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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2015)
February 25, 2015 The Portland Observer Black History Month Page 5 Praying for a Miracle continued from front Behind all these programs, Hardy has been tirelessly working, nurtur- ing and building leaders. He spends 300 nights a year away from his home. “You have had a very positive, profound impact upon our commu- nity and city,” says Bishop A. A. Wells of the Vancouver Full Gospel Church, in a message to Hardy. “You have greatly influenced our city, socially, politically and spiritually with your insightful, stately and courageous leadership.” Gordly cites the pastor’s influ- ence on mental health services to the African American community. “The Pastor has worked to remove the stigma of mental illness and edu- cated our people on mental health. There would not be an OHSU/Avel Gordly Center for Healing without Pastor Hardy’s groundbreaking work that focused on the need for cultur- ally specific services… and he did that work for well over a decade as the chair of the African American Mental Health Commission.” In addition to building programs that affect the African American com- munity, Pastor Hardy has insisted on a church that is inclusive and diverse. As Gordly puts it, “It’s been said that Sunday morning is the most segre- gated time in America. But not at Highland.” Hardy explains, “In the 1990s, High- land was in a predominately African American community, so most of the people who started coming were in that community, who found thirst- quenching ministry. And as we moved east we continued to attract people who realized that this water is good for all; and continued to move toward our goal of being a diverse church that preaches the Gospel, a Gospel to all men and women of every lifestyle. My dream has never been to be a pastor over a black church but to be a black pastor over a church.” Highland will celebrate Hardy’s achievements leading the church with special intensity during its annual Pastor Appreciation Week- end, March 6-8. Themed “Exceed- ing Expectations: The Battle is Not Yours,” the celebration will kick off with the Youth Gala: Honoring Pas- tor Hardy on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. On Sunday, March 8, two ser- vices will be held, the Highland’s regular service at 10 a.m. and the 19th annual Good Shepherd’s Day Celebration at 3:30 p.m. Both ser- vices will feature guest preacher Dr. Kerwin B. Lee, senior pastor and founder of the Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Geor- gia. Despite his illness, Hardy remains ‘He has a gift, a way of being authentic and transparent about his own life and experiences, and optimistic about the future of High- using language in a way that everyone can hear it,’ Portland activist and former State Sen. Avel Gordly (left) says about her pastor, Dr. W.G. Hardy Jr. (right) of the Highland Christian Center. land. “Number one, I see the leaders I’ve been pouring into over the 19 years beginning to step up and re- ally exercise their gifts in order to share the load that the pastor has had to carry. I see the youth really becoming activated in their roles as youth Christian leaders. I see sup- port staff giving more than 110 per- cent. And the beautiful part of it is, during my five weeks off, I got a chance to see that if God called me home, Highland would be in good shape,” Hardy says. But no one at Highland expects God to call the pastor home. No one expects anything less than a miracle. Says one Highland member, “We love our pastor, and we hope and pray that at this time next year we’ll be celebrating 20 years of ministry with our pastor right here in his accus- tomed place.” “Love is an action word,” says Hardy, “And for all who say they love me, I would love to see their shining faces on March the 8th so together we can thank God for what has oc- curred over these past 19 years.” Hardy’s medical procedures have been very expensive. You may do- nate to the Pastor Hardy Medical Fund by calling Highland Christian Center at 503-287-9567, or by send- ing a check or money order to High- land Christian Center, 7600 N.E. Glisan St., Portland OR 97213. Mark your donation clearly: “Pastor Hardy Medical Fund.” Pastor W.G. Hardy Jr. drew people in with his dynamic, crackling, and athletic preachings, sometimes even known for doing the splits and stage dives off the Highland church podium. Now facing cancer and a terminal illness, he looks to the new genera- tion of leaders he has mentored to lead the church to an even brighter future.
