in California, Minister-
Fobbs is the only
sibling who chose to
pursue the ministry.
When asked if any
of his children con
sidered the ministry,
he answered, “ None
have considered the
ministry. But they
are happy that their
father is a minister and doubly proud
that he is involved.”
As the assistant Minister at Lau
rel Avenue Church o f Christ, Fobbs
evangelized the youth in the Bay Area
before coming here. It is his hope to be
able to work with the youth in this
community, as well. For five years, he
was also employed with the Juvenile
Detention Center in San Mateo as a
Group Supervisor. Reaching the youth
is his specialty. His goal is to have a
full-time personal evangelism minis
try and youth ministry in full opera
tion. And to have various programs
that will meet the needs of the com
munity. Each program will be an out
reach of Mallory Avenue Church of
Christ. “ We will emphasize physical
outreach and we will eventually ven
ture out with a radio ministry,” Fobbs
explained. The congregation of the
church in San Mateo was about 150.
The congregation at Mallory is about
180 strong. " It is my hope that through
community evangelism we will increase
the membership,” says Fobbs.
Levearn has already begun assist
ing her husband by teaching the
Women’s Bible Class. She is currently
employed with the DePaul Treatment
Center as a Substance Abuse Coun
selor. With these skills alone, many
will be caught in the spiritual eruption
coming from Mallory Avenue Church
of C hrist
Yes, construction is under way.
The newest foreman on the job is Gre
gory Fobbs. And the Master Builder is
Jehovah-Jireh himself. A full-time
ministry will require full-time dedica
tion, commitment and prayer.
Minister Gre-
gory Fobbs is well
educated, well bred,
has good business
scruples and enters
the ranks as another
young man on fire
for the Lord.
When asked if
he had anything to
say directly to the community, he chose
these words: "W e, as a Christian fam
ily and as a commumity, must begin to
work together. We CAN make our com
munity a better place to live in.”
To Minister Fobbs and his family,
we, the members of the Portland Ob
server staff and the entire city of Port
land, wish to welcome you and your
family to our fair city. And we ask
God’s blessing to rest upon you now,
henceforth and forever.
Fobbs shares
his goals and
objectives.
"Thus sailh the Lord, The heaven
is my throne, and the earth is my foot
stool: where is the house that ye build
unto me? and where is the place o f my
rest?"
Isaiah 66:1
Scripture o f the <Weef
Matthew 13:3
M
allory
C hurch
A
of
venue
C hrist
3 9 0 8 NE MALLORY AVENUE
M inister Gregory Fobbs
Bible school, 9:30 am.
Morning Worship, 10:45 am.
Evening Bible Class, 5:00 pm.
Evening Worship, 6:00 pm.
Attended nursery for all services
Wed. prayer meeting and bible study, 7:30 pm.
1092
Advocating
NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY
MT OLIVET BAPTIST
CHURCH
WE ARE MOVING
SUNDAY SERVICES
TO
Stone Tower Church,
N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th
Worship Services 8:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M.
Church School 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
Bible Study, Wednesdays. 116 N.E.Schuyler
10:30 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.
Pastor Wendell Wallace
personally invites von to be his special guest al
MARANATHA CHURCH
New Worship Service
Come expecting worship services, with contemporary music, practical
preaching from the Bible, and sharing from personal experiences
Service times are:
Early Sunday Morning Worship at 8:00 AM (New)
Sunday School at 9:30 AM
Regular Sunday Morning Service at 10:45 AM
Sunday Evening Service at 6:00 PM
Wednesday Evening Service at 7:00 PM
Sunday, "Maranatha Live”: KPOQ 93.7 FM at 11:00 PM
Sunday, September 8, 1991 at 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM
"HOW TO HANDLE LIFE’S DEEPEST HURTS &
TOUGHEST PROBLEMS"
Sunday, September 8, 1991 at 6:0 0 PM
"RESTORING PURPOSE IN OUR GENERATION’
Wednesday, September
11, 1991 at 7:00 PM
"MARANATHA’S VISION’
Prayer for healing every Service
4222 N.E. 12th Avenue Portland, Oregon
97211
(503) 288-7241
Correction
Last week we ran "A Special
Thanks” from the Washington Fam
ily. Several names were listed and
one was incorrect. Please note that
"W om ack” should have been
“ Lomax.”
Again, special acknowledge
ments to: Margaret Carter, Mr. &
Mrs. Michael Harper, Rental Washer
Company, Terri Obcrst,
and the Lomax Family.
Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00 A.M.-KBMS
A Teaching Church With A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
Church Office 116 N.E. Schuy .cr,
St. Paul Missionary
Baptist Church
8101 N. Fiske Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97203
Church Phone: 289-0147
Reunion Choir
Concert
The Music Department of New
Hope Missionary Baptist Church will
sponsor a series of special choir re
hearsals for all current and former choir
members, August 21, 22, 23 at 7:00
p.m. The church is located at 3725
North Gantenbein Avenue.
The Reunion Choir will be in Con
cert at New Hope on Saturday, August
24 at 7:00 p.m. as part o f the Annual
Music Department Day festivities, which
culminate on Sunday, August 25 at
6:30 p.m.
New Hope, one of the area’s lead
ing choirs, has had hundreds of people
affiliated with the choirs since the first
choir was organized in 1954 by the late
Rev. Andrew A. Newton, Pastor.
All persons that were members of
any of the choirs (Angel Choir, Follow
ers of Christ, Young Adult Choir, Sen
ior Choir, Inspirational Choir, Male
Chorus, Mass Choir) are encouraged to
come back and participate in this gala
event. The theme for the Concert is
"O ne More Time.”
The Annual Day on Sunday, Au
gust 25 will feature the preaching
ministry of Evangelist George H. Mer-
nweather of Portland Foursquare Church.
The Annual Day theme is “ The Sound
of Music” (Psalm 150).
The public is cordially invited to
the Concert and Annual Day. For more
information regarding these events,
please contact the church at 281-0163.
Study Phone: 289-1911
Sunday Service
10:45
Sunday School
^30
Bible Study
6:00
Evening Service
7:00 P.M.
Theme: Whatever you’re going to do
for the Lord, do it now.
I Peter iv .ll
/esus L o w s You/
Allan Thiiqjte O H Orarcdh
Psalm 3 4 . 3
4236 NE Eighth Avenue
(co m « of 8lh 4 Skidmor»)
Portland, Oregon 97211
(503) 287-0261
Phillip S. Nelson, Pastor
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