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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 1991)
Page 4...The Portland ()bsvrver...Septemher 4,1991 • Portland Observer Scripture of tfie ‘Week RELIGION I t ’ s In mon ground, and finally make a perfect mix. ;Karla Steinhauser 8Y MATTIE ANN CALLIER-SPEARS I know that oil and water d o n ’t mix A black chiffon dress wom with a brown pair of alligator shoes is a no- Ao’ ’ and the like poles of magnets will ¿ p e l one another. There are also cer tain races, of people, who should never com bined - for any reason. Such a Combination is the Jewish race and the African American race. Ordinarily these tw o races repel one another rather than attract -- so I’ve been told. So often, we find that life allows a breach in its processing, of individual behaviors and discloses a totally dif ferent area in its infinite wisdom. This story is b< >m out o f such an eruption. In this article, you will see the lives o f two ind com- very different people meet, find com It all began when the parents of Amelia, an African American, retired and moved to the coast in 1964. When they got there, they enjoyed the area and the people. A m elia’s father was a minister. So -- what do m inisters do? They reach out to others and m inister to them. And - w hat do the children of m inisters generally do? They emulate. They follow their parent’s lead by im itating their actions, their love, their concern and their empathy. After living on the Oregon coast, for several years, A m elia’s parents converted her grandm other’s cabin into a chapel in 1975. As soon as the doors o f the chapel, St. Peters Community Church at Rockaway Beach, Oregon, were opened, the people from around and about came. One of those in at tendance w as a young Jewish lady named Karla. Karla cam e to the chapel with at heavy heart. She sought the L ord’s W ord to inspire and rejuvenate her. But, in her seeking, she not only got a piece of that spiritual pie but she found herself eating a seven course meal. A failing business ven ture, some not-so-nice employees and being a chronic alcoholic with serious family problcm s--this was Karla s life story. But the Lord, in His infinite The w isdom, had some totally different plans on the drafting board. In the meantime, A m elia’s whome she had been married to since 1950, husband, died in 1976 and left her with four little children. Amelia and her brood went home. There she was greeted with open, sympathetic arms. And God’s Love. This proved to be a soothing balm to A m elia’s em otional wounds. Amelia, while attending service at her father’s church, met Karla. They became friends and A m elia’s family becam e K arla’s tamily. Karla told Amelia about her situation. Amelia mentioned K arla’s situation to her family. She shared that it was a shame that Karla had to lose her business all over a bunch of foolishness. Amelia and her tamily had a fam ily confer ence; and f o llo w in g m u c h p ra y e r, K arla and her business b ecam e a major fam ily venture. Yes! A family affair. This was the beginning of a new life for these two women, of strength, who were going against the odds. Both were struggling for the right to simply She sought the Lord’s Word to inspire and rejuvenate her. exist. Karla had almost lost her busi ness, but the customers would con tinue t.nue to to return return because Decause of or the u.c p product. ouucu Luke 22:64 M ix Amelia has approximately twenty It was excellent and continues to soar. years of experience under her belt, People would wait in lines for hours just which includes positions such as Plan to get into K arla’s place. ner with the D epartment of Transpor Karla found that her artistic ability tation, Civil Rights Field Representa and cooking skills were in need of reli tive, Center C oordinator for Loaves able, honest and supportive staff. Karla and Fishes, Northeast Business Boost said that she was ready to throw in the ers O ffice Manager and more. Amelia towel until Amelia and her family resigned her members came to position with the rescue. “ A m e “It is hard fo r whites to under N o rth e a s t lia and her good busi B u s in e s s stand how a black person could ness management Boosters to skills have turned my be the cause o f such an effectual take on the life c o m p le te ly change in a business venture position and around” says Karla. with a white J e w .“ responsibili S in ce they ties w ith joined their talents, Karla. they have received a lot of flack from Karla was very pleased to know some who felt that a Jew and an African that she had this am ount of support in American would not be able to succeed her business. Her own family had aban together. “ It’s hard for whites to under doned her. There was money, time and stand how a black person could be the effort that turned the business around. cause of such an effectual change in a W hy? The Lanier family stepped in business venture with at white Jew ” and became the foundation. And the Amelia shared. “ W e owe the success foundation was laid by God himself. o f the business to the good Lord up “ This w asn’t just a chance m eeting” above,” Amelia continues, “ and some says Amelia. “ All good things come very meaningful friends who gave so from God. And this was and is good! much o f them selves.” Many gave Karla refers to Rev. and Mrs. Lanier money, moral support, media recogni as her mom and dad. She now has a tion and loyalties that money cannot Christian family who stands behind her buy. w holeheartedly. Amelia and Karla have a 50/50 This “ Fam ily” togetherness thing partnership. Amelia does all the PR, is serious business. So much so that hiring, firing, banking, marketing and Eric, A m elia’s son, who is a firefighter is the general CEO for K A RLA ’S for the city of Seattle, W ashington, KRABS & QUICHE DELIGHTS. Karla com es down to help out in the restau- does all the cooking and art work — e rant occasionally as a chef. People have come from, literally, all over the world to visit K A RLA ’S. Recently, a couple from England, visit ing the state of Oregon, came in to the restaurant and said, “ We have friends in England who came here. They told us to make sure that we visit you.” In addition to the Rockaway Beach lo c a tio n , K A R L A ’S K R A B S & QUICHE DELIGHTS opened their doors at a new Portland location, SE Division and 22nd Avenue, on the thirteenth day of November, 1990. There was a grand celebration and lots of good eating. Karla Steinhauser and Amelia Lanier have appeared in such publica tions as: Glamour Magazine, West Coast Cuisine, Washington D.C. Post, Vogue, Northwest Bes' places and the National Physicians Excellence Report. In late 1989, K A RLA ’S KRABS opened a concession stand in the Portland C oli seum. You can find them at each Blazer game function and other large events held at the coliseum . Even a Japanese company recently contacted them about the possibilities o f exporting and/or opening an store there. WOW! Karla & Amelia proclaim their gratitude to everyone who thought enough o f them and their product, everyone who came by, everyone who hung in there with moral support “ Thank Y ou!” Amelia says “ Just cast your bread on the water and it will come back with some butter and jam on it.” _ Opening The Doors of The Church BY MICHAEL LINDSEY Academic Dean, North Portland Bible College As will be our plan each week, this commentary is based on the Sunday School lessons of the International Series fo r next Sunday The Bible text fo r Sept. 8 is Acts 9 26 30: J 1:19-26. 29JO It’s not always easy to tit into a new group Saul (better known to us as Paul the Apostle) understood that. And it didn’t he Ip that he had beenoneofthe most violent persecutors of this group, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2). But he had really come to know the Lord, and he had experienced some of that same persecution himself (9:20-25). At least the believers there in Damascus accepted him, and helped him escape the threat of murder. But in Jerusalem, the disciples of Jesus had strong memories of Saul’s threats, his violence, apparently his torture of church leaders. They feared him, wondering if he could be a spy, planning to round them all up at once. W hat Saul needed was someone who believed in him, someone to turn to in trouble, somone who cared about him enough to take a chance. W hat a b le ssin g -fo r him and for the whole church to this d a y -th a t God brought Barnabas into Saul’s life. W e’ve a l ready met Barnabas in the history of Acts: his Hebrew name was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus (4:36), who had a reputation for generosity in the Jerusa lem church. Like Saul, Barnabas was a Jew of the Dispersion; that is, their families had migrated far from Judea, but they still kept their allegiance to the God of Israel. These Dispersion Jews had been prominent in the crowd which witnessed the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost (2:5-11), and it is possible that Barnabas was one of the first con verts to repent and receive Jesus as the Christ. opportunities for ministry and leader opportu ship Some o f them will have gifts for evangelism and teaching which will surpass our own. And the Lord will be glorified in our churches as a re su lt O ne final note: Luke tells us that “ the disciples were called Christians first in A ntioch” (11:26). Previously the C hristian faith had been called “ the W ay” (9:2), its followers “ the disciples” (6:1), “ the saints” (9:13), “ brothers” (9:30), even “ Nazarenes” (24:5). The believers, mostly Jews at this time, knew ‘ ’C hrist’ ’ was the title of Jesus, meaning “ Messiah, the long- aw aited king. But it was natural for Greek people in Antioch to hear the gospel message and think of * ‘C hrist’ as a name of a new teacher, and so call his follow ers “ Christians.” This d e velopm ent indicated that the Mission of C hrist had reached a new phase, as people of all races and cultures were hearing the gospel of Jesus C h rist iko gospel. „ ! «innnrv 3:1 -2). And sionary team team (1 (13:1-2). And during during this this the journey Saul/Paul gradually took the Instead, Barnabas remembered a leadership as his own gifts developed, man o f great gifts, whom he had be under the evident blessing of the Lord friended years before. Saul of Tarsus had gone home (9:30) and for all in (13:13). Barnabas was a leader, too, and he tents and purposes he was hiding out, could easily have chosen to protect his perhaps stung by repeated rejection God-given leadership position. Instead, among the Jews. There is no record he concerned himself with the best that Saul/Paul ever established a church interests ot C hrist’s church, and helped in his home town, or returned there develop a leader who eventually re later. But Barnabas did not forget him, placed him. and he took time out from a busy Barnabas sets all Christians a great schedule of m inistry, to go to Tarsus, exam ple both of humility and com m it “ for to seek Saul” (11:25). ment to other believers. Are we look W ith B arnabas’ encouragement, ing for new Christians who need en Saul joined him in Antioch, and be couragem ent, or training, or opportu came a skilled teacher of the W ord nities for service? Are we eager to see (11:26). Later, when the Antioch church others succeed, and be recognized for heard of an impending famine in Jerusa it, instead of ourselves? lem, Saul was chosen to go with Bar T obe honest, most of our churches nabas to deliver their gifts of aid to that are getting older and grayer. The growth sister church (11:29,30). Later yet, Saul o f the church in our com m unity de was counted among the church leader pends on reaching out to young people ship, and the Holy Spirit chose Barna who know the Lord, and giving them bas and Saul to head up the first mis- — --------------------r n of e a c h a all Savings flre Here! Free TRI-MET Sponsored Meeting on “ Doing Business on the Westside Light Rail Project” As a continuation o f Tri-M et’s efforts to provide information on the W estside Light Rail Project for Disad vantaged Business Enterprises, a meet ing was held on September 3, in the au ditorium at Portland Community Col lege’s Cascade Campus at 705 N Killingsworth Street in Portland. The key presenters were Denny Porter from Tri-M et’s System Engi neering and Clifford L. Freeman, the State of O regon’s Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business A dvo cate. Mr Porter discussed the Westside Project M anagement Plan Mr. Free man discussed the State’s involvement in the pi ject Also in attendance from Tri-M et was Julius Evans who is re sponsible for goal-setting and the en forcement of T ri-M el’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation goals. 6^ Manor House ‘ ß a9 yO-Lb X V To Look Sure Be tn Your Buy Bag M y out O ne Ge1 pequ=pCoòdeea9 Sec- No Li mH’ Fresh Natural (T u rk e y s Manor House Grade “ A” Turkeys. No additives, just great eating every time. 10 to 13-pound size... just right for the rotisserie or enjoy oven roasted. S for V°u¿4 g for Shopp‘d g Vtsl ot a comp'«* on sale thl this cia's spe Safeway'- at week I1M P oki T à ST) n v n .TvîTVï COMMISSION C o m m is s io n M e e tin g Dat» September 11, 1991 Placr Polttanet Building 1129 bW Fifth Ave. 11th FI. Portland, OR Tim *> 'll a r Lb. Ad ttfective 9/4 Thru 9110191 Expect The Best At Your Nearby Safeway... Comrr -tsion meetings are open to the pu’ tic A complete agenda is availat- e at PDC Call s2T ' iV PDC is the City of Portland s urban renewal, housing and economic develo -nient agi a cv SAFEWAY S elec'ion ° Q uality° Loie Prlceso Friendly Service COPYRIGHT 1978 SAFEWAY INC ♦ a « ’ __ later on, Barnabas /-omo Then, came into a leadership position in the church o f Antioch, in the m idst o f a great revival (11:21-24). This Antioch was the capital of the Roman province of Syria, a city of 500,000 people, third largest in the Empire behind Rome and Alexandria, Egypt. Antioch was founded by the Selucid kings, descended from one of Alexander’s generals, long before Roman conlrol reached that far. Like most large Roman cities at this time, it was full of debauchery and sexual immorality. It was here that the believers first actively “ preached the Lord Jesus” to Gentiles. Most of the people of this city would have spoken Greek, even though they were of many various ethnic groups, and so here they are called “ Grecians,” to differentiate them from the Jews (compare 11:19 and 20). These various people responded well to Bar nabas’ teaching, and he could easily n a V C taken U IK C II L I C U I l 1 for U I a a f great tiv u i u u .u - .w have credit advance ». • ». MA * * « ,^ fí • • A » 1 t . ' A * \ ‘ A A « A » « * « < « * * V Î 1 * -