October 25. 2006
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Diversity Commission Forming
R eligion
continued
Mississippi Pastor Thanked by Congregation
Looks back one
year after
displacement
by S arah B lount
T he P ortland O bserver
It’s been one year since Rev.
Byron A. Bolton and his family
made a new home in Oregon.
Now his Portland congregation
will thank him during an apprecia
tion service Sunday, Nov 5.
When Hurricane Katrina struck
the Gulf Coast the Boltons were
uprooted along with their former
home and all of its surroundings
from H attiesburg, M iss. They
landed in Portland, a place as for
eign to the Mississippi family as
another country.
Bolton and his wife Marvia were
invited to Portland, along with their
two daughters and a three-year-old
granddaughter, by the Greater Faith
Baptist Ghureh, 9 3 1 N. Skidmore St.
Shortly after receiving a phone
call from the deacon of Greater Faith,
he questioned the validity of mov
ing his family so far.
“ But then again, to come to a
congregation of 30 people, how
could 1 survive?” he asked himself.
“ But God directed my path here.”
Culture shock, greater expenses
and a total absence of their large
family have made foradifficult path,
but the minister said his faith is now
stronger than ever.
“For my daughters to adapt is
mind w recking,” he said. “They
are still w orking through this,
because our phone bill is still
trem endously high.”
Bolton has made strides since
becoming pastor of the established
but fledgling church that hasgrown
from 30 members to nearly 100 in the
year since he arrived.
He has found success in grow
ing congregations before, as in
Page B5
from Metro
It will also serve as an early
warning system for tensions in
the com m unity, offer programs
to help neighborhoods resolve
conflicts and reach ou, to mem
bers of under-represented com
munities.
The m ayor’s office has spo
ken with dozens o f community
leaders to discuss the need for
such a com m ission. It found
people wanting a standing, in-
depen d en t agency that could
shine a spotlight on problems and
advise the City Council on poli
cies critical to diverse com m uni
ties, including such areas as m i
nority hom eownership, urban re
newal, racial profiling, and com
munity policing.
O ther Northwest communities
w ith similar commissions include
Seattle. Salem. Eugene. Medford.
W ashington C ounty, Jackson
County, King County, Thurston
County and Kitsap County.
Hera when you need usl
A .D .
Williams
Shop 503-282-2920
Cell 503-300-4488
213 N.E. Hancock
Portland. OR 97212
8:30 am - 6:00 pm Tues.-Sat.
Church of the Good Shepherd
Sisterhood o f Women
Holiday Bazaar
November 4th l0am-7pm
& November 5th lpm-6pm
LOCATION:
photo by
M ark W ashington /T hf . P ortland O bserver
Rev. Byron Bolton and his wife Marvia left the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast one year ago to pastor
the congregation o f north Portland's Greater Faith Baptist Church.
M ississippi where he expanded with the church, and his daugh
the youth program six times over. ters stay occupied as students at
But Portland has presented its R o o se v e lt H igh S c h o o l, but
own set o f opportunities, namely homesick feelings stir within them
in the num ber of people addicted often.
to drugs and alcohol.
“It’s hard to return to Portland,”
Along with an innum erable Bolton said of his trips back to
num ber o f people he’s ministered Mississippi to deal with his na
to at M iracles Club, a recovery tional ministry. “Every time I talk
center for A frican A m ericans, about it, to at least smell the differ
Bolton personally recalls the six ent trees and smell the different
individuals he has m inistered to flow ers.. .it brings it all back.”
at G reater Faith who chose to
Greater Faith invites the public
turn from drugs.
to participate in the Nov. 5 appre
Bolton and his wife keep busy ciation service for Bolton, at 4 p.m.
at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist
Church, 3138 N. Vancouver Ave.
The Bolton Brothers Gospel of
Hattiesburg. Miss, will perform dur
ing the gala event, joined by other
performers, ministers and evange
lists.
A Brother-to-Brother Crusade
will precede the service, happening
Wednesday, Nov. I through Fri
day, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at Greater Faith
Baptist Church.
For more information about these
events or others, call 503-710-2IMX)
or503-247-2992.
4855 N E 87th (corner o f NE Goinn and 87th)
Three featured items and attractions:
(1) Fried Chicken and fish dinners.
(2) B eautiful homemade crochet quilts and sewed
garments.
(3) A w id e very o f ethnic g ift item s- figurin es,
candles/holders, vases and seasonal gifts o f all sorts.
(4) Homemade baked
holiday pastries-cakes.
pies, cookies, brow n
ies and fudge.
Call fo r more
inform ation at
503-317-0622
‘Love One Another’ Memorial Girls Club
‘Love One A nother,” a candlelight m em o
rial vigil for Jam esC hasse Jr., the m entally ill
man who died in police custody after a con
frontation in downtown Portland, will he held
Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the First C ongrega
tional Church 1126 S .W. Park Ave.
Chasse is being rem em bered as a peaceful
man who wished no harm on anyone. People
attending the vigil are asked to honor the
fam ily's wishes for a respectful event. M es
sages to be com m unicated apart from memo-
ries o f Jam es should be focused on simple,
positive phrases such as "Justice,” ''Love,''
and "Rem em ber Jam es Chasse, Jr."
The event is being co-coordinated by
m em bers o f the C hasse family, the Parkrose
Community United Church of Christ, Portland
C opw ateh, a grassroots group prom oting
p o lic e a c c o u n ta b ility th ro u g h c itiz e n
action.
F o r m ore in fo rm a tio n c a ll P o rtla n d
Copwateh at 503-236-3065.
Fashion Show
The Community Girls Club will host a
fundraiser and fashion show, titled I'm All
I Can Be, on Saturday. Oet. 28 at 6 p.m. at
Calvary Christian Community Center, 126
N.E. Alberta St.
The evening will feature a show by the
club, plus local acts The Light, I st Infantry
and other artists. A cover charge of $7
includes refreshments.
Greater Faith Baptist Church
present»
Our Pastor’s 1 * Year Appreciation
featuring
“The Bolton Brothers
Of Hattiesburg, MS”
H om ecom ing Parade Fun
Jefferson students wrap
up a tailgate party and
assem bly with a Home
com ing Parade last Friday.
The Demos played a
strong gam e that evening
under new coach Anthony
Stoudamire, defeating
M adison 49-6. The Demos
will play at M arshall this
Friday, Oct. 27.
P hoto by I saiah Bot h J
T he P ortland O bserver
4
rm m rour nw i un m
November 1-5, 2 0 0 6
“ Brother-to-Brother Crusade” . 7:00 pm, Wed-Fri. November 1st, 2nd, &
3rd, at Greater Faith Baptist Church.
“ First Lady's Day Banquet", 11:00 am, Saturday, November 4th, at Van
couver Ave Baptist Church. Ticket price $20.00 per person.
“ Fight Against Drugs Gospel Concert featuring The Bolton Brothers
of Hattiesburg, MS". 6:00 pm, Saturday, November 4th, at Vancou
ver Ave Baptist Church.
“ Pastor Bolton Appreciation Service". 4:00 pm. Sunday, November 5th,
at Vancouver Ave Baptist Church.
For More Information, call: 503-710-2000 or 503-247-2992
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